Import tea from India, sourced and shipped to your specification
Assam CTC and orthodox, Darjeeling, Nilgiri, green, white and herbal teas, sourced from Indian tea gardens and factories, checked against your specification, and shipped FOB or CIF with full export documentation.
Request a tea quote
Tell us the tea type, grade and volume. A specialist replies within one business day.
Why import tea from India
India grows tea across strikingly different terrains, from the malty, full-bodied CTC and orthodox teas of Assam's Brahmaputra valley, to the delicate, muscatel-noted orthodox teas of Darjeeling in the Himalayan foothills, to the brisk, aromatic teas of the Nilgiri hills in the south. That range covers everyday bulk tea bags through to premium single-estate retail.
We work with exporters registered with India's Tea Board, so contracts, certificates of origin and phytosanitary documents are prepared the way your customs and food safety authority expects to see them.
India's tea trade, in numbers
Figures are illustrative of India's scale as a tea producer, and can move with each season's harvest (flush).
Tea types and packing we supply
Tell us your target use and we will recommend a type and grade, or match a specification you already have.
Assam CTC
Strong, malty tea, crush-tear-curl processed, for tea bags and everyday retail.
- Forms: BOP, BOPSM, PD, dust grades
- Packing: tea-bag cut to bulk multi-wall bags
- Typical buyers: tea-bag packers, blenders, retailers
Assam orthodox
Whole-leaf processed tea with a fuller leaf character, for premium loose-leaf retail.
- Forms: whole leaf, broken grades
- Packing: retail caddies to bulk chests
- Typical buyers: premium retailers, specialty blenders
Darjeeling
Muscatel-noted orthodox tea from the Himalayan foothills, prized for its distinct aroma.
- Forms: first flush, second flush, autumnal, whole leaf
- Packing: retail tins to small export lots
- Typical buyers: premium retailers, hotels, specialty importers
Nilgiri
Bright, brisk tea from the southern hills, often used in iced tea and blends.
- Forms: orthodox and CTC, whole and broken grades
- Packing: retail packs to bulk bags
- Typical buyers: blenders, iced-tea manufacturers, retailers
Green & white tea
Lightly oxidised and unoxidised teas, growing in demand for wellness-focused retail.
- Forms: loose leaf, tea-bag cut
- Packing: retail packs to bulk bags
- Typical buyers: retailers, wellness brands, cafes
Herbal & masala chai blends
Spiced chai and herbal infusions, blended to a standard or custom recipe.
- Forms: loose leaf, tea-bag cut, ready blends
- Packing: retail sachets to bulk
- Typical buyers: retailers, cafes, private-label brands
Not seeing a tea type you need? Ask us — we source most Indian-grown teas and blends beyond this list.
How an order moves
The same five steps apply whether you are ordering one pallet or a full container.
Specification
You share tea type, grade, packing and destination port.
Quote and sample
We quote FOB or CIF and can arrange a pre-shipment sample.
Contract
Price, quantity and payment terms are agreed in writing.
Shipping and documents
We arrange loading, shipping and export paperwork.
Export documentation and policy
Tea exports from India are regulated by the Tea Board, which registers exporters and oversees quality standards. Auction-sourced tea carries its own documentation trail back to the originating garden or factory, which helps with traceability and, where relevant, geographical indication claims such as Darjeeling.
We confirm the current registration and any destination-specific requirements, such as pesticide residue limits, for your tea type and market before quoting.
Documents we prepare
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Matched to your purchase order and container loading.
- Certificate of origin
- Issued to support preferential treatment where a trade agreement applies.
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Issued where your destination requires it.
- Quality and residue certificates
- Arranged where your market requires pesticide residue or other testing.
Common questions
What is the minimum order quantity?
Minimums vary by tea type, grade and packing. A single pallet is a common starting point for premium Darjeeling, while bulk CTC often moves by container. Tell us your target volume and we will confirm what is possible.
Can you supply private-label tea bags or packaging?
Yes. We can arrange retail packs and tea bags under your own brand, subject to minimum order quantities agreed with the packing facility.
What is the difference between CTC and orthodox tea?
CTC tea is crushed, torn and curled into small, uniform pellets that brew quickly and strongly, suited to tea bags. Orthodox tea keeps more of the whole leaf, brews more slowly, and is generally used for premium loose-leaf tea.
Are samples available before I commit to an order?
Yes. Samples can be arranged for most tea types before a commercial order, so you can confirm quality and cup character against your specification.
Which destinations do you ship to?
We ship to buyers across the GCC, Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific and beyond. See our markets pages for country-specific import notes.
Also trading in rice, spices or coffee?
We source and ship all four commodities from the same India and UAE network. See the import rice from India page, the import spices from India page, or the full trade page for coffee.
Get a tea quote
Sourcing is coordinated from our Bengaluru office, with shipping and documentation handled through our RAKEZ, UAE office.
Send an enquiry
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