The world-renowned Darjeeling tea is coming under direct threat from the variety from neighbouring Nepal as the latter has started flooding European markets. However, the Darjeeling tea industry is taking note of this possible danger and is reportedly taking adequate steps to nip the ‘expansion’ in the bud.
According to tea industry stakeholders, the Nepal variety is being showcased as “tea from the Himalayas” across European markets.
“Darjeeling tea has been sold in European markets since ages and has a brand value there. But of late, competition is coming from an unlikely quarter - Nepal,” noted Sandeep Mukherjee, principal advisor to the Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA), an umbrella organisation of the 87 tea gardens of the Darjeeling hills.
Mukherjee warned the tea from Nepal is gaining ground in European markets and this could have an adverse impact on the export of Darjeeling tea to those markets.
“The Nepal variety is expanding slowly in Europe even though Darjeeling tea has a stronghold in markets there. But if the rise of Nepal tea continues, the consequences could be felt in the export of Darjeeling tea,” he cautioned.
Darjeeling produces more than 9 million kg of tea annually, of which the majority is exported to Europe as well as to the US and Japan. The first and the second flush are the most sought-after products in those markets and fetch record prices.
Unfortunately, tea production in the Darjeeling hills is facing unprecedented problems such as drought, natural disasters as well as disturbances from the political perspective.
During the puja ceremony organised today by the Chamong Tea Group at Soom Tea Estate to mark the start of a fortnight’s celebrations of 25 years of the company’s existence, the DTA principal advisor said the Union government had been apprised about the threat posed by Nepal.
“Darjeeling tea is a brand like Champagne and is included as a Global Indicator (GI) to ensure its safeguard. We have written to the Union Ministry of Commerce and Trade for timely intervention,” said Mukherjee.
According to him, it is imperative that the Union government and the Darjeeling tea industry work together to educate consumers about the value of Darjeeling tea.
“Consumers are usually confused. They fail to determine the difference between Darjeeling tea and the ones from Nepal that are being sold as ‘tea from the Himalayas’, because Darjeeling also falls under the same category. We must launch programmes to educate consumers on this,” advised Mukherjee.
The Chamong Tea Group owns 14 tea gardens in the hills that alone produce 1.4 million kg of organic tea. As much as 75 per cent of the produce is exported to countries such as Germany, the UK, Japan and the US.
Gorkhaland Territorial Administration chief executive and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung was also present at the Soom TE function, but declined to speak to the media on the matter.
Source:EOI
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| The renowned Darjeeling tea in one of the gardens. |
“Darjeeling tea has been sold in European markets since ages and has a brand value there. But of late, competition is coming from an unlikely quarter - Nepal,” noted Sandeep Mukherjee, principal advisor to the Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA), an umbrella organisation of the 87 tea gardens of the Darjeeling hills.
Mukherjee warned the tea from Nepal is gaining ground in European markets and this could have an adverse impact on the export of Darjeeling tea to those markets.
“The Nepal variety is expanding slowly in Europe even though Darjeeling tea has a stronghold in markets there. But if the rise of Nepal tea continues, the consequences could be felt in the export of Darjeeling tea,” he cautioned.
Darjeeling produces more than 9 million kg of tea annually, of which the majority is exported to Europe as well as to the US and Japan. The first and the second flush are the most sought-after products in those markets and fetch record prices.
Unfortunately, tea production in the Darjeeling hills is facing unprecedented problems such as drought, natural disasters as well as disturbances from the political perspective.
During the puja ceremony organised today by the Chamong Tea Group at Soom Tea Estate to mark the start of a fortnight’s celebrations of 25 years of the company’s existence, the DTA principal advisor said the Union government had been apprised about the threat posed by Nepal.
“Darjeeling tea is a brand like Champagne and is included as a Global Indicator (GI) to ensure its safeguard. We have written to the Union Ministry of Commerce and Trade for timely intervention,” said Mukherjee.
According to him, it is imperative that the Union government and the Darjeeling tea industry work together to educate consumers about the value of Darjeeling tea.
“Consumers are usually confused. They fail to determine the difference between Darjeeling tea and the ones from Nepal that are being sold as ‘tea from the Himalayas’, because Darjeeling also falls under the same category. We must launch programmes to educate consumers on this,” advised Mukherjee.
The Chamong Tea Group owns 14 tea gardens in the hills that alone produce 1.4 million kg of organic tea. As much as 75 per cent of the produce is exported to countries such as Germany, the UK, Japan and the US.
Gorkhaland Territorial Administration chief executive and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung was also present at the Soom TE function, but declined to speak to the media on the matter.
Source:EOI
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