Historic milestone positions Assam in the premium green tea market as India’s first commercially produced Matcha fetches strong auction prices.
Assam has become the first state in India to commercially produce Matcha tea, marking a significant milestone in the country’s tea industry and opening new opportunities in the premium global green tea market. The achievement was announced by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who described it as a new chapter in the state’s rich tea heritage and an important step toward diversifying Assam’s tea portfolio.
The first commercial batch of Assam Matcha Tea was produced at the Chota Tingrai Tea Estate in Tinsukia district after nearly a decade of collaboration with Japanese tea experts. The project involved adopting traditional Japanese cultivation and processing techniques while establishing a fully automated Matcha processing facility to ensure international quality standards.
The inaugural batch was sold through the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, where it attracted strong buyer interest and fetched ₹3,000 per kilogram, reflecting growing demand for premium specialty teas. The successful auction demonstrates the commercial potential of Indian-produced Matcha in both domestic and international markets.
Traditionally associated with Japan, Matcha is a finely ground powder made from specially cultivated shade-grown green tea leaves. It has gained worldwide popularity due to its rich antioxidant content, distinctive flavour, and increasing use in beverages, desserts, and health-focused food products. Global demand has surged in recent years, creating supply shortages and encouraging new producing regions to enter the market.
Industry experts believe Assam’s entry into commercial Matcha production could significantly enhance India’s presence in the high-value specialty tea segment. While Assam is internationally renowned for its black tea, the successful production of Matcha demonstrates the region’s ability to diversify into premium value-added teas and cater to evolving consumer preferences.
The development is expected to create new revenue opportunities for tea estates, encourage technological innovation, and strengthen India’s competitiveness in the global tea industry. With premium Matcha demand continuing to grow across international markets, Assam’s pioneering initiative could pave the way for wider adoption of specialty tea production across the country.