Tea Board Cracks Down on Quality: North Bengal Gardens Under Scrutiny

A special team from the Tea Board inspected multiple gardens in North Bengal to ensure leaf quality. Several samples were collected to identify potential malpractices. The Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers Association (CISTA) urged stringent action against those involved in improper practices like mixing tea waste with green leaves.

A special team of Tea Board officials conducted inspections at multiple tea gardens in North Bengal to assess the quality of leaves produced in these estates.

An official confirmed that numerous samples were collected and will be analysed to determine their quality.

''The large-scale operation took place over several days, scrutinising various tea gardens in North Bengal. Tea Board's future course of action will hinge on the findings, in line with the Tea Marketing Control Order (TMCO),'' the official stated.

President of the Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers Association (CISTA) Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty said, ''We support the Tea Board's inspections and demand strict penalties to deter future malpractice.''

CISTA alleges that some gardens procure and mix tea waste from Assam with their green leaves, which contravenes industry regulations.

''We've brought these practices to the Tea Board's attention. Regulations allow only two percent of total production as tea waste, to be repurposed for instant tea or organic manure,'' Chakraborty added.

He also claimed that unscrupulous gardens sometimes mix artificial colors with the waste, increasing profit margins significantly by selling close to 20 million kilograms annually.

The Tea Board frequently stresses the shared responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure tea safety, asserting that ''Tea must be free from extraneous matter, added coloring, and harmful substances,'' said an official.

(With inputs from agencies.)