India’s recurring barriers expose battle over Nepali tea and Darjeeling brand

Political pressure and trade competition—not quality alone—lie behind repeated restrictions on Nepali tea exports to India, industry insiders say.

In July 2017, India’s then-president Pranab Mukherjee travelled to Darjeeling on the occasion of Bhanu Jayanti. Taking advantage of the visit, the Darjeeling Tea Association arranged a special meeting with the president and submitted a memorandum carrying a single demand: “Imports of Nepali tea must be stopped.”