Century-old Tripura tea garden earns Int'l praise for organic brew

Agartala: Tripura’s Ludhua Tea Garden in South Tripura’s Sabroom has steadily risen as a noteworthy player in the global organic tea market, earning recognition abroad even as its premium brew remains scarcely available to consumers within the state.

The garden traces its roots to 1919, when tea planting began under the Chandrapur Tea Company. After several changes in ownership, the estate came under the Ludhua Tea Garden Workers’ Cooperative Society Ltd in 1979. A decisive shift occurred in 1990 when support from a Kolkata-based Fair Trade organisation helped modernise its processing unit and encouraged a full transition to organic methods. This eventually enabled the estate to secure organic eligibility certification from the Institute for Marketecology (IMO).

Garden officials say Ludhua has, over the years, cemented its identity as an exclusive producer of chemical-free tea, relying on organic manure, bio-pesticides and environment-friendly cultivation techniques. This has positioned the garden strongly in overseas markets, with exports facilitated through two Kolkata-based firms, Jayshree Tea Company and Tea Promoters India, to destinations in West Asia, Europe and Southeast Asia.

Officials attribute its rising appeal to its distinct aroma, smooth flavour and adherence to a fully organic manufacturing process, which many international buyers prefer as demand for ethically produced speciality tea continues to grow.

The export focus, however, has significantly reduced local availability. Close to 90 per cent of Ludhua’s annual production is sent to Kolkata for bulk sale and shipment abroad, leaving only a small fraction for consumers in Sabroom and adjoining areas.

The workers’ cooperative has maintained quality despite persistent financial pressures. Records indicate the cooperative earlier controlled 1,252.85 acres, though parts of the land have since been encroached upon. The cooperative also donated 21.91 acres to the state government for establishing a tourism centre. At present, the estate retains 398.94 acres, of which 95.33 acres are under tea cultivation.

The plucking season, stretching from March to November, yields around 4 lakh to 4.5 lakh kg of green leaves annually. These are processed into 90,000 to 1.05 lakh kg of finished tea. The factory produces three categories of organic tea: CTC, whole leaf green and orthodox, with prices generally ranging between Rs 300 and Rs 320 per kg depending on grade.

Sujit Shil, manager of the cooperative, said that sustaining the garden under a completely organic regime depends heavily on the commitment of its 32 permanent and about 130 temporary workers. He noted that limited financial resources have made large-scale replantation difficult, even though international demand for Ludhua tea continues to grow.

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