Thirst-Quenching Cold Brewed Teas | Kenya's Costly Tea Crisis | India's Top Tea Industry Concerns

HEAR THE HEADLINES – Thirst Quenching Cold Brewed Teas are Steaming Along | Consumers favor boldly flavored, non-sweetened blends | Kenya’s Costly Tea Crisis | India Tea Association Lists Tea Industry's Most Pressing Concerns| GUEST – Romesh Walpola, Chief Executive Officer of Tea Smallholder Factories, a Division of John Keells Group, Sri Lanka| FEATURE INTRO – This week’s guest is Romesh Walpola, Chief Executive Officer of Tea Smallholder Factories in Sri Lanka. Walpola talked with Tea Biz in May at his headquarters in Colombo and later arranged a visit to one of the company’s seven bought-leaf factories. Combined, these factories produce three million kilos of black tea a year. Walpola explains that investing in programs to earn the loyalty of thousands of small tea growers is one reason why their teas get top dollar at auction.Factories Earn Smallholder Loyalty to Achieve Competitive Quality - Bought-leaf factories play a significant role in processing Sri Lanka’s 250 to 300 million kilos of tea annually. Smallholders farming tea gardens of ten acres or less contribute 62% of the total crop, a percentage that has increased over time. Bought leaf factories purchase an estimated 70% of smallholder-grown tea. Only 18% of Sri Lanka’s factories process tea exclusively grown on their own estate. Large estates own 56% of the 188,000 hectares under tea but contribute only 38% of total production. In aggregate, smallholders cultivate 44% of the land under tea, selling to both large estates and bought-leaf factories. All sectors compete at the weekly Tea Auction in Colombo, where quality is rewarded with the world’s highest average auction prices for black tea.<br/><br/>Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donations<br/><br/>Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands<br/><br/>Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy