OMM Newsroom
Iran is seeking to turn its centuries-old tea tradition into opportunities in trade, industry and tourism. To that end, the Second Tea Festival was held in Lahijan, in Gilan province on the Caspian Sea coast.
The event in Lahijan, known as Iran’s tea capital, highlighted the tea industry’s economic potential and the region’s cultural and natural attractions. The festival also provided an opportunity to showcase local products, strengthen trade ties and encourage investment in tea processing and production.
Tea plantations stretching along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea cover about 22,000 hectares in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces. They provide a livelihood for nearly 55,000 families.
According to the National Tea Organization of Iran, Lahijan, where the festival was held, has 5,100 hectares of active tea plantations. The city accounts for 22 percent of the country’s total tea production.
Since March 21, the start of the Iranian year, about 107,000 tons of tea leaves have been harvested. The crop is estimated to be worth $22 million. The leaves were purchased by 168 tea factories, and processed tea production has exceeded 24,000 tons.
Figures from the National Tea Organization also show that the industry struggles to meet domestic demand. Iran consumes about 70,000 tons of tea annually, with per capita consumption at roughly 1.5 kilograms. Domestic production supplies about 30 percent of the market.
To meet demand, Iran needs to import about 50,000 tons of tea each year. At the same time, expanding the domestic industry could increase access to international markets.
According to information from the National Tea Organization provided to AnewZ correspondent Turaj Shiralilova, Iran exported about 4,000 tons of dry tea worth $8 million this year. The information was given to the correspondent covering the festival on Monday evening, October 19.
Lahijan’s tea plantations, landscapes and cultural heritage also offer tourism opportunities. Iran is seeking to link tea production with tourism experiences in the region to create new economic opportunities for local communities.
Following the Second Tea Festival, the challenges ahead include developing the country’s tea-growing tradition, reducing dependence on imports and strengthening Iranian tea’s position in international markets.
