Syria resumes import of Indian tea after hiatus of 50 years

New Delhi, Oct 28 (KNN) After a gap of 50 years, Syria has started buying tea from India and the consignments are routed through Lebanon owing to the sanctions imposed by US and EU on the Central Asian country. 

In absence of supplies from Sri Lanka in the market, Indian traders said that countries such as Iraq and Turkey are also buying good quantities of orthodox teas from India, reported ET.

“Syria has started buying tea from India in the absence of Sri Lanka, which is a major orthodox player. Tea is going to the country through Beirut and payment is routed through some other countries. The demand for orthodox tea in Syria is good,” said Anish Bhansali, managing partner of tea exporting firm Bhansali & Co.

Loose-leaf tea, produced using traditional or orthodox methods such as plucking, withering, rolling, oxidation and drying is referred to as orthodox tea. 

The other main variety, CTC tea, is processed using the crush, tear and curl method and accounts for a larger portion of India’s tea exports.

India’s neighbour Sri Lanka dominates the largest share which is half of the global trade in orthodox teas. 

Sri Lanka’s absence in the market due to political turmoil in the country has helped India enter orthodox tea consuming nations.

According to Tea Board figures. India’s exports of orthodox tea during January-July totalled 57.70 million kg, compared with 48.11 million kg in the first seven months of 2021.  (KNN Bureau)