Why in the news
An Assam estate became the first in India to market matcha, the Japanese-style powdered green tea, at an auction on 3 July 2026. The step moves Assam towards premium wellness teas beyond CTC and Orthodox.
Key facts
- Producer: Chota Tingrai Tea Estate, Tinsukia district, Assam, after about ten years of work with Japanese tea makers, agronomists and equipment suppliers; it runs a fully automated Japanese-style plant.
- Sale: first 5-kg batch at Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, Sale No. 27, Lot No. 7001, at Rs 3,000/kg; auctioneer J Thomas & Co, buyer Sheosons Chai Co. (Guwahati).
- Why it matters: matcha is normally made only in Japan, China and Vietnam, and is in global short supply because of rising demand.
- Reactions: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called it a boost to India-Japan ties and Brand Assam Tea; Director Mrityunjay Jalan credited the Japanese partnership.
| Step | What happens | Effect |
|---|
| Shading | Plants covered for 3-4 weeks, blocking about 90% of sunlight | More chlorophyll, jade-green colour |
| Theanine build-up | Low light stops L-theanine turning into bitter catechins | Umami taste, calm steady energy |
| Tencha making | Leaves steamed, de-stemmed, de-veined, dried | Base material for matcha |
| Milling | Slow grinding in granite or automated mills | Fine powder; stone mills give about 30 g per hour, hence high cost |
| India’s tea standing | Position |
|---|
| Production | 2nd after China |
| Export | 3rd after Kenya and China |
| Consumption | 1st; about 80% of output is used at home |
| Assam’s share of output | About 50%; largest producing state |
About matcha
- From the Japanese word for powdered tea; the whole powder is whisked into hot water and consumed, unlike regular green tea where leaves are discarded.
- Taste is umami with sweet, vegetal notes.
- Origin: grinding and whisking tea began in China’s Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE); monk Eisai took it to Japan in 1191 CE.
- Japan’s Muromachi period brought shading methods to grow Tencha; Sen no Rikyu (16th century) codified the tea ceremony.
- Japanese regions: Uji (Kyoto), Nishio, Kagoshima, Shizuoka.
Camellia sinensis
- The tea plant, family Theaceae, native to East Asia.
- Variety sinensis (Chinese): small leaves, cooler climates, delicate teas. Variety assamica: large leaves, warm humid climates, strong black teas.
- Black, green, white, oolong, pu-erh and matcha all come from the same plant; processing differs.
- The Assam variety was found by Robert Bruce in 1823 in Upper Assam.
Guwahati Tea Auction Centre
- Set up on 25 September 1970 at Guwahati; run by the Tea Board of India with the Guwahati Tea Auction Buyers’ Association.
- Handles about half of Assam’s auction volume; India’s second-largest centre after Kolkata (1861).
- Other centres: Cochin (1948), Coimbatore (1963), Coonoor (1963), Siliguri, Amritsar.
Exam angle
- Scientific name of tea: Camellia sinensis; matcha base: Tencha.
- Auction centre: Guwahati (1970), run by the Tea Board of India.
- Related terms: CTC, Orthodox tea, Assam variety, value addition.