Guwahati tea auction centre brings green tea under hammer

GUWAHATI: In what is expected to provide an impetus to green tea in Assam, the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) has decided to allow sale of green tea through its auction platform. This is the first time that green tea is being auctioned.

"This decision has been taken with a view to provide the green tea manufacturers of northeastern states a fair market which will allow them to fetch competitive prices for these high-value teas," GTAC member Dipanjal Deka told ET.

GTAC is largely a CTC (crush-tear-curl) auction centre. Deka said looking at the high value of these teas and also the limited production, the committee members decided to allow these teas to be sold in GTAC.

Cultivation of green tea is growing in the northeast. The green tea market in India is expanding at about 50% annually and is estimated to be worth around Rs 400 crore.

Deka said as a goodwill gesture, the committee also decided to allow registration of green tea manufactures at the GTAC for a token amount of Rs 1,000. This is aimed at encouraging them to come to the auction platform.