Turkish Tea & Culture

Turkish Tea Culture Tea Agriculture in Turkey is carried out in 766.000 decare microclimate area that is across the sea surrounding with Caucasus and Kaçkar Mountains and goes back to 1000 meter altitude by nearly 200.000 producers. The plantation area of tea in Turkey is belonged to farmers. The owners of the factories are dealing with the production of black tea by buying green leaf. As a result of the ecological climate tea production lasting nine-eleven months in the World but in Turkey, it starts on May and ends on October. Production of black tea is carried out in Turkey not only by the state owned, but also by private sector. Almost all of 220.000 ton annually produced tea is consumed in the domestic market. Within the period of 26 years, since the privatization of tea sector, it is certain that various problems have been accounted in several areas varying from farmers' payment to marketing problems owing to the lack of auction system in Turkey. Base on these ideas, we are studying on a new tea law in order to achieve the reconstitution of Turkish tea sector, the standardization of quality and diversity, creation of new marks in international field, and getting into the World market. The most important characteristic of Turkish Tea is that agriculture of tea is having been done without chemical fight because of the microclimatical conditions. Therefore, we believe that the most natural tea of the world is produced in Turkey. Owing to the characteristic of the regional climate, temperature drops minius degree at winder period and tea plantation areas are covered with snow. Therefore, the infestation and microbiological illnesses are not seen on the plant and none of the pesticide is used in the production of tea. So, there are not any chemicals threaten to human health in Turkish Tea. In recent years, in some certain areas, totally organic plantation areas are formed and a new factory is established by the stated owned with the aim of producing only organic tea. For the following years, we are planning to improve this sector more than this. As a result, in an age dominated by the tendency towards natural products, it is almost certain that with its natural and organic features Turkish tea will have a competitive advantage and be supported in the world market. Contact: Hasan ONDER hasan@honder.net hasan.onder@rtb.org.tr Rize Commodity Exchange www.rtb.org.tr TURKEY