Tea picking season hit by bad weather

Members of the Georgian tea industry are complaining about recent bad weather, which has hindered the tea-picking process.

There are approximately 20 tea processing factories in Georgia, with most of the production destined for export. Yet the tea industry in Georgia is struggling, as Georgia is now a net importer of tea.

Today, Georgia produces 20% of the local consumption of tea, up from 10-13% a couple of years ago. Compared to the Soviet period, however, when Georgia exported tea across the USSR, this is weak.

The country still possesses tea expertise, so some analysts believe that there is a chance to rescue the industry.