Cha Thé Tea

Sunday, November 1, 2009
RİZE – Anatolia News Agency

DRY TEA: Çaykur has selected Hemşin as a base for organic production. AA photo

State-owned tea company Çaykur is preparing to offer the first organic dry tea on the Turkish market in January 2010, its manager has said.

According to Managing Director Ekrem Yüce, the firm launched organic tea production this year in a plant established in the town of Hemşin, located in the northwestern city of Rize on the Black Sea coast.

Noting that activities to start organic tea production began three years ago, Yüce said: “We have tried to eliminate all the factors that might be an obstacle for organic production. We have signed deals with 1,400 people involved in tea agriculture through a certification company.”

There are no chemical fertilizers or disinfection used in the region, Yüce said, adding that the company has processed organic raw tea leaves in the factory and plans to present the first organic dry tea to the Turkish market in January of next year.

Çaykur bought 593,541 tons of raw tea leaf this year.

“We are selling approximately 8,500 kilograms of dry tea in a month. This year, we have sold 80,339 kilograms of dry tea thus far,” Yüce added. “Our sales are ongoing within the framework of the program.

State firm to market organic tea - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review