Tea Exports Drop From 241.31 Million Kg to 203.8 Million Kg in 2020-21

Indian tea is famous all over the world. However, the scenario of exporting tea undergoes constant changes. According to news reports, tea exports dropped during 2020-21 fiscal. It was reported to be just 203.8 million kg as compared with 241.31 million kg the previous fiscal. This is as per official data.  

As per data by the Tea Board of India, value of exports dipped marginally to Rs. 5,311.53 crores in 2020-21 as against Rs. 5,457.10 crores in the year-ago period.  

However, unit price realization was higher at Rs 260.64 per kg in the reporting year compared to Rs 226.11 per kg in 2019-20. 

During the last fiscal, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries remained the largest importer at 49.08 million kg, which was lower than 59.52 million kg a year ago, the data showed. 

Exports to Iran, an importer of good quality orthodox tea, reduced sharply to 28.35 million kg as against 46.86 million kg in 2019-20, it added. 

(Source: The New Indian Express) 

Difference between orthodox tea and CTC tea 

Orthodox tea and CTC tea are not some tea varieties, but the difference in the way the tea is processed.  

Orthodox tea indicates loose tea leaves that are produced through orthodox or traditional methods like plucking, withering, rolling, fermenting/oxidating, and drying.  

CTC refers to Crush, Tear, and Curl. It is also Cut, Tear, and Curl. This is a processing technique of black tea. Here, tea leaves are passed through a string of cylindrical rollers that feature serrated blades, which tear, crush, and curl the leaves in small, uniform-shaped tea pellets.