Georgian tea fails even in the domestic market

During the Soviet period Georgia supplied the whole USSR with tea. Now it meets only 10% of domestic demand. Much of the tea sold in Georgia comes from Azerbaijan, which itself imports tea from India, processes it in Baku and packages it. Analysts suggest that around 80% of the imported tea in Georgia is sold with false expiry dates.

Chairman of the Georgian Tea Association Tengiz Svanidze has told the Rezonansi newspaper that Georgian tea could compete with imported varieties not only in quality but also price and packaging. However new facilities need to be constructed with modern technology and equipment in order to achieve this, and this would require an investment of at least GEL 500,000. The State should also create more tea plantations.