India is the world’s second-largest tea producer and one of the oldest tea exporters. From Assam black CTC tea to Darjeeling orthodox, Indian tea has a huge global market with rising demand every year.
In this guide, I’ll share:
✔ How tea export from India works
✔ Why tea is one of the easiest and best products for new exporters
✔ The step-by-step export process
✔ Mandatory documents for different countries
✔ Best markets + growing markets
✔ My personal story: How I built my tea export business without money
I grew up with a simple dream—to build a business of my own. I didn’t have money, contacts, or a business background. But I had strong determination.
My journey started with a small tea packaging unit. Slowly, I learned about tea export from India, global demand, and how small exporters were earning good income with low investment.
I researched markets, studied regulations, attended DGFT and Tea Board webinars, and connected with overseas buyers through online platforms.
My first export order was small—only a LCL shipment. But that order changed everything.
the difference between LCL and FCL shipments
Today, I export different varieties of Indian tea, including:
I want to tell you this clearly:
💬 “If I could start tea export from India with almost no capital, anyone can.”
You don’t need a factory, warehouse, or big money.
You need knowledge, consistency, and the right strategy.
Tea is consumed heavily in 100 + countries. India’s tea quality and variety give it a natural edge.Especially the Assam and darjeeling tea varieties.
Low investment, easy procurement, simple packaging options.
Tea is a consumable product → buyers reorder every month.
Margins can go from 20% to 30% depending on branding and grade.
The Tea Board of India actively promotes exporters.
Link: https://tea-board.gov.in
Unlike food items like meat or dairy, tea faces fewer restrictions.
Many newcomers enter tea export without understanding the challenges. Here are solid, practical reasons when you should avoid this business:
Finding genuine international buyers can take 3–6 months or more.
If you expect quick money, tea export is NOT for you.
Tea is not a standardized product.
CTC, Orthodox, Dust, Fanning, Leaf grades—all vary in:
If you cannot handle quality complaints, disputes, and sampling process, avoid this business.
Buyers demand samples before placing orders.
You must pay for:
If you are not ready to spend a little upfront, tea export will disappoint you.
Tea bought today may not taste 100% same next month.
If a buyer’s repeat order quality differs, you may lose the client forever.
Some markets have strict rules:
If you cannot handle documentation pressure, avoid these markets or avoid exporting altogether.
Tea buyers stay loyal. But only after trust is built.
If you prefer one-time deals instead of long-term partnerships, this sector may not suit you.
Export business has:
Only 5–10% inquiries convert into serious orders.
If that frustrates you, tea export may not be ideal.
Tea auction prices change weekly.
If price fluctuations scare you, avoid this business.
Currency fluctuation, shipment delays, customs issues—everything carries risk.
Tea export is profitable, but not risk-free.
✔ Very high demand
✔ Easiest for beginners
✔ Documents required:
Growing demand for Masala tea, CTC tea.
✔ Large volume buyers
✔ Prefer Assam CTC and Orthodox tea
✔ Requires:
Market size is stable, long-term.
Moderately strict regulations.
Documents required:
Demand growing for green tea, herbal blends, and organic tea.
Highly regulated markets.
Requirements:
High demand for Darjeeling tea.
Price-sensitive markets.
Prefer:
Growing market for India’s CTC tea.
These markets are increasing their imports every year.
Government portal:
https://www.indiantradeportal.in
Finding reliable buyers is often more challenging than completing export documentation. Instead of sending thousands of random emails, successful exporters focus on identifying companies that are already importing tea and then approach them with targeted samples and competitive offers.
Here are some of the most effective ways to find genuine international tea buyers:
One of the smartest ways to find genuine buyers is by analysing actual import shipment data rather than relying on generic business directories.
Platforms like Volza allow exporters to search import records, identify companies that are actively importing tea, discover destination countries, estimate shipment frequency, and understand sourcing patterns. This helps you approach businesses that are already buying tea instead of contacting random prospects. According to Volza’s trade database, tea shipments continue to move through hundreds of verified exporters and buyers across major importing markets, providing valuable insights for market research and lead generation.
🔍 Save Hours of Buyer Research
Instead of guessing who might import tea, use verified import–export intelligence to identify companies that are already purchasing tea in your target market. Check out Volza Import Export Data and start building a qualified buyer list with confidence. (Affiliate Link)
One lesson I learned from my own export journey is that finding the right buyer is more important than finding many buyers. A long-term customer who places repeat orders is far more valuable than dozens of one-time enquiries. Invest time in understanding your buyer’s quality expectations, packaging preferences, payment terms, and market requirements before negotiating on price.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this article may be affiliate links. This means BusinessZindagi may earn a small commission if you purchase a product or service through those links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools, software, and services that we believe can genuinely help tea exporters, MSMEs, and entrepreneurs based on our research, practical experience, and industry relevance. Your support helps us continue creating free, high-quality business guides and export resources.
YES.
Many exporters start:
You can begin as a merchant exporter—buy tea from trusted suppliers in Assam, Siliguri, Kolkata auctions, or private factories ,pack it and export it at your unit or at a rented unit.
This is exactly how I started.
2026 Update: India’s tea export sector continues to show strong momentum despite global economic uncertainties. According to official government data, India exported 262.98 million kg of tea worth ₹7,817.58 crore (US$923.89 million) during FY 2024–25, reflecting healthy global demand for premium Indian tea. During April–December FY 2025–26, exports had already reached 223.53 million kg valued at ₹6,880.53 crore, indicating another encouraging year for Indian tea exporters. Rising demand for value-added teas, specialty Assam and Darjeeling teas, and private-label packaging is creating new opportunities for exporters targeting international markets.
BusinessZindagi Tip: If you’re planning to enter the tea export business, don’t focus only on bulk tea. Value-added products such as retail packs, tea bags, green tea, matcha, herbal blends, and private-label manufacturing often offer better profit margins and stronger brand recognition in overseas markets.
If you’re planning to build a successful tea export business, these practical guides from BusinessZindagi will help you at every stage of your journey:
Tabrez — Entrepreneur, Tea Exporter & MSME Mentor
I built my tea packaging and export business from scratch with limited resources. Today, I help new entrepreneurs learn about tea export from India, MSME loans, and small business growth.
I believe anyone can become an exporter with the right guidance and persistence.
The information provided in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, export regulations, documentation requirements, government policies, and market conditions change frequently and may vary from country to country.
Readers are advised to:
The author and the website businesszindagi.com are not responsible for any losses, delays, compliance issues, rejections, or financial impacts arising from actions taken based on this content.
Exporting involves financial and regulatory risks. Proceed with due diligence.
Starting a business is exciting—but arranging finance is often the biggest challenge. Many aspiring entrepreneurs…
For many aspiring entrepreneurs, exporting feels like an exciting but distant dream. Questions like "Where…
Running a business in India today is easier than it was a few years ago—but…
For many small business owners, the announcement of the New EPF Scheme 2026 created one…
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information as of publication. Since Mangosteen Studio…
If you're planning to start an export business, one of the first questions you'll probably…