Compare Assam and West Bengal Tea Outputs

Assam and West Bengal are the two largest tea-producing states in India, but they differ significantly in their scale and tea types.

Assam

• Production Volume: Assam is the largest tea-producing region in the world, and by itself, it accounts for over 50% of India's total tea production. Annual output is massive, often in the range of 650-700 million kilograms. For example, in 2023, Assam's output was approximately 688 million kg.
• Type of Tea: Assam is almost exclusively known for its strong, robust, and malty CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) black tea, which forms the base of most "breakfast tea" blends around the world. It also produces a smaller amount of highly prized orthodox black tea.
• Geography: The tea is grown in the low-lying Brahmaputra River valley, a region with rich alluvial soil and a hot, humid, tropical climate that creates its signature "malty" flavour.

West Bengal

West Bengal's production is significant, making it the second-largest producing state in India, but it is highly diverse.

• Production Volume: The state's total annual output is typically in the range of 350-400 million kilograms.
• Type of Tea: West Bengal produces two of the world's most famous and distinct teas:
  • Darjeeling: A very small (approx. 7-8 million kg) but premium, high-value orthodox tea, known as the "Champagne of Teas" for its delicate, floral, and muscatel notes.
  • Dooars and Terai: This region, located at the foothills of the Himalayas, produces a large volume of CTC black tea that is brighter and lighter than Assam tea. This makes up the vast majority of West Bengal's output.
• Geography: Production is split between the high-altitude (up to 2,000 meters) temperate slopes of the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts and the flat, humid plains of the Dooars and Terai regions.

Direct Comparison

In summary, Assam is the larger, more monolithic producer, focusing on high-volume, strong CTC teas. West Bengal has a smaller (but still very large) total output that is split between the world's most famous luxury tea (Darjeeling) and large-scale CTC production (Dooars/Terai).