Darjeeling tea exporters pin hopes on GI tag

Darjeeling has been on the boil since June 8 after the principal hill party, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), renewed the movement for a separate Gorkhaland state. The GJM began the indefinite shutdown from June 12. 

“Due to non-availability of Darjeeling tea, the buyers would not be able to get it. If they are unable to get it, there is a possibility that players from other countries, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya – will be able to make a breakthrough into the market,” Aditya Khaitan, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of McLeod Russel India, the world’s largest bulk tea producer said. 

Citing a 1984 situation when there was an export ban on CTC (crush tear curl) tea – the most popular and largely produced variety in the Indian domestic market – he said: “I heard that due to the export ban, lot of English market players started buying Kenyan tea. Till now, it is difficult for us (the industry) to get back the market share that the industry had in 1984. The only concern is that if the players change the blend and get tea from some other origin, Darjeeling may have difficulties in future. It is an apprehension.” 

Goodricke Group Ltd’s MD AN Singh recently said the morning cuppa could not go empty, and as such, tea from other origins, which are similar to Darjeeling, would “make their way through.” “Once the original tea is replaced by the blend, it (Darjeeling tea) would lose the market favour and this is our biggest fear,” he said.