A total of 116,000 tons of fresh tea leaves were produced in Iran’s three northern provinces this year, out of which 26,000 tons of processed tea were produced, according to the head of Iran Tea Organization.
“Iran’s domestic demand for tea stands at 100,000 tons per year. Our annual production has been hovering between 25,000 tons and 30,000 tons for a few years now, as imports stand between 60,000 and 70,000 tons every year,” Habibollah Jahansaz was also quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency.
The official noted that around one-third, or between 8,000 and 10,000 tons, of Iranian tea are exported to 27 countries with the main destinations being the US, Iraq, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Russia, India and Kenya.
According to Jahansaz, 5 million tons of tea are produced globally every year and Iran ranks the world’s 12th biggest cultivator.
“Iranian tea is among the finest produced in the world and is cultivated pesticide-free, therefore, there are no pollutants or residue chemicals affecting its quality and taste,” he said.
There are more than 28,000 hectares of tea plantations in Iran, 22,000 hectares of which bear yields, according to Iran Tea Organization.
More than 55,000 farmers earn their living through tea cultivation in Iran’s northern provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran.
Some 90% of Iran’s tea plantations are located in Gilan Province.
Lahijan 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 and starts late September.
Imports From India Halt
Indian tea exporters on Wednesday said Iran, a major buyer of the product, was not filling up the mandatory pro forma for purchases, as they were waiting for the finalization of a rupee-payment deal.
Secretary-General of Indian Tea Association Arijit Raha said, "We are seeing reports that Iran has stopped importing tea from India. We have informed the Tea Board which is looking into the matter. What we gather is that there are some issues related to the order of registration or invoice, which are not being issued by Iranian importers.”
Sanjay Mukherjee, an export marketing consultant, said his Iranian contacts had told him they were delaying purchases.
“They said they have been told that a rupee-payment deal is being hammered out, which will obviate the need to route trade through third countries,” Mukherjee said.
He added that talks were on between the two governments to settle trade in the Indian rupee due to the sanctions against Iran.
Anshuman Kanoria, chairman of Indian Tea Exporters Association, said the organization is awaiting clarification from the Tea Board in this regard.
No comments were available from the Tea Board.
