TEA TESTING SERVICES AS PER EXPORT REGULATION

TEA QUALITY TESTING, INSPECTION & CERTIFICATION SERVICES IN INDIA

INTRODUCTION TO TEA QUALITY TESTING AND ANALYSIS

Tea is one of the oldest beverages and India is one of the largest producers of tea in the world. Tea is grown on mountain terrains and a specific
type of climate and geography is crucial for tea cultivation. Each tea-producing region in India provides a different yet perfect climate for its
cultivation. Hence, tea from different regions have their uniqueness in taste, texture, colour, form and appearance. Almost 70% of the tea
produced in India, is consumed by its own people. Tea from every region has its uniqueness which gives it an identity. This uniqueness in colour,
taste, aroma and texture has to be maintained and kept intact, for it to be of marketable quality.

Tea quality testing services are carried out to ensure that its quality is maintained all throughout the process from its cultivation to its packaging.
Tea testing services include tea testing parameters like checking for any contamination or factors affecting the quality of tea due to change in
weather conditions, etc. Tea quality testing is done to keep the tea quality in check by tea traders/exporters from a recognized tea testing service
provider. The tea testing services provided by certified companies in India are conducted as per set standards and regulations. Tea quality
certification is also provided which confirms its marketability. This is an important requisite to have a good hold over tea trading, including exports
to different countries.

QUALITY ASSURANCE IN THE TEA INDUSTRY

The purity and freshness of Tea depends on the Quality Assurance of the tea producing company. Strict quality checks as per set standards and
benchmarks is crucial for gaining customer confidence and to have a good hold in the market. Quality Assurance is ensured mainly in three main
stages of growing, plucking and processing the tea. High level of quality is maintained by ensuring quality assurance in plucking, processing to
packaging processes through tea quality testing services. Any deviation from the set standards should be retrievable by spotting the fault in the
chain of processes.

Quality assurance in the Tea industry can be met through the following stages -

Fine plucking standards must be ensured.

Right level of withering plays a vital role in deciding the quality.

Special care should be taken in maintaining temperature, humidity and duration of fermentation to keep the flavour intact.

Firing/Drying of tea should be done at a regulated temperature. This also decides the flavour.

Sifting should be done for grading to different sizes.

Weighing and packaging should be monitored to avoid contamination.

In today’s competitive times, having the most stringent levels of Quality Assurance is a game-changer in the industry. A business that adheres to
this, has its business sorted. Similarly, looking at the variety of tea available in India from different regions, tea industry players with strict quality
assurance, set a different level of competition in the tea market.

IMPORTANCE OF TEA QUALITY TESTING AND ANALYSIS

Tea is a high value commodity, and to maintain its marketability it must have high quality, in order to maintain its demand in competing with all
other tea types from different regions. Any deviation may cost a heavy price to the tea producer or seller. Hence Tea quality testing services
encompassing a number of Tea quality testing parameters like colour, texture, flavour, aroma, size etc become essential. The process of Tea
Quality Analysis also evaluates if there is any contamination during the stages of 3Ps - Plucking, Processing and Packaging. Also Tea analysis is
done to check for any adulterants that devalues the quality of tea. This ensures there are no health hazards for people consuming it.

Some of the other factors why tea quality testing and analysis is important-

To have a good hold over national and international market.

Boost exports to swiftly meet the export destination’s quality standards.

Boosts branding.

Helps in gaining an upper hand in the business.

Ensures 100% retainment of customers.

Helps in making continuous improvement in processes.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU

TÜV SÜD South Asia has a large scale screening facility that provides tea quality testing and analysis services in India covering all possible
parameters. TÜV SÜD screens for residue of pesticides, heavy metals, toxins, presence of micro-organisms, moisture,etc in Tea. We also provide
Tea Product Analysis (TPA) for loose leaf, bag, sachet, and single-cup tea products. To safeguard consumers from any kind of contamination, it is
imperative to screen for any kind of residue on an extensive scale, considering the possibility of their presence, during cultivation & unintended
sources and their magnification during tea processing.

To facilitate this, TÜV SÜD facilitates large scale screening services through thorough evaluation and analysis of tea as per export regulations of
various countries and for domestic compliance as per FSSAI and guidelines set by Tea Board of India.

Some of the characteristics of Tea that are tested and analysed to check if they fall within the standard requirement are as follows :-

Water extract

Total ash

Water soluble ash

Acid insoluble ash

Crude Fibre

Lead Copper

Aflatoxins

Dicofol

Extraneous matter

TYPES OF TEA EVALUATION, ANALYSIS, AND TESTING SERVICES AVAILABLE

Tea Quality testing is crucial for maintaining tea quality throughout the stages of growing to packaging, as per the regulations and standards of
the market. Also, maintaining the right quality will boost export opportunities and will make it easy for tea producers and exporters to meet
requirements of the destination countries. Different processes of analysis and evaluation services are carried out to test the tea quality.

The following are some of the evaluation methods conducted :-

Sensory Analysis

It is a scientific method to analyse and understand the aroma, taste, flavour and colour to check for any improvements if required.

Physical Analysis

The particle size is studied to understand the quality.

It also checks for the presence of any foreign matter like iron fillings, etc.

The moisture content and water soluble matter reveals the quality.

The level of Total Polyphenol and Catechin are tested.

Microbial Analysis

Microbial testing is done to check the presence of pathogens and micro-organisms in the tea. The test looks for a presence of yeast, mold,
Coliform, E. Coli, Salmonella to name a few. This test gives an indication of the cleanliness of tea.

Chemical Analysis

Tea includes chemical residue testing that involves testing for pesticide residue. Around 800+ pesticide residues are tested to check for
any contamination.

Presence of harmful toxins like Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin are also tested in toxins testing.
It also includes metal screening, that checks for presence of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, methyl mercury, copper,
tin in tea.

Also, Chemical analysis also measures the factors like moisture content, the amount of water insoluble steam volatile oil, the amount of
carbon-free ash and the amount of acid insoluble ash to determine the quality.

TÜV SÜD South Asia aims at providing the best tea quality testing services that are reliable and globally renowned.

TYPES OF TEA PRODUCTS THAT WE TEST UNDER TEA QUALITY TESTING AND ANALYSIS
SERVICES
TÜV SÜD South Asia has a comprehensive tea testing facility in India following specific testing parameters.

The following are a few types that we test :-

Green tea

Black tea

Herbal tea

Oolong tea

White tea

Fermented tea

Yellow tea

We test almost all kinds of tea considering all tea testing parameters and a step-by-step analysis is done as per procedure and the set standards.

WHY CHOOSE TÜV SÜD FOR TEA QUALITY TESTING AND CONTROL SERVICES IN INDIA
TÜV SÜD is a certified company providing Tea Quality Testing services in multiple countries including India. Some of the points to consider why to
choose TÜV SÜD are as follows :-

The testing services provided by TÜV SÜD are most reliable, safe and result-oriented.

It is a one-stop solution provider for Tea testing as well as certification.

 TÜV SÜD continuously measures hazards and continuously makes process improvements.

TÜV SÜD ensures complete customer satisfaction and retainment by focussing on Quality Assurance.

TÜV SÜD is also recognized by EIC, FSSAI, APEDA, AGMARK, Tea Board, BIS along with having national and international accreditation.

OUR APPROVAL AND RECOGNITIONS

Tea Board

EIC

NABCB as per ISO /IEC 17021

FSSAI

APEDA

AGMARK

BIS

OUR ACCREDITATIONS
ISO 17025

DAC, Dubai as per ISO /IEC 17021

DakkS Germany as per ISO /IEC 17021

OUR INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITIONS

Saudi Food and Drug authority

Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Indonesia

Japan Health Ministry

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TEA QUALITY TESTING

WHAT IS TEA QUALITY TESTING?

Tea is one of the most consumed beverages, and quality matters for it to have a good and constant market value. Different weather conditions
help in different types of tea produce, that gives the tea its uniqueness. The uniqueness needs to be taken care of, along with parameters like
physical, chemical, biological factors within permissible conditions. Any contamination will degrade the quality of the tea. To meet customer
expectations every time equally, and to maintain standardization in the final product sold, Tea Quality Testing is very important.

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF YOUR TEA IS OF MARKETABLE QUALITY?

Tea has a number of parameters for which it is evaluated. In tea quality testing, the tea is analysed in terms of its physical appearance like colour,
size, flavour and taste. Also, the other analysis includes testing for any presence of chemicals, heavy metals, toxins and so on. All these tests are
done as per set standards by the official body. When tea is compliant to all the set standards, it is said to be of marketable quality. Similarly, when
tea quality testing meets all the set standards of the destination country it is exported to, it is said to be of export quality.

ARE THERE ANY QUALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR TEA EXPORT?

India is one of the biggest exporters of tea in the world. Different countries have varied requirements for the quality of tea they import. To
understand the necessary tests that have to be performed, one has to go through the export related documents available. As per the export
destination, the testing requirement varies over a number of parameters like physical factors, chemical analysis and biological analysis to name a
few. When the tea quality meets the quality requirements of the destination country, it is termed to be fit for export.

HOW TO OBTAIN A TEA QUALITY TESTING CERTIFICATE IN INDIA?

TÜV SÜD has a comprehensive tea quality testing facility with safe and secure practices in India. The laboratory services at TÜV SÜD provides all
kinds of analysis and evaluation services to evaluate the tea quality and marketability. Also, almost all types of tea are tested at our laboratories.
A Tea Quality Testing Certificate can be obtained by availing tea testing at TÜV SÜD’s tea testing facility in India.

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CONTACT US
Get in touch with TÜV SÜD South Asia to know more about our Tea Testing Services in India.
Phone : 1800-212-2000
Email : info.in@tuvsud.com
Website: www.tuvsud.com/en-in