High demand for black tea in Japan

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Japan has imported eleven million kgs of Ceylon tea amounting to Rs. 3.6 billion in year 2007.

Eight Sri Lankan tea importers in Japan were honoured by the Tea Promotion Unit of the Sri Lanka Tea Board at a mega promotion event held at Tokyo Hilton in Japan recently.

Chairman Sri Lanka Tea Board Lalith Hettiarachchi said Sri Lanka received a good price for tea in Japan throughout the year and it was a great achievement for the country.

Japan which was placed tenth as Ceylon tea importers in previous years and they have come up to sixth place in 2007.

Hettiarachchi said tea importers in Japan were happy about Ceylon tea and they have taken a great interest to promote Ceylon Black tea in Japan which was never introduced before.

As a result Black tea is now not only well-known in Japan but also has the highest demand, he said.

There are 20 Sri Lankan tea importers in Japan at present.

The Japanese Tea Association hosted a dinner where Minister of Plantation Industries D.M. Jayaratne also participated.