Tea, or Sah, as the Assamese people call it, is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water. On average, more than six billion cups of tea are consumed globally each day. Drinking tea has been regarded as a healthpromoting habit since ancient times, with modern medicinal research providing substantial evidence to support its benefits.
For Indians, tea is deeply intertwined with hospitality and serves as a mood refresher, energy booster, and immunity enhancer. To an Assamese, tea is more than just a beverage— it is intrinsically linked to Assam’s rich historical legacy and cultural heritage. Tea has been the soul of Assam, inspiring Mulk Raj Anand’s 1937 novel Two Leaves and a Bud and being beautifully captured in the song Eti Kuhi Duti Pat, rendered by world-renowned singer and Bharat Ratna awardee Dr. Bhupen Hazarika in 1955. Assam tea, often celebrated as “Green Gold,” has been cherished across generations.
Beyond its literary and cultural significance, tea continues to be a source of refreshment and invigoration in daily life, mesmerizing the world with its unique flavour and aroma.
Assam is the largest tea-growing state in India and represents the world’s single-largest tea-growing region. It is also the birthplace of tea in India. Although Major Robert William Bruce, a Scottish explorer, merchant, and former Major in the Bengal Artillery, discovered wild tea plants in 1823 at Rangpur (near present-day Sivasagar district), the first plantations were started by Shri Maniram Dewan, a local native, at Cinnamara near Jorhat. Inherited from the British, Assam tea was first shipped to London in 1838 and auctioned in January 1839. This rich legacy of over 200 years is built on inherent strengths and a remarkable record of socioeconomic contributions, making it a story worth celebrating.
The state of Assam has 762 tea gardens in the organized sector, 481 estate factories, 331 bought-leaf factories, and approximately 1.33 lakh registered small tea growers in its ecosystem. The total area under tea cultivation is 3.59 lakh hectares, constituting 57% of India’s total tea plantation area. The tea sector directly employs about seven lakh workers, with twice as many engaged in ancillary activities. Assam is a major tea-producing state, contributing more than 50% of India’s total tea production.
Small tea growers in Assam account for approximately 47% of the state’s total tea production and about 23% of India’s overall tea production. It is estimated that Assam contributes around 80 million kg to India’s total tea exports.
Assam means ‘one without equal,’ and this holds true for its tea as well. It is often said, “You haven’t fully woken up if you haven’t sipped Assam Chai.” This variety is known for its rich, deep amber colour and is famous for its brisk, strong, and malty character, offering a full-bodied cup. Over the last 200 years, Assam Tea has become a significant economic asset for the state.
“Assam Orthodox Tea” is a Registered Geographical Indication (GI), and “Assam Tea” is a copyrighted mark owned by the Tea Board of India. To commemorate 200 years of Assam Tea, the Tea Board of India collaborated with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) to develop a special logo, which was launched in Guwahati on the occasion of International Tea Day (21st May 2023).
The Tea Board of India is a corporate body established under Section 4 of the Tea Act, 1953. It is responsible for the overall development of the tea industry in India and operates under the administrative control of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
The North Eastern Zonal Office of the Tea Board was established in Guwahati in 1983. In addition to the Zonal Office, which is headed by the Executive Director in Guwahati, there are currently six Regional Offices and five Sub-Regional Offices spread across Assam. These offices cater to the needs of the tea industry, particularly supporting small tea growers at the grassroots level.
Since its inception, the Tea Board has formulated various schemes to foster the growth of the tea industry in India, with a special focus on Assam. Additionally, the Board implements welfare schemes for tea garden workers, supplementing the provisions of the Plantation Labour Act, 1951.
The Tea Board actively conducts training programs and workshops for small tea growers on field cultivation practices, quality assurance, and related subjects.
The various schemes implemented by the Tea Board, along with the entrepreneurial efforts of stakeholders, have significantly transformed the tea industry in Assam, as demonstrated in the following table (Page 109-Top).
Tea Board India is currently implementing the Tea Development & Promotion Scheme (2025-26). The major objectives of this ongoing scheme include increasing production, productivity, and quality; mobilizing small tea growers into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to help them realize greater value for their cultivated tea; enhancing tea exports and brand promotion; providing extension services and technological interventions; promoting research and development through Tea Research Institutes; and ensuring the welfare and capacity building of tea garden workers and small tea growers.
Recognizing the potential of small tea growers, the Board has been organizing them into SHGs and FPOs to improve operational synergy and move up the value chain. There is significant potential in this sector for producing specialty tea through the establishment of mini-tea factories. Small growers’ plantations are also well-suited for conversion to organic cultivation. Some groups have already set up their own tea processing factories, and the procedural requirements for establishing mini-tea factories have been simplified.
Assam has witnessed a surge in the growth of small tea holdings over the past decade. As of 2023, there are 1.33 lakh small tea holdings, contributing 47.44% of Assam’s total tea production (326.52 million kg out of 688.33 million kg). Most small tea growers (STGs) are first-generation, young, and educated entrepreneurs who are making significant contributions to the transformation of rural Assam’s socio-economic landscape through tea cultivation. Between 2019 and 2022, Tea Board India extended benefits to more than 50,000 small tea growers through its scheme implementation.
The Board is actively assisting and encouraging scientific, technological, and economic research, primarily through the Tea Research Association in Assam, to address the industry’s needs for higher productivity, improved quality, cost-effective pest management, and climate change mitigation.
Also Read: Assam a destination for all seasons and reasons
Tea Board India has been collaborating with the Government of Assam to implement the highly regarded Assam Tea Industry Special Incentive Scheme (ATISIS), aimed at the welfare and development of tea garden workers, especially women and children. Additionally, the Pradhan Mantri Cha Shramik Protsahan Yojana (PMCSPY), to be implemented in partnership with the Government of Assam, seeks to introduce need-based interventions in tea garden areas, particularly in education and healthcare services for tea workers.
The vision and objectives of Tea Board India focus on enhancing the productivity and quality of Assam tea while ensuring its sustainability to secure the livelihoods of all stakeholders, including tea garden workers. Tea Board India remains steadfastly committed to promoting sustainable growth and ensuring a bright future for Assam’s entire tea ecosystem, contributing to the state’s overall economic growth.
Views Expressed by- Arunita Phukan, IRS Executive Director, North East Zonal Office Guwahati, Tea Board India
Be a part of Elets Collaborative Initiatives. Join Us for Upcoming Events and explore business opportunities. Like us on Facebook , connect with us on LinkedIn and follow us on Twitter, Instagram.
"Exciting news! Elets technomedia is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest insights!" Click here!
