In order to expand steadily growing market for black tea in China, India has made a strong pitch by organising a tea promotion campaign. This will help in scaling up the tea trade between the two countries. People in China, where tea originated, mainly consumes green teas without milk unlike black Indian tea. The Indian Embassy in association with the Tea Board of India and China Tea Marketing Association held the Indian tea promotion event from October 23-25.
The Tea Board of India’s Deputy Chairman Anil Kumar Ray said that India last year exported about 9 million tonnes of tea which constituted about 30% of China's imports. Today, China is major producer of green tea with annual production of 2,550 million kilograms. India is a major producer of black tea with annual production of 1,278 million kilograms. India is the third largest tea exporter to China.
Last year, India exported tea worth $25 million to China. India last year has exported 251 million kilograms of tea. This included Russia (50 million kilograms). Other countries of Indian exports included Iran, the UAE, the UK, Pakistan, the USA and Egypt. China makes about 2500 million kilograms of tea.