Tea History in Bulgaria
In the 50s of the last century, Chinese tea (Thea chinensis), also known as Camellia sinensis - an evergreen plant that contains caffeine, tein, tannins, aromatic substances, anti-sclerotic flavonoids and others, is grown in Bulgaria. This is happening in Strandja Mountain, in the village of Kosti, where other alien species are grown.
The planting material was raised in 1955 from Georgian seed in a laboratory of the Institute of Biology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, known at that time as the Institute of Acad. Metodiy Popov. From there the plants were transported in Tsarevo in 1946 and thence to the village of Kosti from the famous academics - professors Boris Stefanov and Doncho Kostov. The plants are planted under their leadership in the "St. Iliya" area on the territory of Forestry in the valley of the river Veleka.
These experimental plants until 1950 were grown under the guidance of Manol Stoilov, a researcher at Institute of Acad. Metodiy Popov and then until 1964 under the guidance and research of Assoc. Prof. Seraphim Serafimov. In addition to the tea plants, there were 4 tranches of citrus trees on the site. For the constant need of watering in 1954 a primitive "water pipe" was built from the nearby low-flowing river. Later this research point was handed over to the Forestry Authority, almost without adequate financial support. Due to the lack of care and mainly of irrigation, in 1983, during the visit of the Veleka 3 expedition no living plants were found. In the first 25 years, however, tea plants grow well with 3-5 consecutive growths with normal annual flowering, including in the harsh years of 1953, 1954 and 1963.
The lack of systemic care and irrigation mainly contributes to the failure of the experiment. Besides, for economically beneficial production a raw material of at least 2000 decares is needed and such large irrigated areas in Strandja and the Rhodopes Mountain were not available.
Despite the above mentioned results on the cultivation of "Chinese tea" (Camellia chinensis) in the country, the Bulgarian flora contains over 4100 species of herbal and medical plants. 270 types of them are raw materials for the pharmaceutical, perfumery, cosmetic and food industries. Some are good stocks in the wild: linden, rosehip, nettle, hawthorn, thorn, blackthorn, juniper, danewort thicket, dandelion, chamomile, blackberry, blueberry and more. Others are successfully cultivated in large areas: coriander, lavender, oil rose, common balm, mint, chamomile, white thorn, and more. These species make up the bulk of herbs collected and processed for tea production both in the country and for export.
The planting material was raised in 1955 from Georgian seed in a laboratory of the Institute of Biology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, known at that time as the Institute of Acad. Metodiy Popov. From there the plants were transported in Tsarevo in 1946 and thence to the village of Kosti from the famous academics - professors Boris Stefanov and Doncho Kostov. The plants are planted under their leadership in the "St. Iliya" area on the territory of Forestry in the valley of the river Veleka.
These experimental plants until 1950 were grown under the guidance of Manol Stoilov, a researcher at Institute of Acad. Metodiy Popov and then until 1964 under the guidance and research of Assoc. Prof. Seraphim Serafimov. In addition to the tea plants, there were 4 tranches of citrus trees on the site. For the constant need of watering in 1954 a primitive "water pipe" was built from the nearby low-flowing river. Later this research point was handed over to the Forestry Authority, almost without adequate financial support. Due to the lack of care and mainly of irrigation, in 1983, during the visit of the Veleka 3 expedition no living plants were found. In the first 25 years, however, tea plants grow well with 3-5 consecutive growths with normal annual flowering, including in the harsh years of 1953, 1954 and 1963.
The lack of systemic care and irrigation mainly contributes to the failure of the experiment. Besides, for economically beneficial production a raw material of at least 2000 decares is needed and such large irrigated areas in Strandja and the Rhodopes Mountain were not available.
Despite the above mentioned results on the cultivation of "Chinese tea" (Camellia chinensis) in the country, the Bulgarian flora contains over 4100 species of herbal and medical plants. 270 types of them are raw materials for the pharmaceutical, perfumery, cosmetic and food industries. Some are good stocks in the wild: linden, rosehip, nettle, hawthorn, thorn, blackthorn, juniper, danewort thicket, dandelion, chamomile, blackberry, blueberry and more. Others are successfully cultivated in large areas: coriander, lavender, oil rose, common balm, mint, chamomile, white thorn, and more. These species make up the bulk of herbs collected and processed for tea production both in the country and for export.