Siliguri, Oct. 26: Indian tea is gaining popularity in the land from where it came to this country more than 150 years ago.

“China is now emerging as a major market for Indian brew,” said Rajiv Lochan, a Siliguri-based trader, who has just returned from the China Tea Expo held in Beijing last week. “We have been participating in the Expo since 2004, when it was first held, and since then, every year, our sale of Indian black tea has been increasing.”

According to Lochan, the chief executive officer of Lochan Tea Limited, China’s black tea market is growing and if the Indian produce is taken there, the export scene here is likely to get a fillip.

“The tea of our region, mainly Darjeeling, would benefit highly from it,” he added.

Lochan’s own sales figures in China have seen a “phenomenal” rise in the past three years. “In 2004, the sale was very nominal,” he said. “In 2005, we exported about 10 tonnes. The next year, we were able to sell 50 tonnes. In 2007, we had a phenomenal growth and have exported about 200 tonnes. Following the Expo, we have deals for 500 tonnes in the pipeline.”

The Expo had a special session on promotion of Indian black tea, Lochan said.

Traditionally into green tea drinking, the trend of consuming black brew has recently caught up in China. Lochan said.

According to Lochan, while Unilever is a leader in China’s Indian black tea market, Tata Tea has recently entered the fray. “However, it is Sri Lankan black tea that has a strong market presence in China and is India’s major competitor,” Lochan said.