Assam-Made Pu’er Tea Hits Record Rs 12,000 at Auction

Guwahati: An Assam-made Pu’er-style tea just hit a record price at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre. The lot sold for Rs 12,000 per kilogram during Sale 39. Gauripur Tea Industry of Golaghat produced the Sheng-style batch. J. Thomas and Co. Pvt. Ltd. facilitated the sale, while Assam Tea Traders placed the winning bid.

This price marks a significant jump from 2023. Back then, a similar lot fetched Rs 9,000 per kilogram at the Jorhat Tea Auction Centre. The producer, based at Tetelital in Golaghat, started making small batches for personal use years ago. They eventually launched commercial production in 2023.

The tea uses Camellia sinensis var. assamica, the plant native to the region. Unlike ripe Shou Pu’er, the Sheng style relies on natural processing to gain depth over time. The producer noted, "The objective is to explore what can be made from Assam’s own tea varieties through alternative processing and craftsmanship."

This experiment highlights a push to move beyond standard black tea. Growers want better prices. They are betting that these high-value, differentiated products will open new markets. The industry now looks to expand its identity through these unique processing methods.