Kangra tea gets European GI tag

April 1, 2023

The European Union (EU) has granted the Geographical Indicator (GI) tag to Kangra tea. This will help the tea growers of Kangra export their produce to Europe.
- The Kangra tea had got the Indian GI tag in 2005.
According to experts, the production of Kangra tea has fallen to just 8 lakh kg per annum against 17 lakh kg per annum, the highest production recorded in 1998.
The said production is just .01 per cent of the total 90 million kg tea produced in the country.
The low yield and lack of initiative among local tea farmers are primary responsible for less production of Kangra tea, according to experts.
At present, the average yield of tea in Kangra is 230 kg per hectare.
- However, the average yield of tea is 1,800 kg per hectare at the country level.
Despite low yield, farmers are carrying out tea plantation in Kangra as the government does not allow the land under tea for any other use.