Tinsukia |  Assam’s Chota Tingrai Tea Estate has achieved a major milestone in the country’s tea industry by becoming the first tea estate in India to commercially manufacture Matcha tea, a premium green tea product traditionally associated with Japan.

The breakthrough comes after nearly a decade of collaboration with Japanese tea manufacturers, agronomists, equipment suppliers and tea experts aimed at developing authentic Matcha production in Assam.

To realise the project, the estate established a fully automated Japanese tea manufacturing facility, combining Assam’s long-standing tea-growing tradition with advanced Japanese processing techniques.

The first commercially produced batch of Indian Matcha was sold during Sale No. 27 at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre. Lot No. 7001 fetched a price of Rs 3,000 and was purchased by Sheosons Chai Co. through auctioneers J. Thomas & Co. Pvt. Ltd..

Matcha is a high-value powdered green tea that is widely consumed across global markets and is primarily produced in Japan, China and Vietnam. Industry experts note that rising international demand has led to supply shortages, making the emergence of an Indian producer particularly significant.

The launch of Assam-produced Matcha is expected to diversify the state’s tea portfolio beyond its globally recognised black teas and open new opportunities in the specialty tea and export sectors.

Speaking on the achievement, Mrityunjay Jalan said the project was the culmination of ten years of close cooperation with Japanese tea specialists.

“We have been working with tea experts from Japan for the past decade to introduce the highest quality green tea to the Indian market. While we have successfully marketed whole-leaf green tea grades over the years, the launch of authentic Indian Matcha marks a significant milestone. We are confident that Matcha from Chota Tingrai will find acceptance in both domestic and international markets,” he said.

The development has also drawn praise from industry stakeholders. Bidyananda Barkakoty, Adviser to the North Eastern Tea Association, described the achievement as a proud moment for Assam’s tea sector.

“Matcha tea is gaining immense popularity worldwide. It is a matter of pride that a tea estate in Assam is now producing high-quality Matcha. Japan has traditionally dominated global Matcha production and exports, making this a significant accomplishment for the state,” he said.

Industry observers believe the successful commercial production of Matcha could help Assam tap into the rapidly expanding global market for specialty teas while enhancing value addition and creating new export opportunities for the state’s tea industry.