North Eastern Tea Association mainly grown. Although Assam produces 52.9% of the country’s total tea production as opposed to Bengal which produces 24.8%, the Tea Board is headquartered in Kolkata (Calcutta). NETA also urged the Tea Board to make an amendment in the definition of Small Tea Grower in order to accommodate the one who holds land up to 50.6 hectares as a small tea grower. The organization also emphasizes on the growth of high quality tea from time to time and advises the tea planters and tea growers of the region to produce quality tea to attract buyers in the international markets. NETA
Nilgiri tea After processing (which converts the green leaf into 'made tea'), most is sold through regularly scheduled auctions in Coonoor, Coimbatore and Kochi. More than 50% of Nilgiri tea is exported, and usually finds its way into blends used for tea bags. Data is unreliable on the precise proportion of Nilgiri tea that is actually exported. However, Neilson and Pritchard ("op cit") suggest that at least 70% of South Indian tea is exported, and the Nilgiris constitutes more than half of all South Indian production. The expensive hand-sorted, full-leaf versions of the tea like the Orange Pekoe (O.P.) are highly sought