Tea traders hope to boost US exports.

KOLKATA: A delegation comprising representatives of the US Tea Association and US-based Speciality Tea Institute plans to visit India in September to hold discussions with domestic tea producers in an effort to increase imports of the finest Darjeeling tea.

This comes as consumers in the United States are developing a taste for the premium variety of tea, which at times fetches a price of Rs 1.12 lakh per kg from the traditional Japanese and German buyers. "The team will visit the tea estates in Assam and Darjeeling to get a feel of how black tea is produced in India.

They will consider all types of teas, with special emphasis on Darjeeling tea," Darjeeling Tea Association chairman SS Bagaria told ET.

This is the first time that a delegation from the US Tea Association will be visiting India, Bagaria said. A team from the Tea Association of Canada will also visit India along with US Tea Association.

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com