Bangladesh Tea Industry
An overview of Bangladesh's bought leaf tea sector — its growers, member factories, regional footprint, and contribution to the national tea economy.
A 170-Year Legacy
Commercial tea cultivation in Bangladesh dates to 1854, when the first experimental garden was established in Sylhet during the British colonial era. Today, the industry spans 167 registered gardens, over 59,000 hectares of cultivation, and produces more than 95 million kilograms of tea annually.
Tea is Bangladesh's second-largest agricultural export and a major source of rural employment, directly supporting over 150,000 workers and their families — many of whom are third and fourth generation tea workers.
The Chittagong Tea Auction, established in 1949, remains the central price-discovery mechanism for Bangladeshi tea, with weekly auctions offering made tea to domestic blenders and international buyers.
Tea-Growing Regions
Sylhet Division
High-grown, bold orthodox black teas; classic Sylheti flavour profile
Chittagong Division
Lowland CTC teas with strong liquor; major processing hub at Chittagong auction
Northern Flatlands
Flat-land cultivation; specialty and organic teas gaining traction
From Garden to Cup
Cultivation
Tea bushes planted and maintained across hillside and flatland estates; plucking every 7–14 days.
Green Leaf Procurement
Smallholder green leaf collected; quality graded at garden or bought-leaf factory gates.
Factory Processing
CTC or Orthodox process: withering, rolling/CTC, fermentation, drying, sorting, grading.
Auction & Trade
Finished tea sold at Chittagong Tea Auction or through direct/private sale to domestic and export buyers.
Blending & Packaging
Blenders create retail products; major brands blend and pack for domestic market or export.
Export & Domestic
Tea shipped to Russia, Pakistan, Poland, UAE, UK; remainder consumed domestically (~83%).