• USAID Dismantled: Help Assess Impact on Tea Globally

    The abrupt termination of USAID’s operations disrupted systems dedicated to the tea sector worldwide. The full impact remains to be seen as stakeholders assess the long-term consequences of this policy shift.

    Will you help Tea Biz identify tea-specific ag programs in jeopardy?

    Sean Hsu Hao Sheng, CEO of Trilliant Tea Industry
    USAID Dismantled
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    Since 1962, USAID’s staff and contractors have operated a network of resident field missions in low-income countries concentrated in South America, Africa, and Asia — continents that produce most of the world’s coffee and tea.

    Sarah Charles at Coffee Intelligence writes that USAID projects initially focused on increasing production, but recent initiatives emphasize sustainable agricultural practices. In coffee, USAID works primarily with smallholder growers who received $45 million in support from 2020 to 2024. Tea projects during this period received an estimated $25 million targeting poverty reduction, capacity-building, and sustainability.

    President Trump, on his first day in office, suspended foreign aid for 90 days. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has since consolidated USAID within the State Department, which he said could lead to the suspension or elimination of programs, projects, or activities; closing or suspending missions or posts; closing, reorganizing, downsizing, or renaming establishments, organizations, bureaus, center, or office; reducing the size of the workforce at such entities and contracting out or privatizing functions or activities performed by federal employees.

    He added, “This is not about getting rid of foreign aid.”

    “There are things we do through USAID that we should continue to do,” he said.

    The mission to advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world remains, but USAID is now dismantled, with all but 250 of the 10,000-member staff fired or furloughed. Freezing funding has interrupted clinical trials, halted the delivery of perishables, and led to the recall of thousands of staff from offices in 60 countries.

    The abrupt termination of USAID’s operations disrupted systems dedicated to the tea sector worldwide. The full impact remains to be seen as stakeholders assess the long-term consequences of this policy shift.

    USAID has ongoing projects in 130 countries, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The USAID East Africa Mission is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and oversees projects in Tanzania, Malawi, and Rwanda. These projects are essential for training, sustainable development, smallholder support and health, and environmental resilience.

    An immediate task is to inventory and report the status of tea sector projects. USAID public relations cannot provide details, so we are compiling this information and sharing it globally via Tea Biz Blog | Podcast

    That’s www.tea-biz.com

    Will you help Tea Biz identify tea-specific ag programs in jeopardy?

    Reporters at news outlets globally are documenting the impact on health, disaster, and refugee relief, focusing attention on the plight of these programs, which may lead others to assist.

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    Dismantling USAID: Help Tea Biz Assess Tea Industry Impact Globally


    TEA FOCUSED PROJECTS

    USAID: TOFI
    The USAID-supported Incubation Center to Boost Agroforestry Innovation in India is a five-year program launched in January 2024 with the Indian Institute of Technology in Guwahati (IIT Guwahati).

    The pioneering TOFI (trees outside forests in India) promotes agroforestry innovation, helping India accelerate rural economic growth and climate adaptation. USAID Mission Director for India, Dr. Steven Olive, said at the program’s launch in January, “By integrating AI and emerging technologies, we are creating pathways for sustainable livelihoods while protecting the environment.”

    Status: unknown


    USAID: MOMENTUM
    India-Yash project with Amalgamated Plantations Private Ltd. (APPL) and four other tea estates to increase awareness and availability of contraceptives for women ages 15 to 49 in eight of Assam’s 31 districts. In India, 56.6% of women of reproductive age who are married or in a union use a modern method of contraception or have a partner who does. In Assam, where one in five people work in tea gardens, that rate is 45.3%. The program has provided information to more than 6,000 tea garden workers. Learn more: India-Yas Project.
    Status: Unknown


    USAID: Climate Smart Ag
    In 2024, The Nepal Tea Collective was awarded a $1 million USAID grant to enhance the livelihoods of tea farmers in Nepal by offering training in climate-smart agriculture practices. Founder Nischal Banskota hired three staff members and explained their progress in assisting local growers during the Year-End Investor Meeting. Fatefully, the meeting was held on Feb. 13, shortly after the Trump Administration announced that virtually everyone at USAID would be terminated the following day.

    Nischal writes, “We have an ongoing project to empower 1000 farmers towards climate-smart agriculture and create a demand for Nepali-origin tea and other botanicals. We received less than one-third of the funds. Everything is up in the air now. We have made so many investments in people and other resources to really make an impactful project, but we are really struggling now to think about how to move forward.”

    Status: Unknown


    USAID on Medium: Stories of USAID’s Work from Around The World

    Assisting in this project are Roopak Goswami, Aravinda Anantharaman, Sonali Yadav

  • Red Sea Shipping Attacks Paused | Carlsberg Acquires UK Bottler Britvic | Kidney Mortality Rates Lower for Tea Drinkers Consuming Oxidized Tea

    Shipping firms are cautiously optimistic that a Gaza truce will enable safe passage through the Suez Canal. The 14-month Red Sea trade route disruption has cost tea companies millions of dollars by forcing all European-bound tea from Asia, South Asia, and Africa to transit South Africa, adding the cost of 10 – 12 days in transit. Drewery’s World Container Index decreased 11% this week to $3,445 per 40ft container, but shipping insurance premiums remain high. Yemen-based Houthis left open the possibility of resuming attacks. | Carlsberg UK Holdings has acquired Britvic, a leading international soft beverage manufacturer and distributor with a portfolio that includes soft drinks, energy drinks, plant milks, bottled juices, sparkling water, mixers, canned coffee, and ready-to-drink tea. Britvic’s annual turnover was £1.899 billion (about USD 2.3 billion) for the fiscal year ending September 2024. During that same period, Carlsberg reported a yearly turnover of 75 billion Danish Kroner (about USD 10.5 billion). | A study published in January in the peer-reviewed journal Renal Failure found that drinking up to four cups of tea daily was significantly associated with reduced deaths in patients with early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) and that oxidized tea has a particularly protective effect. | Singpho chief Duwa Bisa Nat Nong has passed at 71. He was cremated with full state honors by the government in Assam. Chief Nong was the great-great-grandson of the Singpho chief who introduced British explorers to the Assamica bush 180 years ago.

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    Carlsen Acquires Britvic
    Carlsberg Group Acquires UK Bottler Britvic

    Carlsberg Acquires UK Beverage Bottler Britvic for $4.28 Billion

    By Dan Bolton

    Carlsberg UK Holdings has acquired Britvic, a leading international soft beverage manufacturer and distributor with a portfolio that includes soft drinks, energy drinks, plant milks, bottled juices, sparkling water, mixers, canned coffee, and ready-to-drink tea.

    Britvic’s annual turnover was £1.899 (about USD $2.3 billion) for the fiscal year ending September 2024. During that same period, Carlsberg reported an annual turnover of DKK 75 billion (about USD $10.5 billion).

    Britvic produces and distributes Lipton Ice Tea among several brands, including Pepsi Max, Gatorade, 7-UP, and Mountain Dew, under an exclusive licensing agreement with PepsiCo in Great Britain and Ireland.

    With this acquisition, Carlsberg strengthens its relationship with PepsiCo, becoming its largest bottling partner in Europe.

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  • Indian Tea Industry Flags Poor Imports | Chai Point Aims For Guinness Record at The Kumbha Mela | 2nd Inter Tea Garden Football Tournament in Assam This Week

    India Tea News for the week ending January 24, 2025
    India Tea News | Aravinda Anantharaman

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    Kumbh Mela
    Maha Kumbh Mela Pilgrimage | The largest human gathering in the world

    Indian Tea Producers Flag Sub-Standard Imports

    Even as Darjeeling’s tea producers express concern about illegal imports from Nepal, this week, the Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers Association (CISTA) has submitted a letter to the Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal expressing concern about the growing influx of low-quality teas from Kenya and Nepal. The letter said that these imports impact the quality of Indian tea, along with demand and pricing.

    CISTA President Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty shared data that shows a 288% increase in Kenyan imports between January and October 2024, from 3.53 million kg in 2023 to 13.71 million kg. These teas are used for blending and re-exports. Imports from Nepal stood at 13.66 million kg, much of it being sold within the country. He highlighted the lack of regulatory food safety measures on imported tea, particularly from Nepal.

    Eight years ago, the Tea Board decided to counter oversupply by insisting that gardens in north India close for winter. The letter said that the unchecked flow of imported tea undermines these efforts. Flooding the market with cheap, inferior-quality teas will affect the reputation of Indian tea. This letter follows a submission by the Indian Tea Association last week on the issue of Nepal tea.


    Chai Point Set to Create a Record at The Maha Kumbh

    The 45-day Maha Kumbh Mela, an important Hindu pilgrimage in Uttar Pradesh, is ongoing. The event is expected to see 250mn people. Chai Point, the Indian tea brand, was selected as the tea partner along with the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF). Together, they expect to serve over one crore or 10 million cups of tea, hoping to set a Guinness World Record for the most cups sold at a single event. The Maha Kumbh began on the 13th of January and is expected to conclude on February 26th. Chai Point has set up 10 stores for visitors to the Kumbh.


    Women’s Football Thrives in Assam’s Tea Gardens

    To promote football among young girls living in tea gardens, the Assam Tea Tribes Sports and Cultural Association has planned an All Assam Inter Tea Garden Women’s Football Tournament in Dibrugarh. This will be the 2nd edition of the programme. The preliminary round will kick off this week across the state.


    Singpho Chief Nong Passes at 71

    Singpho chief Duwa Bisa Nat Nong has passed at 71. The government of Assam gave him full state honors at a cremation ceremony on Jan. 17. Chief Nong was a descendent of the Singpho chief who introduced British explorers to the Assamica tea bush 180 years ago. His mortal remains were carried on a six-wheeled catafalque pulled by his family members, relatives, well-wishers, and community members. More than a thousand people from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh attended the cremation.

    Nong was the last political Jamedar of India and the Mauzadar of the Tirap Mauza in the Tirap tribal belt under the Margherita subdivision in the Tinsukia district of Assam.

    Duwa Bisa Nat Nong
    Chief Duwa Bisa Nat Nong

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  • Hot Tea Gains Marketing Momentum | FDA Bans Red Dye No. 3 | Argentine Tea  Awarded GI Status

    The celebration of Hot Tea Month has been steadily gaining steam (pun intended). Marketers have invested in building momentum in recent years, coinciding with growing interest in wellness and healthy lifestyle habits. Many consumers, particularly in Western markets, are increasingly aware of these benefits and incorporating tea into their daily routines. | Cherry red erythrosine (known commercially as Red Dye No. 3) is widely used to color beverages, snack foods, and candy but is not commonly used to color tea. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned Red Dye No. 3 in cosmetics and personal care products out of concern for health risks. On Jan. 15, the FDA extended the ban to include food products, beverages, and ingested drugs. | Argentine tea produced in Misiones and northern Corrientes has been awarded a Geographical Indication (GI) from the European Union (EU). Tea from these provinces is the southernmost tea produced on the planet.

    Tea Journey is raising funds to relocate to the tea lands in 2025. Investors receive a share of annual profits and unlimited access to hundreds of articles and podcast features. To estimate our crowdfunding potential, OverSubscribeasks our fans to indicate their support by completing a three-question audience interest survey. There is no obligation.” 

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    Tea News for the week ending 17 January 2025

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    India Tea News
    India Tea News | Aravinda Anantharaman
    Hot Tea Month
    January is Hot Tea Month

    Marketers Add Momentum to Hot Tea Sales

    By Dan Bolton

    The celebration of Hot Tea Month has been steadily gaining steam (pun intended). Marketers have invested in building momentum in recent years, coinciding with growing interest in wellness and healthy lifestyle habits. Many consumers, particularly in Western markets, are increasingly aware of these benefits and incorporating tea into their daily routines.

    Hot Tea Month has highlighted traditional black and green herbal teas in the past decade and newer and trendy varieties such as matcha, chai, and bubble tea. The month has become a time for people to explore new types of tea and experiment with different brewing methods and innovations to enhance tea’s cultural and health aspects.

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  • Wagh Bakri Plans Expansion in 2025 | Tocklai Launches Learning Platform

    India Tea News for the week ending January 17, 2025
    India Tea News | Aravinda Anantharaman

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    Wagh Bakri Tea Group inaugurates a 2nd contemporary two-storied Tea Lounge in Ahmedabad.
    Wagh Bakri Tea Group inaugurates a second contemporary two-storied Tea Lounge in Ahmedabad. Photo courtesy/Wagh Bakri Tea

    Wagh Bakri To Expand its Instant Tea Business

    Wagh Bakri Tea has ended 2024 on a high note, with annual sales reaching 60 million kilos, making them India’s 3rd largest tea manufacturer with a 9% market share. 2025 will continue to be bullish as the company has announced its expansion plans.

    This includes a new manufacturing unit in Dakor, Gujarat, which will boost Wagh Bakri’s instant tea blending volumes fourfold to 20,000 packets per day. The facility is being set up with an investment of over $10 million and is expected to open later this year. It will accommodate greater storage as well. The company is a significant buyer of Indian tea and imports a small volume from Kenya and Sri Lanka.

    The company is focused on its domestic market and plans to deepen market penetration in the south and east. In its hometown, Ahmedabad, its market share is at 80%. The aim seems to be to close the gap between the top two contenders, HUL and Tata Consumer Products. Wagh Bakri operates 55 tea lounges across the country with plans to open 8-10 new ones annually.


    TRA Launches Learning Platform

    The Tea Research Association (TRA) Tocklai, the world’s oldest and largest tea research institute, has unveiled LearnTea. This global learning platform distills over 100 years of tea cultivation expertise into accessible courses for enthusiasts and industry professionals worldwide. LearnTea offers deep insights into tea science—from thriving garden management to tackling climate challenges.

    The online courses are designed for tea enthusiasts and professionals who are engaged in tea plantations and are taught by experienced resource persons. There are six courses up at the moment, and the fee ranges from Rs 500-800.

    LearnTea has been designed in-house by Rituraj Sharma, Communications Officer TRA Tocklai. “The idea of the online tea courses is to share Tocklai’s tea knowledge with both the Indian and global tea industries while also generating revenue through these courses. The response has been good,” said TRA Secretary Joydeep Phukan.

    TRA serves the research and development needs of the Indian tea industry, promoting research aimed at enhancing productivity and quality. A pioneer in tea R&D, TRA also provides extension services to the industry. The Tocklai Experimental Station was established in 1911.
    Roopak Goswami


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