Darjeeling Tea

ITA seeks financial aid from Centre to support Darjeeling tea industry

The Indian Tea Association (ITA) on Friday reiterated its plea for financial assistance from the Centre to support the struggling Darjeeling tea industry. According to the ITA, the situation in Darjeeling is critical due to decreasing yields and plummeting prices. Without a financial relief package, the survival of the Darjeeling tea industry is in jeopardy, the association said, adding that it has urged the government to consider and act upon a financial revival package endorsed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce in March 2022. "The association has urged the government to extend a financial revival package to the Darjeeling tea sector which has been already endorsed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on commerce in March 2022. This awaits consideration and action", the ITA said. The ITA, quoting Tea Board data, highlighted that adverse weather conditions have affected tea production in Assam and West Bengal, leading to a significant decrease in production. F

Lok Sabha polls: Will Bengal's sagging tea industry brew a new flavour?

Darjeeling goes to vote on April 26 in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections alongside Balurghat and Raiganj. All three in North Bengal are BJP seats

Crisis brewing in Darjeeling's tea gardens; several owners looking to sell

In the last three years, 20 gardens have changed hands, and 90 per cent of the buyers are from non-tea background

Domestic consumption, Chinese market can lift Darjeeling tea: ITEA chairman

Teas from Nepal, sharing similar characteristics with Darjeeling tea, have made inroads. Kanoria warned that the threat from Nepal was serious

Darjeeling tea industry is a 'patient in ICU', virtually on death bed: ITEA

Chairman of Indian Tea Exporters Association (ITEA) Anshuman Kanoria on Thursday said that the Darjeeling tea industry is a "patient in ICU" and virtually on its death bed. For the Darjeeling tea industry to survive, some government support is needed in the form of subsidy which will help stave off the threat posed by tea from Nepal, he said. Speaking at a session organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) here, Kanoria said, "Darjeeling tea is an emotion for us. It flows in our blood. Today, the Darjeeling tea industry is a patient in ICU, virtually in its death bed". The closure of the gardens due to political agitation in 2017, followed by lockdowns had caused huge financial loss to the industry as a whole, Kanoria said. He said, "A lot of foreign buyers had been turned away and this gave an opportunity to our neighbour (Sri Lanka) to capture some of the some of the export market". Kanoria said the challenge of Nepal has become serious as it is infiltrating

Except Darjeeling leaf, other categories' demand marginally increased

Barring Darjeeling leaf the total demand for other categories of tea increased marginally during Sale-21, a Calcutta Tea Traders' Association (CTTA) official said here on Thursday. The total demand increased by 4.43 per cent along with increased offered quantity during the auction as compared to last week, the official said. The auction (Sale-21) was held on May 23 and 24. According to CTTA data, the total offerings amounted to 1,05,635 packages (29,44,037 kg) comprising 35,599 packages of CTC leaf, 53,873 packages of orthodox, 3,930 packages of Darjeeling leaf and 12,233 packages of dust tea. CTC leaf met good demand and a total of 7,80,512 kg of different categories was sold at an average price of Rs 184.91 per kg. Around 38.72 per cent of the total demand was witnessed for CTC leaf at below Rs 150 per kg level while 12.57 was marked above Rs 250 per kg. Western India operated on better teas and TCPL primarily engaged in medium variety. Some enquiry was in evidence from exporte

Meet Günter Faltin, the German professor who knows too much of tea

Founder of Teekampagne says, focus on quality, beating the "cheaters" is key to resolving the challenges of Darjeeling tea

Dry spell, rising temperature may take a toll on premium Darjeeling tea

Rains unlikely to unlikely to make up for the prolonged dry spell, says one expert

Increase in demand for all categories of tea barring Darjeeling leaf

Barring Darjeeling leaf, all other categories of tea marked an impressive increase in demand during Sale-15, a Calcutta Tea Traders' Association (CTTA) official said here on Thursday. The auction (Sale-15) was held on April 11 and 12, he said. According to CTTA data, the total offerings amounted to 44,624 packages (12,96,550 kg) comprising 22,532 packages of CTC leaf, 18,750 packages of orthodox, 405 packages of Darjeeling leaf and 2,937 packages of dust tea. CTC leaf met 53.05 per cent of its demand at below Rs 150 per kg price level and a total of 3,88,588 kg of different categories were sold at an average price of Rs 180.67 per kg. Around 21.74 per cent of the total demand was witnessed for CTC leaf at above Rs 250 per kg level, it said. Western India operated for liquoring sorts while major blender operated on plainer sorts. Other internal and local dealers registered good support, the data reflected. Some enquiry on bolder brokens was in evidence from exporters. Orthodox ...

Assam speciality tea auctioned for Rs 1.15 lakh per kg at private auction

A specialty tea from Assam's Dibrugarh district was sold for Rs 1.15 lakh per kg at a private auction on Friday, the proprietor of the tea estate said. 'Manohari Gold Tea' fetched the price at an auction on private portal Tea Inntech, Rajan Lohia of Manohari Tea Estate said. "Due to the cap of Rs 1 lakh per kg set by the Tea Board India at Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC), we had to sell this batch through private auction this year," Lohia said. This is the highest price fetched for tea at such auctions anywhere, he claimed. One kilogramme of the specialty tea was bought by RK Tea Sales, he said. Tea from the Manohari brand, especially its gold variety, had been fetching high prices at the GTAC over the years, setting new records in the process. Manohari Gold had sold for Rs 99,999 per kg through GTAC in December 2021, which was matched by 'Golden Pearl' of AFT Techno Trade that also went under the hammer at the same auction house in February this year. This high price was sur

Demand for tea dropped by 10.35% during Sale-47, reveals CTTA data

The total demand for all categories of teas dropped by 10.35 per cent during Sale-47, Calcutta Tea Traders Association data (CTTA) said. Sale-47 was held from November 22 to 24. However, Darjeeling leaf scored a gain in demand during this week as compared to last auction, it said. According to CTTA officials, the total offerings amounted to 2,46,299 packages (included 71,22,834 kg) comprising 1,31,783 packages of CTC leaf, 72,850 packages of Orthodox, 3,417 packages of Darjeeling leaf and 38,249 packages of Dust teas. This week's CTC leaf saw a fair demand and 23,60,214 kg of different categories were sold at an average price of Rs 200.15 per kg. Most of the demand was marked between Rs 150 to Rs 200 per kg price level. Around 24.51 per cent was claimed at a lower price level while 19.06 per cent was demanded at higher price level. Western India supported well. Hindustan Unilever operated actively while TCPL remained selective. Exporters registered fair support. Orthodox leaf met

Tea Board may modify past order on blending, change to help tea firms, TCPL

Existing notification bars blending imported tea with GI-tagged Indian varieties; Sources said commerce ministry left it to the Board to take a reasoned call on modification

DPIIT planning multi-media campaign to promote over 400 GI products

The commerce and industry ministry is planning a multi-media campaign to promote over 400 GI (Geographical Indication) products such as Darjeeling Tea, Chanderi Fabric, Mysore Silk, and Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) intends to empanel one or more audio-visual agencies to carry out various multi-media campaigns, production of advertising and promotional materials on a regular ongoing basis," said the department's notice inviting request for proposal. The agency will also support the department in scaling up the GI campaign through manifold interventions, considered important for building a strong GI ecosystem, it said. DPIIT, under the ministry, is looking to empanel reputed audio-visual agencies for GI promotion campaign. Work for the empanelled agency or agencies would include production of films, documentaries, sponsored AV (audio-visual) programmes, AV spots, and production of short videos. The notice said lack

Why are nearly half of Darjeeling's tea estates looking out for buyers?

Liquidity challenges amid high wages, falling demand and prices are brewing trouble for the "champagne of the teas"

Nepal brews a fresh crisis for Darjeeling tea with cheaper leaves

A notification banning blends of imported tea in GI-tagged teas has almost pushed Tata Consumer Products, the biggest buyer, out of the market

A tourist makeover for Darjeeling tea industry to beat a growing crisis

The region's storied estates are upping the luxe quotient by foraying into hotels and resorts

Champagne of teas loses fizz amid scanty rainfall, last year's lockdown

Scanty rainfall, last year's lockdown, growing competition from Nepal and the disaster of the 2017 Gorkhaland agitation are steadily weakening exports and sales of Darjeeling tea

Getting the tea leaves right in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic

The pandemic has got people spending time and energy making themselves a cuppa. Know more about tea and its tribe, some trivia and how to get the perfect brew

Rising costs, political unrest, Covid-19: Triple whammy for tea industry

The tea industry, hit by rising costs, falling prices and political unrest in the North Bengal plantations, is especially vulnerable to the Covid-19 lockdown

Tea Board Chairman calls for disengaging body from auctioning system

He said that the Tea Board's role should only be restricted to issuing licences for opening up the auction centres after duly checking their financial capabilities