Assam-Made Tea Cakes Sold At ₹12,000/Kg, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• Assam-made pu’er tea cakes from Gauripur Tea Industry sold for ₹12,000 per kg at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC).
• This marks a significant development for Assam tea, traditionally known for black and green varieties.
• The sale opens avenues for other traditional teas like phalap tea from the Singpho community to be auctioned.
• The Assam government increased the subsidy on orthodox and speciality teas from ₹10 to ₹15 per kg, effective from financial year 2026-27.

Detailed Insights:

• Pu’er tea is traditionally produced in China’s Yunnan province, and its successful production in Assam highlights innovation in the state's tea industry.
• Gauripur Tea Industry produced Sheng-style pu’er tea, which involves a faster processing method compared to the aged Shou-style.
• The tea was made using the assamica variety of tea leaves, which are naturally found in Assam.
• The production process for this pu’er tea is entirely handmade, emphasizing artisanal quality.
• This is the second time Gauripur Tea Industry has sold pu’er tea at an auction, with a previous sale at the Jorhat Tea Auction Centre in 2023.
• Phalap tea, a traditional tea of the Singpho community, is aged in bamboo and shares characteristics with pu’er tea, suggesting future market potential.
• The increased subsidy aims to support and encourage the production of higher-value tea products in Assam.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Pu’er Tea: A fermented tea, traditionally from Yunnan, China, known for its distinctive taste developed through ageing.
• Sheng-style Pu’er: A type of pu’er tea that is processed and compressed relatively quickly, designed to age over time.
• Shou-style Pu’er: A type of pu’er tea that undergoes an accelerated fermentation process to mimic aged pu’er.
• Phalap Tea: A traditional tea of the Singpho community in Assam, aged in bamboo, known for its earthy, woody, and smoky character.