Withering Myanmar tea leaves
Withering Myanmar tea leaves
MYANMAR
German specialty tea company Tea Gshwendner is importing 1.5 metric tons of green tea from Shan State in eastern Myanmar (formerly Burma). This is the first time the company has imported teas from Myanmar and will bring in 1.5 m.t. of tea produced at a model factory in Sikya Inn Village, Pindaya, Shan State. This is a community-based project supported by the Myanmar-Germany private sector development (PSD). The factory was the first of its kind when it opened in May 2015.
Two more have since been built in Ywarngan in southern Shan State. The Pindaya project is part of a bigger scheme to support small entrepreneurs (SMEs) and is backed by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Germany’s leading provider of international cooperation services.
Exports began in September and a contract has been drawn up for the export of a further 3.5 m.y. next year. The project was set up to help rebuild the Myanmar tea industry. Thomas Schneider, chief adviser to PSD, said Myanmar was chosen because of its potential for quality and growth.
The teas have been tested twice for pesticide residues and were proven completely clean and the village leaders said they are aiming for organic certification. It is hoped that this will be achieved in February 2017.
PSD is working with the Myanmar Tea Cluster, part of the Myanmar Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association (MFVP) to help develop a sustainable supply chain that includes the farmers, processors, traders, and exporters.