Amidst reports of lukewarm participation from Southern tea industry in the Rs 1.17-crore package drawn by the Tea Board to promote Indian tea during the London Olympics, the Board has confirmed to exhibit in its stall the speciality teas manufactured by three Southern organisations.

“Export-quality teas manufactured by TANTEA, a Tamil Nadu Government-undertaking, orthodox teas of Chamraj and Korakundah estates and Avataa speciality teas of Bluegate Beverages will be showcased in the Tea Board stall. Importers can taste these teas.

“There will be buyer-seller meet to finalise possible export orders.

“We will also use these teas for gift hampers”, the Board Executive Director, Mr R. Ambalavanan told Business Line .

“We have prepared exclusive gift hampers for distribution during London Olympics.

Each pack has three speciality grades – Avataa White Tea, Avataa Twirl Green and Avataa Longding Green Tea. These have been specially manufactured for Olympics from the leaves hand-picked at Billimalai Estate, 6,400 feet above sea level”, the Bluegate Director, Mr G. Udayakumar, said.

The packets contain Tea Board’s Research highlight on tea’s positive impact on health. Some Avataa teas had fetched the highest price among green teas at Nilgiri Winter Speciality tea auction”, he said.

“We have supplied to the Tea Board, speciality teas of Chamraj and Korakundah Estates which have won Golden Leaf India Awards besides green and oolong tea. As teabags constitute 90 per cent of Europe’s tea consumption, we have supplied quality teabags”, the Chamraj Director, Mr D. Hegde, who is also UPASI President, said.

As the Board has not received sanction to brand Indian Tea inside the Olympic venue, it is setting up stalls and counters at Harrods and Heathrow airport.

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