Tea Board in its notification allows sellers to mix as long as they don’t claim the end product to be an exclusive item covered by GI label
The Centre will allow the blending of imported tea with Indian varieties protected by geographical indications (GI) tags, diluting a previous order which prohibited the practice for any blend.
The Tea Board of India issued a notification on Tuesday which will let sellers mix Darjeeling tea with any other varieties, especially Nepal tea in their packs — as long as the end product does not claim to be an exclusive item covered by the GI label.
The prohibition, which was set in motion with an order on November 11, 2021, had impacted the bottom rung of the Darjeeling tea industry in terms of quality.
The gardens were dependent on domestic buyers such as Tata Consumers Products Ltd, which would pick up the tea that could not be otherwise exported such as the globally renowned first and the second flush.
Following last year’s order, TCPL had largely refrained from buying Darjeeling tea this season, leading to a dip…
