The Hawthorne Effect

“The Hawthorne effect” is the phenomenon by which subjects in behavioral studies change their performance in response to being observed.

The plucking race is a competition among pluckers not on running; but on plucking. This plucking race is organized by the Para Extension Associates in each estate with the support of the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka. Last year this was performed at Lonach, Shannon and Vellai oya estates. This was a strategy used to equalize under norm pluckers up to normal pluckers’ performance level.

Particularly under norm pluckers were selected in each Division and then they were mixed with normal pluckers when detailing plucking rows to each plucker. All were given 15-30 minutes time. The wonder of this competition was that all the weak pluckers plucked equally or more than the normal pluckers. Some of the so termed weak pluckers  performed at extra ordinary level to harvest 5.5 Kg within a 15 minute time frame – nearly 120 picks per minute.        

Before the start of the game, each one was given a short period for relaxation. All were educated on the rules of the game. Each one was monitored by an external person. This competition is an experiment on Hawthorne’s theory on human relations. Hawthorne effect is a term referring to the tendency of some to work harder and perform better when they are participants in an experiment. Individuals may change their behavior due to the attention they are receiving from observers rather than because of any manipulation of independent variables. At the end, all the plucked leaf was checked on quantity (in Kilo grams), quality of plucked tea and the degree of maintenance of the plucking tables of the bushes plucked. 

Finally we came to conclude that “weak pluckers” existed because they were categorized as weak pluckers. That is,due to perceived inability rather than factual inability.

“An increase in worker productivity was produced by the psychological stimulus of being singled out 

and made to feel important” According to Hawthorne effect

Tea History of Sri Lanka

The origins of Tea was with the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung who was boiling water when the leaves from a nearby plant Camellia sinensis plant floated into the pot. The emperor drank the mixture and declared it gave one "vigor of body, contentment of mind, and determination of purpose." Perhaps as testament to the emperor's assessment, the potion of tea he unwittingly brewed that day, today is second only to water in worldwide consumption!" The origins of Tea was with the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung who was boiling water when the leaves from a nearby plant Camellia sinensis plant floated into the pot. The emperor drank the mixture and declared it gave one "vigor of body, contentment of mind, and determination of purpose." Perhaps as testament to the emperor's assessment, the potion of tea he unwittingly brewed that day, today is second only to water in worldwide consumption!" Until the 1860’s the main crop produced on the island of Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, was coffee. But in 1869, the coffee-rust fungus, Hemileia vastatrix, killed the majority of the coffee plants and estate owners had to diversify into other crops in order to avoid total ruin. The owners of Loolecondera Estate had been interested in tea since the late 1850’s and in 1866, James Taylor, a recently arrived Scot, was selected to be in charge of the first sowing of tea seeds in 1867, on 19 acres of land. Taylor had acquired some basic knowledge of tea cultivation in North India and made some initial experiments in manufacture, using his bungalow verandah as the factory and rolling the leaf by hand on tables. Firing of the oxidized leaf was carried out on clay stoves over charcoal fires with the leaf on wire trays. His first teas were sold locally and were declared delicious. By 1872, Taylor had a fully equipped factory, and, in 1873, his first quality teas were sold for a very good price at the London auction. Through his dedication and determination, Taylor was largely responsible for the early success of the tea crop in Ceylon. Between 1873 and 1880, production rose from just 23 pounds to 81.3 tons, and by 1890, to 22,899.8 tons. The first vessel recorded as carrying Ceylon tea to England was the steam-ship ‘Duke Argyll’ in 1877.

"Magic Bullet" for weight loss

Do you have a dream to become slim?So today you are going to get a solution for it.Pack your gym kit aside and sit down with a cup of tea.Numerous scientific studies have shown that tea drinkers,specifically green tea drinkers,lose weight faster than those who don't.But you need to have it without milk.Scientists have shown that tea contains high levels of compounds that combat the absorption of fat.The tea plant compound EGCG found in green tea,plus caffeine,increases thermoenesis by 84 percent. Thermogenesis is the generation of body heat that occurs as a result of normal digestion,absorption,and metabolization of food.Green tea also increases your levels of norepinephrine,which prepares your body to burn fat for the "fight or flight" response.

Like any new habit, you have to infuse tea drinking into your daily routine in order for it to be effective:
Substitute morning coffee for tea. Start your day with a fresh cup of tea instead of usual Joe. Tea drinkers can also save calories, especially when ordering at a coffee house. Some coffee house drinks contain hundreds of calories whereas with tea, what you see is what you get.
Ask for iced tea (unsweetened) instead of soda for lunch and dinner. Sugary or even diet sodas have been known to actually have the opposite effect on weight loss. The sodium in diet soda can make you retain water, so opt for the smart alternative––sugar-free iced tea. Iced tea is also ideal because if you're looking for a little caffeinated pick-me-up during the afternoon, iced (or hot) tea will give you the same effect without the sugar in regular soda or the sodium in diet.
Have a warm cup of tea to satisfy an afternoon craving. Although the chips or cookies in the vending machine may be calling your name, make yourself a cup of tea instead. If you go for the tea, the EGCG properties found in green tea actually have a glucose-lowering effect, which influences cravings and may help control hunger. Moreover, the ritual involved in making tea (as opposed to shoving coins into a vending machine) gives you a welcome break from your chores or work and you can reflect on good thoughts, as well as making conscious choices to put good things into your body instead of empty calories from candy bars. Take a moment to chat to someone else who is in the tearoom with you, and it's a great way to unwind, stretch and socialize in the space of five minutes!
Before bed, have a cup of herbal (decaf) tea. Regardless of your weight loss goal, having a warm cup of herbal tea to end the day can help to relax your body and brain. Because a good night’s sleep contributes to shedding weight, set yourself up for a successful sleep with tea

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

What is BOPF?

In the tea industry,tea leaf grading is the process of evaluating products based on the quality and condition of the tea leaves themselves.The highest grades are reffered to as "Orange pekoe",and the lowest as "fannings" or "dust".

Because of different kind of processing result in black teas of varying sizes,the last step is called as grading.The grading is essential,because tea leaves must be combined with other lots of tea of uniform size to produce a consistent and quality blend.Mainly there are 4 grades in black tea and they are as follows;

• Whole leaf grades
• Broken leaf grades
• Fannings grades
• Dust grades

The BOPF(Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings) is coming under the fannings grades.Fannings means small particles of tea leaves used almost exclusively in tea bags.This is main grade in ceylon,Indonesia,Southern  India,Kenya,Mozambique,Bangladesh,and China.Black-leaf tea with few added ingredients,uniform particle size and no tips.

BOPF is a particle smaller than BOP,popular in the higher elevations.Tastes stronger than BOP while retaining all other characteristics.

• Type:High grown
• Elevation:4001 feet
• Taste:Strong
• Leaf:Black
• Description:Small leaf