Assam tea estate becomes first in India to produce matcha
An Assam-based estate has launched the first commercial production of Japanese-style powdered green tea in India. The project is the result of a decade-long collaboration between Indian and Japanese partners.
Amalgamated from NDTV (opens in new tab), Times of India (opens in new tab), Indian Express (opens in new tab)
An Assam tea estate has become the first in India to commercially produce and sell matcha, a Japanese style of powdered green tea. The product is currently being sold at 3,000 rupees per kilogram.
According to NDTV, the initiative follows a decade long collaboration between Indian and Japanese partners. This partnership was aimed at establishing local production methods for high value products within the region.
Reports from the Times of India and the Indian Express also confirm that this marks the first batch of domestically produced matcha in the country. These outlets reported on the launch by the Assam estate as a milestone for domestic manufacturing.
Why this matters
The move represents an effort to integrate international processing techniques into the local tea industry, potentially increasing the market value and diversity of products manufactured in India's primary tea-growing regions.
What's confirmed / what isn't
Multiple sources confirm that an Assam estate is the first to commercially produce matcha in India following a ten-year partnership with Japanese collaborators. The specific price point of 3,000 rupees per kilogram was reported by NDTV.
Background
Matcha is a powdered green tea traditionally prepared in Japan by grinding high-quality green tea leaves. Assam is one of the world's largest regions for tea production, primarily known for black tea.