Calcutta, July 19: The Indian tea industry has a number of records to its credit — in production, grades, price and export.
The 140-year-old industry’s production rose to 490 million kg from 295-million kg in the last 20 years. This represents an annual growth of 3.2 per cent. As a result, India to-day produces more tea than the rest of the world taken together.
The country produces as many as 1,001 varieties of tea. The list in short is Assam, Darjeeling, High Range, Nilgiris, Cachars, Dooars, Kanga and Mandis.
India makes every type of tea. They are tippy and wiry orthodox of North India, black stylish orthodox of South India, legg-cut instant green traditional and green Japanese-type.
On the export front, the country shipped during 1975-76 record tea worth Rs. 238 crores. The production during the year also touched a new peak of 490-million kg. Yet another record was in the export of packet tea which earned Rs. 17 crores compared to Rs. 9 crores in the previous year.
Darjeeling tea, which normally fetches the highest price because of it superior quality and flavour was sold at the Calcutta auction this year at a record price of Rs. 299 per kg.
The country has in all four auction centres at Calcutta, Cochin, Gauhati and Coonoor. Between themselves, these centres handled a total of 285.5-million kg of tea during 1975. Besides, Indian tea is auctioned in London.
India consumes more tea than any other country, the home market accounting for a little over 50% of the total output. Consumers are supplied with tea in original garden-packed or blended form as required. The country has ten modern blending and packaging factories.
Published - July 20, 2026 12:31 am IST