Indian orthodox tea gets a boost as crisis impacts Sri Lankan trade

India - which has just stepped into the quality period for orthodox - is reaping the benefits of the anticipated shortfall

It’s a busy season for Indian producers of orthodox tea.

As Sri Lanka, the world’s largest supplier of orthodox tea, struggles with its worst economic crisis, a window of opportunity has opened up in neighbouring India. Calls to Indian planters and exporters from foreign buyers of Sri Lankan orthodox tea are pouring in and the buoyant sentiment is reflecting in prices at auction centres.

Orthodox tea refers to loose-leaf tea which is produced using traditional or orthodox methods such as plucking, withering, rolling, oxidation and drying.  

Data available on the Tea Exporters Association Sri Lanka website showed that cumulative production during January-April 2022