Foreign buyers have just about started putting out feelers for the new season orthodox tea that are now out in the Indian market. The economic crisis in Sri Lanka – the world’s largest supplier of the variety – had translated into a bit of a bonanza for the Indian producers last year with prices touching an all-time high. Will this year be a repeat? The industry is trying to read the tea leaves.
Orthodox tea refers to loose-leaf tea produced using traditional or orthodox methods such as plucking, withering, rolling, oxidation and drying. And its first batch at the Kolkata auctions got off to a good start on Wednesday with an average price of Rs 245.65 a kg for orthodox, 30 per cent higher than last year. But it’s early days.
“We have been talking to the consuming nations, they are interested. Russia is facing a shortage, but they want tea at reasonable prices,” said Himanshu Shah, chairman, M K Shah Exports,
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