A total 3,376 tons of Iranian tea worth $3.28 million were exported to 20 countries in the first two months of the current Iranian year (March 21-May 21), according to the executive manager of the Tea Factories Syndicate.
“Over the same period, 12,623 tons of tea worth $62.83 million were imported,” Sadeq Hassani was also quoted as saying by Young Journalists Club.
The official noted that green tea leaf harvest in Iran’s northern provinces since the beginning of the year up until June 27 reached 56,700 tons worth 5 trillion rials (around $15 million).
“Due to low precipitation levels and high temperatures, domestic tea production is expected to decline this year,” he added.
Last year (March 2021-22), about 137,000 tons of fresh tea leaves worth 7.6 trillion rials ($23 million) were harvested in Iran, registering a 3% and 48% rise in weight and value respectively compared with the previous year’s figures, the head of Iran Tea Organization told Mehr News Agency.
"A total of 31,000 tons of processed tea were derived from last year’s yields, showing close to a 4% increase compared with the preceding year’s output,” Habibollah Jahansaz added.
A total of 5 million tons of tea are produced globally every year and Iran currently ranks the world’s 12th biggest cultivator. Iranian tea is among the finest produced across the globe and is cultivated pesticide-free, therefore no pollutants or residue chemicals mar its quality, health and taste.
There are currently 28,000 hectares of tea plantations in the country, 22,000 hectares of which bear yields, according to Iran Tea Organization figures.
More than 55,000 farmers earn their living through tea cultivation in Iran’s northern provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran where the product is considered an economically strategic commodity.
Some 90% of Iran’s tea plantations are located in Gilan Province. Lahijan County in eastern Gilan is known as Iran’s tea production capital.
The crop undergoes three harvests a year: the spring harvest that starts in late April, the second in summer begins early June and the last one is in autumn starts late September.
Iran's Tea Association put the domestic demand for tea at 120 tons per annum.
The first tea harvester made in Iran was recently unveiled and production lines have been set up for large-scale industrial production, according to the head of Agricultural Mechanization Expansion Center.
“The tea harvester has a 74-horsepower engine and can reap yields from around two hectares of farms per day. The machine makes tea production cost-effective for farmers as it reduces production expenses by 60% per hectare,” Kambiz Abbasi was quoted as saying by IRIB News.
The official noted that high wages and low quality have always been problematic in tea production, both of which can be solved using the new combine.
It was recently reported that Iran rejected tea sent from India due to phytosanitary issues and presence of pesticides beyond permissible limits.
In Iran, Sri Lanka was the only competitor for Indian tea exports. With Sri Lankan economy facing challenges, Iran's entire market is up for grabs for Indian tea exporters, Mint reported.
