Is A White Tea Boom In The Offing?

Of late, white tea in Assam is being auctioned at record prices, prompting us to look at the future of this speciality tea

- Manjum Mahanta

Assam has become synonymous with tea; and you cannot travel across the State without noticing lush tea gardens dotted with workers plucking the leaves. Black tea, oolong tea and green tea are some of the varieties that Assam is known for. Out of which, orthodox and CTC (Crush Tear Curl) processed black tea dominates the market. However in the last couple of years, a new contender seems to have emerged in the form of white tea.

It is true that Assam produces black tea and green tea in huge quantities, but there has been a constant attempt to produce white tea on a commercial basis.

The average cost of white tea (per kg) is ₹ 7000 to 8000; most of the white tea produced in the State is exported. Pijush Roy of Kamakhya Tea Trading in Guwahati shares, ‘There are some local tea lovers who buy white tea, never mind the price. Within the country also, there is a rise in demand. But the global market, as in the past, always has more buyers of white tea.’

White tea is the most expensive of all teas and its price ranges from ₹ 8,000 to 12,000 per kg. Made only from the unopened buds and young leaves of the tea plant named Camellia sinensis; its brew is light and delicate with a slightly sweet flavour. It needs to be plucked at the right time, either at the start or at the end of the season and is the least processed of all teas.

Moreover white tea has a lot of health benefits. It was initially used for medical purpose only. It is rich in antioxidants, reduces the risk of heart disease, helps to lose weight, and protects your teeth from bacteria. It also has compounds that may help fight cancer and osteoporosis. But unlike green tea, the health benefits of white tea is not known to a lot of people.

Recently, white tea broke price records in the auctions which raises the question whether Assam needs to work on massive white tea production.

Annual Production