REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia's organic tea product is aiming to enter the US market through the participation of Indonesia's tea businesses at the World Tea Expo (WTE) 2017 in Las Vegas, the United States.Head of the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) in Los Angeles, Antonius Budiman said Indonesian tea plantation companies taking part in the exposition has obtained international certificates.
"This is a factor which raises the competitiveness of Indonesian tea product in the United States," Antonious said in a written statement made available in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The companies that took part in the exposition which lasted from June 13 to 15 were PT Harendong Green Farms and PT Bukit Sari which were promoting premium and organic tea varieties such as oolong medium tea, black tea, jasmine tea and white tea.
The plantation companies have obtained organic tea certificates from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), European Union, Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS), Canadian Organic Standards (COS) and Non-GMO.
"The challenge ahead is to explain to the US market that Indonesian tea has quality and volume that can meet market demand, and the need to introduce its quality, price, history, and the culture of Indonesian tea," explains Antonius.
Better introduction will provide an even greater opportunity for Indonesian tea to enter the US market which is worth US$400 million and is expected to increase every year.The WTE is the largest tea exhibition in the US that is held every year.
There are three main tea exporters to the US, they are the People's Republic of China, Argentina, and India, while Indonesia is at 12th position.
Based on data from the US Tea Association, the US consumes about 84 billion cups of tea with a proportion of 84 percent black tea, 16 percent green tea, and the rest are white tea and oolong tea.
"The advantage that Indonesia has is the tropical climate and the geographical location in the Pacific fire ring that creates tea products with its own taste and different from the tea from other countries," added Antonius.
Another advantage is that tea in Indonesia can grow throughout the year, creating a supply stability that gives business certainty.
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