Snapshot

• Why Assam is iconic:
  Assam is India’s tea heartland, producing over 50% of India’s total tea output, making it one of the world’s largest tea-growing regions. The Brahmaputra Valley’s unique terroir, with humid climate, rich alluvial soil, and heavy rainfall, creates full-bodied, malty teas recognized globally.
  
  • Jorhat: Home to the Tocklai Tea Research Institute (TTRI), the oldest tea research center in the world (established 1911).
    
  • Dibrugarh: Known as the “Tea City of India,” it hosts numerous heritage tea estates and processing factories.
    Assam tea is famous for CTC (Crush-Tear-Curl) tea for strong blends and Orthodox tea for premium single-origin export markets.
    
• Global Positioning:
  Assam tea is GI-tagged and exported to Europe, Middle East, Russia, Japan, and the US. India is the second-largest tea producer globally, and Assam’s teas dominate both auction sales (Guwahati Tea Auction Centre) and direct exports.
  

Product & Variety Range

Category	Key Products
CTC Tea	Strong, brisk teas for blends and mass-market consumption
Orthodox Tea	Premium whole-leaf teas, golden tips, specialty teas
Green Tea	Steamed and pan-fired teas for health-conscious markets
White & Specialty Teas	Silver tips, Assam golden tips
Tea Blends	Breakfast teas, chai blends, flavored teas
Instant Tea Extracts	Tea powders, concentrates for beverages

Cluster Strengths

Feature	Details
Largest Tea Region	Assam produces 700M+ kg annually, >50% of India’s tea output
Heritage Plantations	Tea cultivation introduced in 1837 under British rule
Research Ecosystem	Tocklai Tea Research Institute leads R&D and quality innovation
Global Recognition	GI-tagged teas with strong global brand identity
Auction Network	Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) among the largest in the world

Materials & Sustainability

• Cultivation: Camellia sinensis var. assamica
  
• Agro Practices:
  
  • Shade-grown plantations, organic certification, and integrated pest management (IPM)
    
  • Mechanized plucking in large estates and hand-plucking for specialty teas
    
• Sustainability Initiatives:
  
  • Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade certifications
    
  • Worker welfare programs under Tea Board of India guidelines
    
  • Carbon-neutral tea estates and solar-powered processing
    

Cluster Infrastructure

• Industrial Estates:
  
  • Jorhat: Research-driven estates, innovation in tea processing
    
  • Dibrugarh: Dense network of plantations and legacy factories
    
• Institutions:
  
  • Tocklai Tea Research Institute (TTRI)
    
  • Tea Board of India regional offices
    
  • Assam Agricultural University for tea R&D
    
• Connectivity:
  
  • Dibrugarh Airport and NH-37 for cargo transport
    
  • Inland waterways via Brahmaputra for logistics
    
  • Access to Kolkata, Haldia, and Paradip ports for exports
    

Compliance & Certifications

Certification	Details
GI Tag – Assam Tea	Geographic Indication protection
Rainforest Alliance Certified	Sustainable cultivation practices
Fairtrade Certification	Ethical sourcing and worker welfare
ISO 22000, HACCP	Food safety certifications for export
Organic Certification	For specialty organic Assam teas

Production Timelines & MOQs

Product Type	Harvest Season	Bulk Lead Time	MOQ Guidance
CTC Tea	March–December	Continuous	1–5 MT
Orthodox Tea	March–October	Seasonal	500+ kg
Specialty Tea	Seasonal (June peak)	Pre-booking	50–100 kg
Instant Tea	Year-round	2–3 weeks	500+ kg

Branding & Packaging

• Branding: GI-certified Assam Tea logo; QR-coded traceability for single-origin teas
  
• Packaging:
  
  • Bulk: 35–40 kg paper sacks, jute bags with inner poly liners
    
  • Retail: Tin caddies, pouches, pyramid tea bags
    
• Marketing Narrative:
  “Assam: India’s legendary tea region, known for its bold flavors, golden tips, and heritage plantations, powering the world’s favorite blends.”
  

Quality Control (IndiaUnbox Protocol)

• Leaf QC: Plucking standards, moisture levels, leaf grading
  
• Factory QC: Withering, fermentation, drying, sorting control
  
• Export QC: ISO and HACCP-compliant sampling, pesticide residue testing
  
• Flavor Profiling: Taste panels for briskness, body, and aroma consistency
  

Price Drivers

• Seasonality (first flush and second flush teas command premium prices)
  
• Certification costs (Rainforest Alliance, Organic)
  
• Hand-plucked vs. mechanized harvesting
  
• Auction price volatility (GTAC rates)
  
• Global demand for specialty teas
  

Buyer Confidence Signals

• GI Protection: Assam Tea’s authenticity assured through certification
  
• Heritage Legacy: Over 180 years of tea-growing excellence
  
• Global Exports: Strong demand in UK, Japan, Russia, EU markets
  
• Worker Welfare: Tea Board’s focus on housing, healthcare, and fair wages
  
• Innovation & R&D: Tocklai’s role in sustainable cultivation and quality innovation