“Instead of just selling tea leaves in bulk, we need to add value to them and export the products. This way, Bangladesh can earn foreign currency while traders will also make good profits.”- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Tea holds a cherished place in Bangladeshi culture, woven into the fabric of daily life and hospitality. “Cha khaben?” (Want some tea?) is a common greeting that extends warmth and friendship upon entering a home. Whether starting the day, taking a break, or unwinding after work, tea is a constant companion that brings people together over addas (casual conversations).
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While tea is ubiquitous, its preparation and significance vary across regions and households, reflecting the diversity of Bangladesh’s rich heritage. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation’s founding father, served as the first Bengali Chairman of the Tea Board from 1957 to 1958, laying the foundation for strengthening the industry.
Adapting to Evolving Tastes
Building on her father’s legacy, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina advocates for the production of diverse, aromatic teas to meet changing global preferences. Speaking at the 4th National Tea Day and National Tea Award event on June 4, 2024, she urged tea growers to focus on crafting teas with varied aromas and flavors, aligning with heightened international demand.
Emphasizing value addition and exports, she underscored the importance of enhancing products to earn foreign currency and ensure profitability for traders. “focus on making diversified and aromatic teas as the demand for them is much higher now in foreign countries.”
The Prime Minister acknowledged the shifting consumer preferences, with herbal and spice-infused teas gaining popularity alongside traditional leaf teas.
Why Diverse Teas Matter
The production of diverse, aromatic teas stands as a transformative strategy for Bangladesh’s tea industry for several reasons:
Meeting Global Demand: Responding to the rising preference for specialty teas worldwide enables Bangladesh to cater to diverse consumer tastes and capitalize on emerging trends.
Value Addition: Crafting teas infused with aroma, tulsi, jasmine, herbs, or spices enhances profitability by offering higher-value products than traditional leaf teas.
Product Diversification: Expanding beyond conventional teas reduces reliance on a single product, increasing market resilience and global competitiveness.
Export Growth: Diversifying tea offerings opens avenues for increased exports, bolstering foreign exchange earnings and supporting economic growth.
Brand Enhancement: Prioritizing high-quality, distinctive teas elevates Bangladesh’s global brand image, attracting discerning consumers and expanding market share.
Support for Local Workers: Producing diverse teas can improve working conditions, wages, and living standards for local tea workers, fostering sustainable development.
Research and Innovation: Innovations in tea production drive research and development, fostering competitiveness and advancing the industry.
Overall, producing diverse and aromatic teas can be a key strategy for Bangladesh’s tea industry to grow, increase its exports, and contribute to the country’s economic development.
Overview of Tea Gardens
Over time, the industry expanded significantly, growing from 150 tea gardens in 1970 to 168 today, according to the Bangladesh Tea Board. Since 2002, small-scale tea plantations have also gained popularity, particularly in Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, and Bandarban districts. Bangladesh hosts two tea auction centers: Chittagong Tea Auction Center and Srimangal Auction Center. Teas produced nationwide are sold in bulk to buyers at these centers.
Tea Production, Imports and Exports
Despite facing initial challenges such as low rainfall, the tea industry experienced a remarkable turnaround, resulting in a notable 30% increase in exports during 2023.
Moreover, tea exports surged to 1.4 million kg in 2023, a significant rise from 0.78 million kg in 2022. Notably, this exceeded the previous production record of 96.51 million kg in 2021, highlighting the dynamic growth of Bangladesh’s tea sector. The effective measures implemented by the current government have played a crucial role in the substantial improvement of the tea industry.
Unique Facts About Tea Culture in Bangladesh
Here are some unique and interesting facts about the Bangladeshi tea culture:
The types of tea in Bangladesh
There are a total of five types of tea produced in the country, including green tea (unfermented), black tea (fully fermented), Oolong tea (partially fermented), instant tea (water soluble), and white tea.
The local tea innovations
In Moulvibazar’s Sreemangal, the tea capital of Bangladesh, Romesh Ram Gour introduced the seven-layer tea, or Saat Rong Cha, at a tea shop called Nilkantha Tea Cabin. It is served in a clear glass, exhibiting seven distinct layers, each with varying concentrations of ingredients, resulting in a spectrum of flavours, from sweet to spicy.
The beauty of Tea Stalls
According to the Hotel-Restaurant Survey 2021 of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, there are some 344,687 roadside tea stalls, or tongs, in the country, of which 159,393 are in cities and the remaining in village areas. In Dhaka, tea stalls are ubiquitous, perfuming the air with the alluring scent of brewing tea. Boiling in blackened kettles over open fires, the strong brew is poured into cups, then enriched with condensed milk and sugar, vigorously stirred, and served. From bustling roadside stalls to more structured bamboo huts along food streets, these spots offer a taste of tong er cha.
Key Player in the Global Tea Market
Bangladesh is the 12th largest tea producer in the world. In 2022, Bangladesh exported $2.73 million worth of tea, making it the world’s 62nd largest tea exporter. That year, tea ranked as the 190th most exported product from Bangladesh. The main destinations for Bangladeshi tea exports were the United States ($1.1 million), the United Arab Emirates ($1.08 million), Kuwait ($236,000), Pakistan ($169,000), and Italy ($30,500).
History of tea in Bangladesh
The first known cultivation of tea in the present-day territory of Bangladesh was started in 1843 in Chittagong, beside the banks of the Karnaphuli River. Commercially, starting in 1857, tea was cultivated in the Sylhet region and later spread to the present-day Cumilla and Panchagarh districts.
Top Biggest Tea Producers in the World in 2024
Not all countries contribute equally to the global tea market. Some specialize in crafting unique blends and cultivating high-quality leaves, while others dominate in terms of the sheer volume of production
As reported by Farrer’s Tea and Coffee Merchants Journal, let’s delve into the top 10 tea-producing nations:
- China
- India
- Kenya
- Sri Lanka
- Turkey
- Indonesia
- Vietnam
- Japan
- Iran
- Argentina
The world’s largest producers of tea have a significant influence on the development of the global tea market.
