COONOOR AUCTION -- 7 ::

CTTA TURNOVER FALLS AGAIN

BY P S SUNDAR

                The cumulative turnover at Coonoor Tea Trade Association (CTTA) auctions, which had shown rising trends over 2014 two months, has once again fallen below last year by July end.

Till April end, players at CTTA auction had earned less compared to 2014 but in May and June end, they heaved a sigh of relief with earnings rising over 2014.

The relief was short-lived.   Although the volume sold has risen over last year by 20 lakh kg, that was possible only by sacrificing prices by ` 5 per kg.

Till July, 31 auctions had been held.  Since about 25 per cent of the volume offered had remained unsold in most auctions, producers reduced the asking price to encourage consumption.   This resulted in average price to fall to ` 72.24 per kg from ` 77.20.  

The lower price helped higher absorption with the volume sold rising to 3.58 crore kg from 3.38 crore kg.

Nevertheless, the overall turnover dropped to ` 258.62 crore from ` 260.94 crore. 

This fall of ` 2.32 crore marked a marginal decline of 0.89 per cent.

However, Pakistan, the major buyer of Nilgiri teas, has not been showing interest in the last couple of weeks.

The abrasion in Indo-Pak border close to Independence Day celebrations has upset trade sentiment.   Last week, there was no mentionable purchase for Pakistan.

“On Thursday also, there was no active purchase for Pakistan.  We are taking a ‘wait and watch’ approach before investing”, an exporter told me. 

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

FOR THE RECORD -- 10: 

HAPPENINGS THAT MAKE INTERESTING READING

BY P S SUNDAR

(article in Apr-June 2015 issue of Contemporary Tea Time)

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

FOR THE RECORD -- 5::

(article in The Assam Review and Tea News March 2015)

HAPPENING -- 1 ::

TEA BOARD CHAIRMAN IN COONOOR

BY P S SUNDAR

Tea Board Chairman Siddharth visited Coonoor for the first time on March 20, 2015. 







Coinciding with this, a postal stamp with Tea Board logo was released.

A meeting of Small Tea Growers' Societies was conducted where the Chairman distributed fiscal assistance.  

I could see two major developments at this meet as also during my interaction with him ::

-- Tea Board's Southern regional office at Coonoor will get more powers due to decentralisation; 

--  Tea Board's assistance to Nilgiri Planters' Association for the conduct of Nilgiri Winter Specialty Tea Auction will be revived. 

This is my article on these in The New Indian Express today::

and they spoke ::

R Ambalavanan

T Rangaiah

S Soundararajan

FOR THE RECORD - 4::

ARTICLE IN CONTEMPORARY TEA TIME JAN-MAR 2015)

BY P S SUNDAR

FOR THE RECORD - 4::

ARTICLE IN THE ASSAM REVIEW & TEA NEWS (FEBRUARY 2015)

BY P S SUNDAR

TEA AND TOURISM -- 2 ::

GERMANS GAIN PROFESSIONAL TEA TASTING EXPERIENCE

BY P S SUNDAR

Engineer Alexander Meinold and his wife Ute Feick-Lulay, retired teacher, were on a ‘tea tour’ in the Nilgiris through The Le Passage to India Travel Group, New Delhi. They are visiting Karnataka and Kerala for other aspects of tourism but in the Nilgiris, their focus was on ‘tea and tourism’.

“We visited tea estate, factory and museum in the Nilgiris”, Ute told me when they assembled at Kothari Agricultural Management Centre (KAMC) on March 9 for an exclusive tea tasting session KAMC had organised for their benefit.

“We regularly conduct training programmes for international professional tea tasters sponsored by Government of India.  Besides, we support Government’s initiative for ‘tea and tourism’ by offering on-hand tea tasting experience to discerning tourists like these German visitors.  The Le Passage to India Travel Group is a large organisation catering to the needs of different overseas travellers.  It will certainly help a lot to create correct understanding of Nilgiris tea if Le Passage group bring in more such travellers.   Our ‘tea tasting sessions’ enhance the value for such tourism”, KAMC Director Dr AVK Iyengar told me.

On his request, I gave a brief orientation on the global and Indian tea situation with accent on the Nilgiri tea.  I also introduced them to tourism impact on tea.   More importantly, I took them through ‘wellness’ factor of tea – its anti-oxidant , anti-carcinogenic, oxidation, cholesterol reduction, endothelial, Polyphenol, digestion, dermatological, nerves, bones, dental and mental alertness.  I rounded off highlighting the hospitality and eco-friendly role played by tea.    These were well appreciated.  

“We helped them taste besides black teas, multiple brewing Nilgiri-grown Avataa green, white, oolong and silvertip teas which have bright scope in Germany”, Dr Iyengar disclosed.

“We guided them through first-hand experience of valuing tea through appearance, infusion, liquor colour, strength and flavour besides using tongue’s taste buds”, Tea-Tasting expert Baskaran said.

“Economy in Germany is showing good signs of improvement.  The construction industry is in boom.   People are prepared to spend money.  So, it is good news for all who want to trade with Germany now”, Alexander noted.

The couple enquired if it would be possible to buy Indian teas in the same brands in German retail chains.   “We are impressed.  We will support Nilgiri tea back home”, Ute Feick-Lulay said taking with her varieties of Avataa multiple brewing teas.