The story of my tea business in India began in my hometown in Assam — the heartland of Indian tea. Near our home, there was a tea auction buyer’s office, where every week, fresh tea samples from Assam’s tea gardens arrived. I was fascinated by the aroma, texture, and process. As a young boy, I would often visit their office and observe how they evaluated each tea sample before the auctions. That’s where my love for Assam tea truly began.
While still in school and college, I started small — supplying black Assam tea to local tea stalls and hotels across Guwahati. Sometimes I sold to my friends and relatives too. Those early experiences helped me understand the core of the tea trade — quality, pricing, and building trust with buyers.
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After completing my commerce degree, I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, not an employee. I had already started my tea company in college and even obtained my Import Export Code (IEC) because I believed that exports can transform nations, just like Japan’s rise after World War II.After world war japan became worlds largest exporter and developed its nation.
Tea, being one of India’s finest natural exports, seemed like the perfect product to connect India’s rich heritage with the global market. That’s how my tea trading and export journey began — with passion, persistence, and purpose.
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India is the second-largest tea producer in the world and one of the biggest consumers too. From roadside tea stalls to five-star hotels, tea is a part of daily life. The tea business in India offers multiple opportunities — both at the micro and export levels — because the demand is consistent, and the market is deeply rooted in our culture.
Moreover, the world is waking up to Indian tea’s global reputation — especially Assam tea, Darjeeling tea, and Nilgiri tea. Health-conscious consumers are now exploring green tea, herbal blends, and organic tea, which opens new product segments for entrepreneurs.
Based on my personal experience, here are some of the most practical and profitable tea business ideas anyone can start in Indian towns or cities:
This is the simplest way to begin in the tea trade. Every city, town, or even village in India has tea stalls and hotels that buy tea in bulk regularly.
You can start by sourcing Assam tea directly from local distributors or auction buyers and supplying it to these outlets.
This model ensures regular income and helps you learn about the quality and blending preferences of customers firsthand.
If you want to expand, start a tea retail and wholesale shop in your local market. You can buy directly from Assam or Kolkata and sell both loose tea and packaged tea to small kirana shops, cafés, and restaurants.
In semi-rural India, loose tea still dominates, which makes it a profitable segment for wholesalers. Once your local network grows, you can add more varieties like green tea, CTC tea, and blended Assam tea.
Once you understand tea quality and sourcing, you can start your own tea blending and packaging business.
This involves creating your own blends — for example, strong Assam CTC for hotels, light blend for daily drinkers, or special flavored blends for retail.
Packaging is crucial — small pouches, boxes, or zip-lock packs can help you reach both offline and online markets. You can even register your own tea brand and market it locally or online through e-commerce.
If you don’t want to handle physical stock, you can act as a commission agent between tea auction centers in Assam, Kolkata, or South India and local retailers or exporters.
You earn a commission for connecting sellers and buyers. This requires networking and knowledge of the market but involves lower risk and investment.
With the right contacts and export documentation, you can expand into the tea export business.
India exports tea to countries like the UAE, Russia, Iran, the UK, and the USA. With your IEC code (you can apply at DGFT portal for iec) and tea board export license (You can apply at teaboard site) you can export Assam tea, green tea, and herbal blends to international buyers.
Even small exporters can succeed by building trust and ensuring quality packaging and timely delivery.
Entrepreneurship is neither easy nor impossible — it’s a chosen path that requires patience, discipline, and conviction.
In the beginning, you’ll face challenges — from sourcing to building customers — but over time, it becomes easier as you learn and adapt.
My biggest advice is: Start small, learn from the ground, and grow step by step.
The tea business in India rewards those who understand their product and build relationships honestly. It’s not just about profit — it’s about passion and perseverance.
Tea connects people, cultures, and opportunities. Whether you’re supplying tea to a roadside stall or exporting premium Assam tea worldwide — every step matters.
India’s tea business is full of promise for new entrepreneurs who are willing to start humbly and grow steadily. Like me, you too can turn your love for tea into a meaningful and profitable business — because every great journey starts with one good cup.
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