Our Bureaus

Kochi/Coimbatore , May 5

Enthused by the success of the `Coffee Cup' quality competition conducted by the United Planters' Association of Southern India (Upasi) in collaboration with the Coffee Board, the South Indian Planters Association, as part of its efforts to extricate the tea industry from the prevailing crisis, has decided to replicate it in tea in collaboration with the Tea Board.

According to Mr N. Dharmaraj, Convenor, Tea Quality Competition Organising Committee, Upasi with the aid of the Tea Board would replicate the initiative by organising a `Tea Quality Competition'.

. The competition will be based on teas from specific agro climatic regions of South India such as Nilgiris, Wynaad (Nilgiri-Wynaad and Wynaad), Anamallais, Central Travancore, High Ranges, Karnataka and other minor districts. There will also be a specific category for bought leaf factories. The final round of the competition will coincide with UPASI Annual Conference scheduled during second week of September. The teas that are manufactured up to mid-August will be eligible for the competition. The assessment will be done by a panel of eminent jury, comprising both national and international experts in the field. There will be a preliminary level assessment to short-list teas for the final round.

Upasi will be instituting rolling trophies for many of the categories of the competition. Apart from the trophies, it also plans a marketing campaign that will showcase the winning teas of the competition in the national and global marketplaces.

This competition is open to all eligible players in South India and not just UPASI members, he added.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu Business Line