Guwahati: Kochi is set to brew global conversations on tea as the 8th edition of the India International Tea Convention (IITC) will be hosted at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty from September 18–20, 2025.
Organized by the United Planters’ Association of Southern India (UPASI) with support from the Tea Board of India and industry stakeholders, this year’s convention carries special significance—it celebrates 25 years since IITC’s inception.
The last convention was held in Ooty in 2016.
Over the last quarter century, IITC has proudly carried a legacy of showcasing India’s tea heritage, innovation, and global relevance. Since its launch in Kochi in 1999, the convention has traveled to New Delhi (2000), Kolkata (2003), Guwahati (2007), Kochi (2009), Goa (2012), and Ooty (2016). Each edition has brought together global tea experts, major brands, producer associations, trade houses, and enthusiasts for a mix of industry sessions, tea tastings, and destination tours.
In India, the first known attempt to grow tea in the Nilgiris dates back to 1832, though it was largely unsuccessful. Another effort followed in 1834, using seeds from China, with some degree of success. Kerala saw its first commercial tea planting in Peermade in 1875. A significant milestone occurred in 1878 when James Finlay & Co. developed the Kanan Devan Hills as an exclusive tea plantation area. By 1889, large-scale tea planting had commenced in Wayanad, and by 1897, commercial tea cultivation had also taken root in the Anamallais. Karnataka joined the tea-growing landscape relatively later. In 2023-24, South India produced 244.8 million kgs out of a total 1,382.03 million kgs of tea produced in the country.
The 2025 edition, themed “Innovating the Tea Ecosystem for Tomorrow,” looks to the future of tea by blending human creativity, advanced technology, and sustainable practices. “The idea is to reshape the tea value chain—from cultivation to consumption—making it more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready,” said K. Mathew Abraham, President of UPASI.
With over 450 delegates from more than 10 tea-producing and consuming nations already confirmed, IITC 2025 promises to be a high-impact global gathering of growers, technologists, policymakers, exporters, and retailers. The three-day event will feature high-level panel discussions and technical sessions on emerging challenges and trends, B2B networking opportunities for cross-border collaboration, and an industrial exhibition showcasing products and innovations across the tea sector.
Adding a celebratory flavor, IITC 2025 will also host a Specialty Tea Competition spotlighting India’s black, white, green, and oolong teas, alongside the much-anticipated final tasting of the 20th Golden Leaf India Awards: Southern Tea Competition (TGLIA).
Beyond business, delegates will experience India’s rich tea culture and its enduring role in the country’s socio-economic fabric—underlining India’s pivotal place in the global tea economy.
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