Indian tea knowledge centre

Manufacture, leaf style, origin and cup evidence define tea.

CTC and orthodox are different processes. Leaf grades describe size/style. Regional and GI claims require garden-to-invoice traceability—not catalogue prose.

Darjeeling is controlled

A Darjeeling quotation requires an authorized garden/factory chain, licensed handling and Tea Board Certificate of Origin for export as applicable. “Darjeeling-style” is not an acceptable substitute.

Assam CTC black tea

Black / CTC

Regional claim — evidence required

CTC describes crush–tear–curl manufacture. Leaf grade describes particle style, not a universal quality rank; Assam origin requires authorized, lot-linked evidence.

Contract parameters: Factory/invoice lot, crop period, CTC grade, dry-leaf appearance, infusion, liquor colour/strength, cup evaluation, moisture, water extract where applicable and foreign matter.

Assam orthodox black tea

Black / orthodox

Regional claim — evidence required

Orthodox manufacture is distinct from CTC. Region, crop/flush and leaf style must be contracted independently of marketing grade.

Contract parameters: Estate/factory and invoice, crop period, orthodox style/grade, dry leaf, infusion, liquor and cup profile, moisture and foreign matter.

Darjeeling orthodox black tea

Black / orthodox

GI and certification controlled

Darjeeling is not a style name. Tea Board's scheme controls defined gardens, manufacture, sellers and export traceability; availability must reconcile to an authorized lot.

Contract parameters: Registered garden/factory, garden invoice, named flush and crop year, license, Tea Board Certificate of Origin for export as applicable, grade, sensory approval and lot COA.

Nilgiri orthodox black tea

Black / orthodox

Regional claim — evidence required

Nilgiri must be supported by estate/factory and invoice-lot provenance. Orthodox does not itself prove region or cup quality.

Contract parameters: Estate/factory, invoice and crop period, authorization where applicable, leaf grade/style, dry leaf, infusion, liquor, cup evaluation and lot COA.

Indian green tea

Green tea

India origin; exact region to confirm

Green tea is differentiated by fixation and low-oxidation manufacture, leaf style and sensory result. Nutrition or antioxidant claims are a separate substantiation decision.

Contract parameters: Region/factory and lot, fixation/process declaration, leaf style, crop period, dry leaf, infusion/liquor, moisture, water extract where applicable and safety panel.

Indian oolong tea

Specialty / oolong

Conditional specialty path

Oolong requires a supported partial-oxidation manufacturing identity and sensory approval. This route is conditional on verified supplier-lot availability.

Contract parameters: Supplier/factory and lot, crop period, oxidation/manufacture declaration, leaf style, repeated infusion and cup profile, moisture, foreign matter and safety evidence.

Identity and manufactureCamellia sinensis identity, black/green/oolong type, CTC or orthodox process, leaf style and any flavouring declaration.

Origin and GIEstate/garden, factory, invoice and crop lot. Darjeeling additionally requires Tea Board authorization and export Certificate of Origin as applicable; never use “Darjeeling-style”.

Leaf gradeState the applicable whole leaf, broken, fannings or dust code and particle distribution. Do not present size grade alone as overall quality.

Sensory approvalControlled dry-leaf, infused-leaf and liquor evaluation against an approved pre-shipment sample, with retention and dispute protocol.

Safety and compositionCurrent destination residue panel, contaminants/heavy metals, microbiology where applicable, moisture/water extract and FSSAI/destination composition requirements.

Vegan and claimsUnflavoured tea is plant-derived. Any flavour, carrier, additive or processing aid requires formulation review; organic, wellness and nutrition claims need separate current evidence.

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Regional claim — evidence required. CTC describes crush–tear–curl manufacture. Leaf grade describes particle style, not a universal quality rank; Assam origin requires authorized, lot-linked evidence.

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Primary sources

FSSAI — Food Product Standards, Chapter 2.10: Beverages Tea Board India — Tea (Marketing) Control Order, 2003, updated through 2024 Tea Board India — Darjeeling GI and certification scheme Tea Board India — Darjeeling Tea certification and Certificate-of-Origin traceability portal

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