Decline of Dry Tea Production in Iran

The head of the Iranian Tea Organization announced that in the first phase of tea leaf harvesting in the northern provinces of the country, about 34,000 tons of green tea leaves have been harvested, which shows a 16% decrease in quantity compared to last year. According to ISNA, Mohammad Vali Roozbehan, the head of the Tea Organization, on Friday, June 18, stated that the value of this tea is 65 billion tomans and mentioned that the quality of tea harvested has increased by 30% compared to last year. Mr. Roozbehan noted that the next phase of tea leaf picking has also begun, and it is expected that around 20,000 to 25,000 tons of green tea leaves will be harvested in this phase. Reports indicate that Iranians consume about 120,000 tons of tea annually, a significant portion of which is smuggled into the country according to the Central Headquarters for Combating Smuggling of Goods and Currency. Meanwhile, according to Mehr News Agency, Iraj Hosseini, the head of the Tea Farmers Union, stated on Thursday that Iran's annual need for dry tea is between 125,000 to 130,000 tons, of which only 13,000 tons is produced domestically. Mr. Hosseini mentioned that in the past, between 50,000 to 70,000 tons of dry tea were produced in the country, but currently, this amount is less than 20,000 tons. Previously, Mohammad Mehdi Rahbari Amelashi, a representative from Rudsar and Amol in the Parliament, stated that the production of dry tea in Iran before the revolution was 70,000 tons, which has now fallen to around 20,000 tons. Meanwhile, the Iranian Parliament prepared a report on the Tea Organization last year, which is expected to be read in the Parliament in the coming months. According to the report published on May 8 in Tasnim News Agency, the Tea Organization is accused of purchasing 52,000 tons of 'non-drinkable' tea known as 'old tea' and distributing it through rural cooperatives. Abbas Rjaei, head of the Agricultural Commission of the Parliament, stated on Saturday, August 9, 2014, that there was some old tea in the country, part of which was exported and re-imported with special packaging and different brands, while this product was not actually consumable for humans. Mr. Rjaei also mentioned that tea in the Iranian market is sold at 200% to 300% more than its actual value.