Instant Tea Operation - 100% EOU

The formal coming together of two large business houses namely the Tatas and James Finlay PLC in early 1960 lead to the formation of a fledging company named Tata Finlay Limited. Tata Finlay Ltd, the company incorporated in 1962 envisaged the setting up of two business operations which today are identified as the Packet Tea Division at Bangalore and the Instant Tea Operation at Munnar. James Finlay Ltd had with them the know how for the manufacture of Instant Tea powder - the fully soluble solids of Tea - which was the new and fast growing product in a resurgent American market.

Commissioned in 1964 the Instant Tea factory today has a rated capacity to manufacture around 4.5 mn lbs per annum (2 mn kgs). From a small but steady beginning our factory today is the largest Instant Tea manufacturing factory outside USA.

Instant Tea Operation is a 100% EOU and an ISO 9002 accredited division located in Munnar, South India and is where Tata Tea owns 2,500 acres of Tea Estates. Fresh Green leaves of the plant Camellia Sinensis being one of the main raw material for this plant, is available throughout the year in abundance.

This unique process of extraction from leaves of the plant Camellia Sinensis developed in-house after extensive research gives the product a unique tasting profile which is the USP of our product.

The equipment used for the manufacture of Instant Tea powder are state of the art and have been constantly been upgraded. From a manual operation in the 1960's and 70's, a high level of automation has been achieved today. Instant Tea is manufactured to international standards laid down by customers in the most developed countries of the world. Instant Tea Operation caters to customer specific product and are used for light density 100% Teas, Iced Tea Mixes and in the preparation of Ready to Drink (RTD) beverages. Instant Tea powder from this plant is packed in bulk packages of 20/25/35 kg each.

The Instant Tea powder is exported mainly to the USA as also to Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and Australia. The entire exports to USA are sent to Tata Tea Inc, a 100% subsidiary of Tata Tea Limited.

It is estimated that the worldwide production of Instant Tea powder is approximately 25 m lbs (11.34 m kgs) and the main factories manufacturing Instant Tea powder are in USA, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Chile and China and these are owned by large MNC's viz. Tata Tea, Nestle, Liptons, James Finlay etc.