In 2022, India’s 6.19 lakh hectares of area was prepared for tea production. India consumes 80% of the tea manufactured. On this note, before 1997 Indian tea manufacturers used to export a maximum amount of their tea. But in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, local tea consumption increased.
Although nowadays tea is consumed in Indian localities, the exporting market for quality tea has also continued to evolve. As technology disrupted the exporting system greatly India has become a more valuable tea exporter increasing valuable tea manufacturing companies. India is the second-largest tea exporter in the world for unique kinds of tea production. Now, let’s look at the types of tea exported from India worldwide.
Table Of Content
Types of Indian Tea Exported Worldwide
India is one of the world’s largest tea producers and exports various teas. For the main types of tea exported from India let us look at the following table:
| Assam Tea |
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| Darjeeling Tea |
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| Nilgiri Tea |
|
| Kangra Tea |
|
| Sikkim Tea |
|
| Green Tea |
|
| CTC Tea |
|
| Organic Tea |
|
The Countries Consume Indian Tea
Let’s take a detailed look at the top nations that imports Indian Tea:
Russia
- Exported Varieties: Assam and Orthodox teas.
- Preferences: Russian consumers prefer strong teas. Assam tea, known for its rich and malty flavor, meets their demand perfectly. It is also known as Orthodox tea.
- Market: Indian tea has been leading in Russian households for a century, making Russia one of the largest importers of Indian tea.
Iran
- Exported Varieties: Assam, Darjeeling, and Orthodox teas.
- Preferences: Iranian consumers favor strong and flavorful teas making Assam and Darjeeling their popular choices. The aromatic nature of these teas aligns with their taste preferences.
- Market: Iran’s demand for Indian tea has remained consistently high. Political and economic relationships between India and Iran play a key role in the trade.
United Kingdom
- Exported Varieties: Darjeeling, Assam, and some blend tea.
- Preferences: They named English Breakfast tea, a blend of Assam and Ceylon teas. English prefers Darjeeling tea for its unique flavor.
- Market: The tradition of afternoon tea and the general British tea culture set up a steady demand for high-quality Indian teas.
United States
- Exported Varieties: Assam tea, Darjeeling tea, green tea, and organic teas.
- Preferences: There has been a growing demand for organic teas in the US. While black tea is still popular among the locals, green tea consumption has increased for its health benefits.
- Market: The U.S. market leaned towards premium and specialty teas. Consumers are willing to pay more for quality and unique flavors.
United Arab Emirates
- Exported Varieties: Assam, Darjeeling, and other premium teas.
- Preferences: The UAE is a significant hub for tea re-exportation to other Middle Eastern countries. UAE locals prefer strong flavorful teas.
- Market: Dubai’s role as a re-exporter makes it a valuable market for Indian tea. The UAE imports large quantities of tea to distribute it throughout the Middle Eastern region.
Germany
- Exported Varieties: Darjeeling, Assam, and specialty teas.
- Preferences: German consumers appreciate high-quality teas and are fond of Darjeeling tea. Special teas and organic varieties are also in demand in Germany.
- Market: Germany’s consumers prioritize quality and flavor for tea. The country has stringent quality standards, making it a valuable market for premium Indian teas.
Japan
- Exported Varieties: Assam and Darjeeling teas.
- Preferences: Although Japan is prevalently a green tea producer and consumer, there always has been a niche market for high-quality black teas. They prefer Indian black teas for their distinctive flavors.
- Market: The Japanese tea market is highly sophisticated, with consumers interested in exploring different types of tea, including Indian black teas.
Top Indian Company Insights
Let’s look into the insights from top tea manufacturers on the evolution of tea export:
Tata Consumer Products
From Colonial Period
Tata traces the origins of India’s tea export industry from the British colonial era with the large-scale tea cultivation in Assam and Darjeeling. Tata Tea set India’s name in the global tea markets.
Maintaining Quality
Focused on quality and sustainability, Tata has implemented robust practices in ethical sourcing and sustainable farming.
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)
Market Distribution Strategies
HUL’s brands like Brooke Bond and Lipton have expanded their tea portfolios to cater to diverse global markets. They have insights into varied consumer preferences and regional tastes worldwide.
Consumer Trends and Innovation
HUL identifying consumer trends emphasizes continuous innovation in product development to meet evolving consumer expectations and market demands.
Wagh Bakri Tea Group
Cultural and Regional Market Dynamics
In Indian Business News 2024, Wagh Bakri Tea Group made a name in Forbes. They won the prestigious Forbes India Leadership Award 2024 for preserving their ascendancy and consistency in the West Indian region of the tea industry.
Community Engagement and Sustainability
Wagh Bakri group was committed to community engagement and sustainable practices. They were focused on preserving the authenticity and quality of Indian teas. They took the initiative to maintain long-term market relevance and consumer trust.
Narendra Tea Company
Heritage and Global Expansion
Narendra Tea Company was established in the early 20th century with a rich heritage rooted in traditional tea cultivation methods. NTC played a pivotal role in positioning Indian tea to the global market.
Quality Control and Ethical Practices
NTC has always maintained high-quality standards through rigorous quality control processes. They emphasize ethical sourcing and sustainable agricultural practices to ensure the premium quality of tea production.
These insights paint a comprehensive picture of the evolution of the Indian tea industry. Their perspectives emphasize the dynamic market. Their experiments show how it can be pushed by quality, sustainability, growth, and market positioning. These experiences can open doors in the global tea business.
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Marcel Proust’s Madeleine: Tea as a Trigger for Memory
Marcel Proust’s monumental work, “In Search of Lost Time” (À la recherche du temps perdu), features one of the most famous tea-related passages in literature—the Madeleine episode. In this scene, the narrator dips a madeleine into a cup of tea, and the taste triggers a flood of memories from his childhood.
The act of dunking the madeleine into tea becomes a powerful sensory experience that awakens long-forgotten recollections. Proust’s prose masterfully captures the profound connection between taste and memory, illustrating how something as simple as tea and a pastry can transport us back in time.