Consumption of tea low in Indonesia, expert says

Consumption of tea low in Indonesia, expert says

Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung

Indonesia is one of the biggest producers of tea in the world,
but ironically, the consumption of tea here is still low.

Agus Wisma, an employee of the marketing division of
state-owned tea plantation company PT Perkebunan Nusantara VIII,
revealed that Indonesians consumed only 250 grams of tea leaves
as a beverage per capita per year. The figure is much lower
compared to other developing countries such as Pakistan and Sri
Lanka, whose consumption of tea leaves reaches two-and-a-half
kilograms per capita per year respectively.

The lower consumption of tea has affected the state of tea
production tea in the country.

"As tea consumption is low, we have to export most of our
tea," he said, adding that only 10 to 20 percent of tea
production was absorbed domestically.

Tea production in Indonesia in 2002 was 170,000 tons, and it
slightly dropped to 165,000 tons last year.

Each year, Indonesia exports 100,000 tons of tea to other
countries, including to the United Kingdom, Middle East countries
and Pakistan.

PT Perkebunan Nusantara itself produces 60,000 tons of tea
each year in its plantations in West Java.

Agus said that the tea industry is currently facing problems
due to the decreasing price of tea on the international market to
US$ 0.96 per kilogram.

"We shall wage a 'love tea campaign' nationwide in order to
raise the consumption of tea here. We wouldn't need to export the
tea if the rate was higher," said Agus.