Indian Journ al of Traditional Knowl edge Vo l. I ( I). October 2002. pp . 72-80

Revitalizing drink: An assessment of traditional knowledge system in Bhotiya community of Central Himalayas, India

Aditya Purohit ' , R K Maikhuri l *, K S Rao2 and S Nautiyal "

IGarhwa l Uni t. G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Deve lopment. P.Box 92, Sri nagar (Garhwal ) 246 174. Utt<l r<lnchal , Indi a

2Sust<Jinable Deve lopment of Rural Ecosystems, G.B. Pant Instillite of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal. Almora 263 643 , Uttaranchal . Indi a

Recei ved 3 October 2001

Bhotiya cOlllmuniti es inhabiting the higher aitillides of the Central Himalayas use traditional tea th roughout the year and consider it ve ry energeti c and nutriti ve for hea lth. A variety of wild pl al1ls and their different parts, i.e. bark of Taxlis bacca/a subsp. \Vallieilialla, dry leaves of Bergellia ligllia/{[. gum of Be/lila lI/ili.l· and fresh leaves of Origalllllll vlligare, are used in tradit ional tea preparation. Among the species used in traditional tea preparation. T. baccaw is consumed lIlaxilllulll, fo ll owed by B. ligllia/a, B. lI/ili.l· and O. viligare. However, the quanlity and frequency of tea consulllPti on varied with the season and cl illlatic conditi ons. The present paper di scusses the coll ection and consumpt ion pattern of the wild plants and their parts used in various purposes including traditi onal tea preparation and the indigenous knowledge involved in .

Keywords: Bhoti ya. Centra l Himalayas, Trad itional tea, Taxlis baccara subsp. wallicilioll ({, Bergellia ligllia((/, Be/lila II/ilis, Origalllllll I' lIlgare. acculturation.

In the hi gher Himalayan reg ion , there are a large number o f wild plants deeply associated with the economic, cultural and religious life of the local communities. These plants have food , medicinal and aromatic values and are being used by the traditional SOC tetles s ince time immemorial t-4 . The Bhotiyas are one of the tri bal or pri mi ti ve traditional societies inhabiting the northern most border areas of the Central

"'Correspondent author: rkmaikhuri @yahoo.com; gbpg u@nde.vsnl.net. in

Himalayas and are semi-nomadi c in nature and are considered as a cross breed probably between ' Khasas' and ' Hunas ', i.e. Indo-Aryans and Mongoloids5

. They have much more association with the plants and knowledge their of. The Bhotiyas use a variety of wild plan ts in different ways especially in the preparation of non-alcoholic and alcoholic traditional beverages, I.e. Bhotiya tea (lya/namkeen elwy), 1al//7 and Chhallg, which are used as a source of exh ilaration (delight) , medic ine and as energetic substances6 The traciiu0nal tea

PUROHIT el af .: REVITALIZING DRINK IN BHOTIYA COMM UN ITY 73

is one of the mos t prevalent beverages of non-a lcoho li c gro up prepared from the bark of Tecws baccata Linn . subsp. lVa llichiana (Zucc .) Pilge r, gum of Betula II/iii.\" D. Do n, dry leaves of BergeJlia lig llla/a (Wall. ) Eng l. (=BergeJlia ciliala f. /ig lllala Yeo 1 and fresh leaves o f OrigaJlum vIIlga re Linn ., used by the Bhoti yas to cope up with harsh climate of the regio n. Several studies have been carried out in many parts of the country on use o f wild plants by the traditional o r indi genous communItIes for various

~ " (, .g b d' f purposes-' , ut stu les 0 present nature particularly plants used in traditional tea, mode of the ir use and quanti fication are scanty. The present paper is an attempt: (i) to identify the plant species, document the ir indi genous uses o f traditional tea preparations practiced by the Bhotiyas of the Central Himalayas, and (ii) to quantify the collection/consumption of these wild pl ant parts and other ingredients used in diffe rent combination in traditional tea.

Study area and climate The study area is located in the buffer

zone of Nanda Dev i Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) of Garhwal reg ion of Central Himal ayas. NDBR is situated between 30° 17' N and 30°41' N latitude and 79°40' E and 80°05' E longitude and covers an area of 624.62 km2 core zone and 1612.12 km2 buffer zone. Recently the total area of the NDBR has been increased up to 5800 km2 (Map-I) . The climate of the area is typically temperate, monSOOI11C and di visi ble into three seasons (i.e. long winter, short summer and rainy). Average rainfall is 929 mm.

About 47 % of annual rainfall occurs over a short period of two months (July and August). Monthly maximum and minimum temperature ranges between 24.0 to 14.0°C and 7.5 to 3 .0°C, respecti ve ly . The area is geo­mo rphol ogica ll y young and tec tonicall y active'). Geologically parent materi a l is

crystalline roc ks which inc lude garnetiferous mica schi st, garnet mica quartz schi st and mica quartz. The soil is generally friable , black to brown in colour, loam to sandy loam and well drained . Frozen ice soil is a lso found in the valley or deep shaded places in the month of April - May.

Socio-economic set-up The people in these villages belong to

two ethnic groups, viz. Indo-Mongolo id (Bhotiya tribal) and Indo-Aryan (Khasas) . The people inhabiting in the buffer zone vi ll ages o f NDBR located in the Chamoli part belong to the Tol chha community, whi ch is o ne of the three sub­communities of the Bhotiyas. Except the residents of Reni, Peng, Lata and Tolma vill ages, all Tolchha-Bhotiya households have two permanent dwellings, o ne in the high altitude between 2400 and 3500m asl, and other in the lower valleys (outside the buffer zone of NDBR) between 800-1500m asl, since they are semi-nomadic or practice transhumance. Thi s community has its own culture, tradition and relig ious beliefs . The major occupation of this community has been sheep reanng and agriculture , with agriculture taking primacy over pastorali sm in contemporary time. The

74 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL I, No. I, OCTOBER 2002

MAP OF NANDADEVI BIOSPHERE RESERVE WITH NEW ADDITION

BOUNORY OF NOB R WITH NEW ADO I nON

" OF OLD NDBR

» OF CORE ZONES

RIVER

MOTOR ROAD

PEAK

(NOT TO THE SCALE)

\

i I

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25645 t.! OndOd~Y/1

Khoti

Map 1- Nandadevi Biosphere Reserve

total numbers of households in ten buffer zone villages (Chamoli part) were recorded as 419 with a total population of 2345, which include 872 adult male, 721 adult female and 752 children below 15 years of age. The average family size was

5-6 persons. In 2000-3500m asl elevation zone rainfed cultivation on terraced slopes is the common agricultural land use. Almost all the households are involved in agriculture through subsistence farming.

PUROHIT et al.: REVITALIZING DRINK IN BHOTIY A COMMUN1TY 75

Fig. !-Gum of Betula utilis

Methods of Survey An in-depth survey has been carried out over a period of three-years (April 1996 to October 1999) in the buffer zone villages of NDBR. The data were collected to assess the consumption pattern of the bark of Taxus baccata subsp. wallichiana, gum of Betula utilis, leaf of Bergenia ligulata and leaf of Origanum vulgare, used for the traditional purposes by the Bhotiya tribal community. Besides, the total quantity of Taxus bark collected as well as consumed throughout the year by local people was quantified through weight survey method 10 in about 240 households which represent about 60% households of the total buffer zone villages. All these households were surveyed and grouped into various categories i.e. small family (1-4 members), medium family (5-8 members) and large family (>8 members). The collections of these plant parts were measured as kg/family/yr on dry weight basis. During the survey, family members were asked to provide

the detail method/procedure of tea preparation and were also requested to demonstrate the process. At the time of demonstration, different ingredients used in tea were identified and quantified through Top Pan Balance for the different combinations.

Observation and Discussion a) Traditional tea preparation

The inhabitants of NDBR and adjoining areas make regular and extensive use of the dried bark of Taxus baccata subsp. wallichiana, gum of Betula utilis (Fig. 1) and dry leaves of Bergenia ligulata and Origanum vulgare in traditional tea, which is a special type of blended tea locally known as "Namkeen Chay". It is prepared by grinding the plant parts (bark, leaves and gum) separately, into powder, and mixing these in required quantities with boiled water in a pan. When solution becomes coloured, it is poured in a bamboo blender (locally known as Dumma) with other ingredients i.e. common salt, 'Ghee' (clarified butter), black pepper powder and dry mixture of kernels of Juglans regia (wallnut), Prunus armeniaca (apricot), Cocos nucifera (coconut), and Prunus amygdalus (almond kernel), with flour of fried wheat, . barley and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) which is locally known as Pinna. This mixture is homogenized in Dumma with the help of loosely packed wooden piston. Finally the mixture is poured into a pan .

. and usually drunk hot in. a bronze bowl of about 250 ml capacity along with Sattoo (made up of flour of roasted wheat and naked barley).

76 INDIAN J T RADITION AL KNOWLEDGE, VOL I. No. I. OCTOI3ER 2002

In the preparati on of traditi onal tea the ingredi ents are used in diffe rent combinations wi th di fferent quan tities (Table I). The quantity of clarified butter (ghee) and Pil/I/a va ri es with the prosperity of the family and the quantity of salt varies with the taste. The proport ion of ghee in tea depends upon the climate of the year also. It is considered very energetic, rev itali zing and also know n to keep body warm during severe winters or heavy snowfall particularly in hi gher Him~layan region . The local people of the region usually take the traditional tea 4-6 times a day during winter and 1-3 times a day during

summer season . One adu lt member of a fam i! y consumes abou t two full bronze bowls of thi s tea at a time. rt is also offered as a mark of gesture of hos pitality to the guests. The people of the reg ion generally consume thi s tea in huge quantiti es with 'Sattoo' before leav ing their houses for routine work such as agricultural work, li ves tock grazing and coll ection of medici nal and aro mati c plants, lichens (locally ca ll ed Makkll ) and Morchella esculel/ta (locally known as Gllchlli) for the ir economic gains.

The old people prefer leaves of Origal/ lIlIl vlllgare to be mi xed 111

common tea with sugar and with or

Ta ble I- The quantity o f different ing redie nts (g m/litre) and combin atio ns used by the Bhot iyas in preparati on of trad itio nal tea

Ingredi ent

Taxils bark

Com mon Salt

Purified bUller (Ghee)

Pinna

Bergel/ia ligll/m(l leaves

Bellt/a II tilis gum

Origallllll/ vlligare leaves

Milk

Sugar

Co mmon tea

Combinat ion I

1.00 gm

1.80 gill

1-2 tea spoon ( 10-20gm)

5- 10 gm

Combination 2

0. R5 gm

I.RO gm

1-2 tea spoon ( 10-20 gill )

5- 10 gill

0.50 gill

COlllbination 3

0. 65 gill

1.80 gill

1-2 tea spoon ( 10-20 gill)

5- 10 gm

0.50 g m

Combinati on 4

0 .50 gm

100- 150 ml

10.00 gm

0.20 gm

Table 2-Average collec ti on lkg/fam il y/yr. (±SD) on dry weight basis] o f d ifferent plant part s used in traditi onal purposes by the butTer zone villagers of NDBR

Family size

Taxlis bark

Small fami ly ( 1-4 member) *n=95

0.890±0 .230

0.562±0.090

0.650±0.280

Med ium famil y (4-R member) *n= 122

1.488±0.320

0.890±0.133

1.250±0. 11 5

Betliia wilis resin/gum

Bergel/ia liglila/a leaves

Origal/ulI/ vlligare lea ves Co llec ti on for the year is not in prac tice

*n is the number of househo lds surveyed

Large famil y (>8 member) *n=20

2.66±0.3 10

0.775±0.22 I

1.660±0.20 I

Table 3--General characteri st ics and trad itional uses of wi ld plants and their differe nt parts used by the Bhoti yas in trdd itional tea

Characteri stics

Loea/name English name Growth form

Family Distribution and occurrence

Uses

Taws baceafa Linn. subsp. IValliehiana (Zucc.) Pilger Thuner Himalayan Yew Smaillree

Taxaceae It grows as under canopy spec ies along the temperate zone of Himalayas between 2200 and 3300m asl. but sometimes it is fo und up to I 800m asl.

Bark: Dried bark is ground into powder and used in traditional tea; its paste is applied as a plaster on fractured bone and on forehead to get relief from headache.

Leaves: For bedding material for animals, and for thatchjng of traditional house roofs.

Wood: Used in house construction; al so in preparation of honeybee shelter in the walls of the houses.

Betll/a IItilis D.Don.

Bhojpatra Hima layan silver birch or Indian paper birch Large and sma ll tree

Retul aceae

Grows in open. glacial. mora inic masses and avalanche prone areas of temperate region between 2400 and 3800m asl.

Bark: Plates prepared from the papery ba rk are used in different ceremonies such as marriage ceremonies. worship of loca l goddesses and Nanda Devi. and in preparation o f sacred umbrella (Chhanto li). which is used to protect the palanquin (Do li) of Nanda Devi during Raj Jar Yarra.

Leaves: Green leaves are used as a fodder and dry leaves as bedding material s for domestic animals .

Wood: Wood is used as a timber, fuel , and for the preparation of agricultura l implements. and also in reli gious ceremonies. Gum or resin wh ich exudes from the stem is used in tradi ti onal tea.

Bergell ia /igll/ara (Wall.) Engl.

Silphori

Pe rennial herb

Saxifragaceae It grows in rock crevices and c liffs in temperate reg ion between 2000-4200m as\.

Leaves: Leaves are boi led with water and the decoction is used in dizziness , dissol ving kidney stone. urinary track in fec tion. and curing fever. It is also used as a refresh ing drink with sa lt .

Ori[iQ/1U1I/ vU/[ia re Lin n.

Van Tulsi Wild Marj oram Branched perenn ia l herb

Lamiaceae It grows in open and degraded places of temperate region between 1800 -3600111 asl.

Leaves: Leaves are boiled with water and the decoction is used in fever, cold and cough. It is also used as a refreshing drink with sugar and common tea. Ex tract from green leaves is also used for healing of cu ts, boils and wounds. Garl ands prepared from the leaves and twigs of the herb are offered to Lord Vishnu in Badli nath temple.

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without milk as a refreshing drink after performing hard work .

b) Collection and consumption of the parts of wild plants used in tradilionol purposes

Per capita/year collection and consumption of different parts of the four plant species used in traditional pUllJoses. VIZ. bark of T. baccata subsp. wallie/liana, gum of Betula /ltitis and leaves of Bergel/ia ligulata and Origanum vulgare, were quan tified . It was found that the bark of Taxus was consumed maximum followed by B. ligulata (leaves) and B. utilis (resin) and 0. vulgare (leaves) (Table 2) . Average collection (per family per year) of Taxus bark was recorded as 1.7 kg on dry weight basis, while it was 1.2 kg for Bergenia ligulata and 0.74 kg for the Betula utilis (resin). [n case of O. vulgare, local people usually do not collect and store it like other plant parts for the consumption in a year, because its fresh leaves are available nearby in abundance.

c) Other uses Tn NDBR, the bark of B. utilis and bark

of Taxus are used in religious and ultural ceremonies. The collection of these plant parts are directly linked with the traditional activity of the Bhotiyas since ti.me immemorial. Earlier, they used to collect or extract it only for the ir own consumption and sometimes as a gift for their kith and kin who are living out side. But during the recent past the col lection of Tax us bark legally or illegally has increased to the iarge extent and now it is facing danger of extinction in different

region,,·i ; . 1.: . Thi s pr,)tlem is not severe

with Bel/t/a uti'is, Bergellia ligli lala and Orig(l ll lll ll l 'l,dgflre <;n far, because these speci e", ha ve dense r oru lation in the area and have good reg 'neration potentia l as well. However, regular and heavy ex traction of B. uti lis bark may pose serio lls threat for it s growth and surviva l in future ll

. Thi s is an indicator species o f timberline ecosystem and is re lig iously and cu ltura lly sacred to the people of the whole country . The detail about the uses of these wild species is presented in Table 3.

Conclusion The traditional values, cultural faith

and indi genous knowledge of the Bhoti yas of NDBR are facing serious challenges due to accu lturation brought about by the migrat ion of the younger generati on to the cities. A gap in the cultural belie fs and practices of the local inhabitants with those of these urban migrants is developing and as a result , the inheritance o f traditional wisdom is fast diminishing. Hence, documentation of indi genous knowledge such as the traditional tea preparation and plants used for it has become increas ingly important.

Acknowledgement We are thankful to the Director of the

Institute for faciliti es. The Mini stry of Environment & Forests and Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of Indi a are thankfully acknowledged for financia l supports. The views/opinio ns expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily of the affi liated organisations. The authors are al so

79

grateful to the :lIlonymous rev iewers for the ir valuable inputs for improving the manuscripts .

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