Himachal Pradesh’s famous Kangra Tea has been awarded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the European Union (EU) on Wednesday, opening up new opportunities for the tea to enter the European market. The EU and India have long emphasised the importance of GI tags in preserving local food traditions and promoting cultural heritage. Kangra Tea previously received an Indian GI tag in 2005, and since 1999, the cultivation and development of the tea have steadily improved in the Kangra region.
The Tea Board of India Regional Office Palampur, state cooperative and agriculture departments, CSIR, IHBT Palampur, and Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Agriculture University are responsible for promoting and overseeing the development and cultivation of Kangra Tea. This unique tea is derived from the leaves, buds, and tender stems of the Camellia sinensis species cultivated in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India.
Kangra Tea is characterised by its multi-stemmed frame, narrow leaves, and a distinct flavour profile featuring nutty, winter-green, woody floral aromas, and a sweet aftertaste. The tea has a light colour, high body in liquor, and leaves that contain up to 13% catechins, 3% caffeine, and amino acids such as theanine, glutamine, and tryptophan.
Produced in the slopes of the Dhauladhar mountain ranges of the Western Himalayas, Kangra Tea is available in green, oolong, white, and orthodox black types. The tea is cultivated in various areas, including Palampur, Baijnath, Kangra, Dharmshala, Jogindernagar, and Bhatiyat.
