The Hindu Business Line : Second edition of tea quality contest in Feb

ENTHUSED by the success of the first tea quality competition - The Golden Leaf India Awards (TGLIA) - in September 2005, Upasi and the Tea Board are planning to roll out the second edition of the competition.

TGLIA 2006 is expected to coincide with the Global Dubai Tea Forum, slated at Dubai between February 25 and February 27.

Mr N. Dharmaraj, Convenor, Organising Committee, TGLIA: Southern Tea Competition 2006, said the effort was aimed at sustaining the quality renaissance of the South Indian tea industry.

The format and protocol, he said, would almost be on the lines of the first competition.

As in the earlier edition, the competition is expected to be for teas from the six regions - Nilgiris, High Ranges, Anamallais, Travancore, Wayanad and Karnataka, apart from other minor districts, including the bought leaf sector. The organisers are planning to give separate awards for CTC, orthodox and organic tea.

According to Mr Dharmaraj, 64 teas would be taken to Dubai for the final screening.

He said teas manufactured up to February 6 would be eligible for the competition.

The samples would be collected between February 1 and February 6 and the first level of screening would take place in Coonoor during mid-February, to be followed by technical analysis on pesticide residues and heavy metals at the accredited labs of Upasi Tea Research Foundation.

The final screening is expected to take place in Dubai on February 25, where a seven-member international jury would evaluate the teas.

The awards would be announced at the Global Tea Forum 2006.