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‘Ladakhi tea’ Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae): a cultivated species in the cold desert of Ladakh Himalaya, India

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Abstract

Bidens pilosa L., a less-known cultivated tea species was collected from cold desert of Ladakh Himalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, India during 2004. The freshly harvested leaves are used in preparation of ‘Ladakhi tea’ locally known as ‘Saja’ or ‘Soljaa’ in cold desert of Ladakh Himalaya, Western Himalaya, Jammu and Kashmir. The local inhabitants were growing this species in their kitchen garden for this use. In the present communication, the method of preparation of this beverage is also discussed.

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Acknowledgments

Authors express their sincere thanks to Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi and World Bank funded National Agricultural Technology Project on Sustainable Management of Plant Biodiversity for executing and providing need based support to run this programme. We are also thankful to the Director, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources for providing opportunity to visit the difficult terrain of Ladakh for germplasm collection. Thanks are also due to Dr. Prithipalsingh, Reader, Department of Botany, University of Delhi for helping in identification of material.

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Correspondence to K. C. Bhatt.

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Bhatt, K.C., Sharma, N. & Pandey, A. ‘Ladakhi tea’ Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae): a cultivated species in the cold desert of Ladakh Himalaya, India. Genet Resour Crop Evol 56, 879–882 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-009-9441-3

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