Shillong, Dec 15: An organic tea, “Arsla” was launched by Meghalaya additional chief secretary, K.N. Kumar on the occasion of World Tea Day at a function at the Shillong Club on Saturday.

Kumar lauded the Arsla Organic Tea Growers and Producers Co-operative Society for cultivating this organic tea and coming up with this brand product, while also encouraging small tea growers in the state to start the cultivation and promote their brand product.

He also assured government support to the tea growers and suggested them to also come up with ‘ready to drink tea.’

Kumar said that tea is no longer a commodity product, but a brand product and according to him, small state like Meghalaya has favourable climate condition for tea cultivation.

He also talked about giving employment to women and stated that tea industry is also being dominated by women.

“Arsla” means two leaves. The organic tea is grown in Ri-Bhoi district by the Arsla Organic Tea Growers and Producers Co-operative Society. The society has its own tea factory at Umsning. The production started in October this year about 600 kg, and according to the Society, the production of organic tea is expected between 30 and 40 metric tons per year..

The Society has 38 tea growers who altogether cultivate the “Arsla” organic tea in 75 hectares in Ri-Bhoi district.

The Society produced two types of organic tea, Black orthodox, and green tea, priced at Rs 800 and Rs 1,000 per kg respectively.

The society was formed in 2013 and applied for group organic certification of Arsla tea in the same year.

The whole Meghalaya has around 1500 tea farmers, and the total area under tea cultivation is around 2000 hectares including organic.