Nepalese tea gives Darjeeling growers a run for their money
As auction volumes and prices of Darjeeling teas continue to dwindle, Nepalese teas started to garner attention from local and international buyers. Grown on the same Himalayan mountain range as Darjeeling tea and cheaper to produce, Nepal tea is making inroads in India and Europe, threatening growers in Darjeeling, who urge the government to assess the volumes that enter the country and are then sold onwards. They also seek funds for the legal protection and enforcement of Darjeeling's Geographical Indication status. Finally, there are calls to further bolster quality to ward off competition from Nepal tea, which is currently priced a third lower than the Darjeeling equivalent.