Assam has created history by becoming the first state in India to commercially produce Matcha tea. The milestone was achieved on July 3, 2026, when the first commercial batch of Matcha was produced at the Chota Tingrai Tea Estate in Tinsukia district and subsequently sold through the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre.
Traditionally associated with Japan, Matcha is a finely powdered green tea made from specially cultivated shade-grown tea leaves. The leaves are carefully steamed, dried and ground into a fine powder before being whisked with hot water to prepare the beverage. Known for its distinctive flavour and growing global demand, Matcha has emerged as one of the premium segments in the international tea market.
The commercial production marks a significant diversification for Assam's tea industry, which is globally recognised for its black tea, orthodox tea and CTC tea. The state's tea sector is concentrated across major tea-growing districts, including Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Sivasagar, and remains one of the pillars of Assam's economy.
The Matcha project at Chota Tingrai Tea Estate was established through a fully automated Japanese tea manufacturing facility designed specifically for producing premium-quality Matcha. The initiative was the result of nearly a decade of collaboration involving Japanese manufacturers, agronomists, tea experts and equipment suppliers, enabling the estate to adopt authentic Matcha production techniques.
The first commercial lot of Assam-produced Matcha was sold through the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, one of India's leading tea auction platforms. The transaction was facilitated by J Thomas & Co. Pvt. Ltd., with the inaugural batch purchased by Sheosons Chai Co. of Guwahati.
The successful commercial launch of Matcha production represents a new chapter for Assam's tea industry, opening opportunities to expand into the premium green tea segment while strengthening the state's position as a leading tea producer in India.
