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🇸🇬 Singapore /Economy & Trade

Matcha, with a twist of Assam: India enters the global matcha production line

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • India has entered the global matcha production market with its first commercial batch of green tea processed in Assam.
  • The tea, made from an indigenous variety and using Japanese machinery, was sold at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre.
  • This development capitalizes on the skyrocketing global demand for matcha, driven by health benefits and cultural interest.

India is making its mark on the global matcha scene with the successful production and sale of its first commercial batch of the powdered green tea. Processed in Assam, a region historically known for black tea, this new venture utilizes an indigenous tea variety and Japanese processing technology.

The historic sale took place at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, marking a significant moment for India's long-standing tea industry. This move into matcha production aligns with a global surge in demand for the tea, fueled by its perceived health benefits and growing popularity in cafes and culinary applications worldwide.

The Jalan family, owners of the Chota Tingrai tea estate in Assam, spearheaded this initiative. After years of producing green tea with Japanese partners, they experimented with matcha, successfully producing a pilot batch in 2017 from the local Camellia assamica variety. Buoyed by the increasing demand in India, projected to reach $167 million by 2030, they relaunched production on a commercial scale in 2026.

While India remains deeply attached to its traditional milky masala chai, this foray into matcha production represents an important diversification. Chota Tingrai's matcha currently commands a premium price, signaling the potential for this new frontier in India's rich tea heritage.

The demand was difficult to ignore.

— Mrityunjay JalanFourth-generation owner of Chota Tingrai, explaining the decision to enter matcha production.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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