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Tea producers told to warm up their global image
COLOMBO (AFP) - Faced with falling prices and competition from coffee growers, global tea producers are being stirred into action to boost their image in order to regain consumers in the cut-throat beverage market. Tea, the world's most consumed drink behind water, is seen as an "old ladies' drink" and is being abandoned by youngsters who pay top dollar for trendy coffees such as mochas and frothy cappuccinos, industry officials say. "Producing countries need to make tea more fashionable, by highlighting its health benefits, put out products like tea-laced biscuits, cakes, (also) perhaps a line of merchandise," said US Tea Association president Joe Simrany. Big producers such as Sri Lanka, Kenya and India have failed to add more value to the brew, leaving tea trailing behind coffee in the 70-billion-dollar global hot drinks market, according to a recent industry meeting here.
Discontent brewing in tea belt of Bengal
Jalpaiguri, Sept 22 : Discontent is brewing of in tea belt of West Bengal that it may lead to closure sixteen more tea estates when efforts are on to reopen 13 closed tea gardens in the district, sources said. Fall in price of tea, recent flood that inundated many gardens and breached vital communication and disagreement on bonus per centage between the manangment and unions were among other issues that currently plague the tea belt, the main cash crops of Jalpaiguri district. Thirteen tea gardens in the Dooars have been lying closed for many years that rendered jobless thousands of workers and any more closure of 163 other tea gardens might lead to a collapse of the economic activity of North Bengal, apprehended some members of the Indian Tea Planters Association (ITPA). Regarding the current situation of those 16 tea gardens, the ITPA had furnished details to the ministry of labour for immediate intervension.
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