Guwahati: Assam has become the first state in India to commercially produce Matcha tea, with Chota Tingrai Tea Estate in Tinsukia launching the country’s first commercially manufactured batch of the premium green tea.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the development on Friday, describing it as a significant diversification for Assam’s tea industry that would strengthen the global positioning of Assam Tea.
“Your favourite Matcha brew will now be produced in Assam. Furthering our glorious tea legacy, Assam becomes the first State in India to commercially produce Matcha tea at the Chota Tingrai Tea Estate in Tinsukia,” Sarma said in a post on X.
He said the initiative was made possible through India-Japan collaboration and added that the first batch had fetched a “handsome price” at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC).
Chota Tingrai Tea Estate has spent the past decade working with Japanese tea manufacturers, agronomists, equipment suppliers and tea experts to develop the product. The estate has established a fully automated Japanese tea manufacturing facility, combining Assam’s tea-growing expertise with Japanese production techniques.
The first batch of Indian-produced Matcha was sold during Sale 27 at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre. Lot No. 7001 was auctioned at Rs 3,000 through J. Thomas & Co. Pvt. Ltd. and purchased by Guwahati-based Sheosons Chai Co. on July 3.
Traditionally produced in Japan, China and Vietnam, Matcha is a premium green tea made by finely grinding specially shade-grown tea leaves into a fine powder. Unlike conventional green tea, where the leaves are steeped and discarded, Matcha is consumed in its entirety after being whisked into water.
With global demand for Matcha rising and supplies remaining constrained, the launch marks a diversification of Assam’s tea portfolio beyond its internationally known black teas and is expected to open new opportunities in specialty tea and export markets.
“We have been working with tea experts from Japan for the past decade to introduce the highest quality of green tea to the Indian market,” said Mrityunjay Jalan, Director of Chota Tingrai Tea Estate.
“While we have successfully sold whole-leaf green tea grades for the past ten years, the launch of authentic Indian Matcha is a milestone we are incredibly proud of. It is the result of a dedicated partnership with our Japanese counterparts, and we are confident that Matcha from Chota Tingrai will soon find a home in both Indian and international households,” he added.