Assam becomes 1st state to commercially produce Matcha tea: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Guwahati, July 3
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday that the state has become the first in India to commercially produce Matcha tea, marking a significant diversification of Assam's globally renowned tea industry.
In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister said the first commercial production of Matcha tea has been achieved at the Chota Tingrai Tea Estate in Tinsukia district.
"Your favourite Matcha brew will now be produced in Assam. Furthering our glorious tea legacy, Assam becomes the first state in India to commercially produce Matcha tea at the Chota Tingrai Tea Estate in Tinsukia," Chief Minister Sarma added.
He said that the diversification into the globally popular beverage would strengthen Assam's tea industry by opening new market opportunities and boosting value addition.
According to the Chief Minister, the first lot of Assam-produced Matcha tea was sold for Rs 3,000 at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, signalling encouraging market acceptance for the premium product.
Chief Minister Sarma said the achievement was the outcome of a decade-long Indo-Japan collaboration aimed at introducing innovation into Assam's tea sector through technical expertise, specialised machinery and knowledge sharing.
He noted that commercial Matcha production would help the state's tea industry diversify beyond conventional black tea while catering to the growing global demand for premium green tea products.
Assam, the country's largest tea-producing state, has been making sustained efforts to expand its product portfolio and enhance the value of its tea exports through innovation and adoption of modern processing techniques.
The Chief Minister said the successful commercial production of Matcha tea reflects the state's commitment to modernising its tea sector while preserving its rich heritage.
Matcha, a finely ground powder made from specially cultivated green tea leaves, has witnessed a sharp rise in global popularity in recent years owing to its use in beverages, desserts and health-focused food products.
The development is expected to create new opportunities for Assam's tea growers and processors by enabling them to tap into premium domestic and international markets.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Really proud of Assam! 🍵 That Rs 3,000 per lot at Guwahati Tea Auction Centre is a fantastic signal. Hopefully this opens doors for small tea growers too, not just big estates. More value addition means better income for local farmers.
Interesting move, but let's see how sustainable this is. Matcha requires specific cultivation and processing methods. The Indo-Japan collaboration sounds promising, but we need to ensure quality standards match Japanese Matcha. Otherwise it'll just be another green tea powder.
Great diversification! As someone who loves Matcha lattes, I'd love to try Assam-produced Matcha. 🇮🇳 Hope it's available online soon for us in other states.
This is a smart move. Assam's tea industry has been too dependent on CTC tea, and global trends are shifting towards specialty teas. Matcha is just the beginning – we should explore other premium products like white tea and oolong too. The 10-year Indo-Japan collaboration shows patience pays off.
Good initiative from CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. But I hope the benefits reach the actual tea garden workers and smallholders, not just the big companies. Diversification is good, but social equity in the tea sector must also be addressed.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.