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In Nepal, the tea industry and the tea process have undergone drastic changes in the past few years, largely with the introduction of capital-intensive tea processing equipment. These systems ease and/ or enhance tea operations, and make Nepal competitive in the global tea industry. This article will highlight the progress of tea processing systems in Nepal and consider the current state and future of these systems for producers and enthusiasts.
Tea processing in Nepal has heavily relied on labor and manual processing. In particular, the introduction of Chinese tea processing technology in 2010 altered labour and capital dynamics of tea processing in Nepal. These machines fit the gap for economically feasible and portable tea processing for small-scale farmers. In 2012, over 25 Small Farmers Tea Industries (SFTIs) had been formed, and there was an increase in the price of green leaves and production quality. This transition challenged the monopoly of large scale Bought Leaf Factories (BLFs) in Nepal which led to the establishment of the Specialty Tea Association of Nepal (STAN) in 2012 to promote these industries and assist with their negotiations and issues common to this emerging group of businesses.
Nepal has a wide variety of tea processing machines that are used in different operations of tea production:
When the leaves are received after being plucked/fresh from the fields, they will need to go through the withering stage, which removes moisture from the leaves so they can be rolled.
Modern withering machines are designed to approximately equalize the moisture content of the pile of leaves to a uniform level so the leaves will dry uniformly while retaining the quality of the leaves.
The rolling machine is an essential piece of equipment for rolling tea leaves for shaping, as well as kicking off the oxidation/reaction/fermentation for the black tea process. Tea Rolling machines have become quite similar in Nepal and can roll a variety of leaf sizes and types, providing consistent quality of rolling on the board.
Fermentation machines are important in the fermentation/oxidation process to create flavor in the black tea process. Fermentation machines can include a variety of heating and cooling options to cook or destroy the leaves, and also allow for precision temperature and humidity settings to produce the strongest flavors possible in the finished product.
With the moisture being removed, the drying process has to happen quickly to arrest the oxidation and bring the moisture content down to the required amount. Machines in Nepal are beginning to be selected to be energy efficient and consistently provide a heat level in the dryer, consistently drying tea as expected.
Sorting and grading machines sort the tea leaves into sizes and quality leaves. Optical sorting machines are being seen in Nepal, which use current technology and sensors to interfere with defective leaves from the flow.
Packing machines are automated and user-friendly, speeding up the packing process to save man-hours in labor. These machines help in packaging bulk, bagged, and boxed teas.
For anyone wishing to purchase tea processing machinery in Nepal, there are several potential suppliers to choose from, with reputable companies and a wide variety of offerings:
These suppliers provide shipping both domestically and internationally, and are accessible to tea producers in various places in Nepal.
Despite the availability of advanced tea processing machinery, several barriers remain that decrease the prospects for widespread usage of these technologies:
The cost of a tea processing machine in Nepal varies widely based on function, size, local and/or foreign, and level of automation. The price range estimates, or breakdown, of common tea machines that may be found in Nepal's market is below:
|
Machine Type |
Price Range (NPR) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Withering Troughs |
NPR 80,000 – 200,000 |
Manual and motorized options; size and material affect price. |
|
Tea Rolling Machines |
NPR 150,000 – 500,000 |
Prices vary depending on batch size and whether it’s for green/black tea. |
|
Fermentation Cabinets |
NPR 120,000 – 300,000 |
Temperature and humidity control add to the cost. |
|
Tea Dryers (Rotary/Fix-bed) |
NPR 200,000 – 600,000 |
Fuel type (electric, gas, wood-fired) impacts operational cost. |
|
Sorting & Grading Machines |
NPR 250,000 – 700,000+ |
Optical and mechanical sorters are priced differently. |
|
Tea Bag Packing Machines |
NPR 300,000 – 1,500,000+ |
Fully automatic units with overwrapping are on the higher end. |
|
Complete Mini-Factory Setup |
NPR 1.2 million – 5 million+ |
Includes end-to-end processing line for small-scale producers. |
Tip: Several Nepali suppliers like Ganesh Trading and Changing Nepal have developed custom quotes based on scale, add-ons, and shipping. It’s also worth looking to see if there are any government grants or co-operative schemes that subsidise machine costs.
More and more Nepali manufacturers and co-operatives are interested in sustainable machinery:
These technologies are popular, not just for sustainability, but also because the innovations are used in more rural parts of Ilam and Dhankuta, where grid electricity is typically expensive or inconsistent.
Some of these advancements are being put in place in response to government, NGOs, and their various programs that seek to:
Co-ops like the Central Tea Cooperative Federation (CTCF) help small producers on their own to buy shared equipment, making high-quality processing of tea more accessible.
Recent Initiatives have provided some activity to support and take advantage of advances in tea processing technology:
A state-of-the-art tea processing factory has been constructed in Kimtang village, Nuwakot has been completed using Chinese support under the _Tea Value Chain Enhancement Project_, which also plans for better product specificity and market access for more than 600 tea-processing households in Nuwakot and Lalitpur that will use the tea processing factory and tea handler workshop.
A new high-level of packing machines like the Nan Feng High-Speed Tea Bag Packing Machine is now being marketed and manufactured in Nepal, and the latest ones are fully automated and even include filling, heat sealing, threading and labeling, and overwrapping. This is a cheque for the proper packing of tea. In full, commercial, general use, and to enhance efficiency and appeal to products being packaged.
Things are looking great for the future of processing tea in Nepal:
As premium Nepalese Orthodox teas are being positioned in specialty retail stores in Europe, Japan, and the U.S., you cannot avoid the need for effective processing and packaging in hygienic conditions. Teas processed with certified and standardized equipment are achieving premium prices abroad.
Each export process is often long or can be long unless it is an air shipment, as any tea that is exported, whether in bags or loose, that has the nitrogen flushing and vacuum bag sealing will last months and even years at sea. With unique value-added possibilities, flavored tea bag machines (ginger, cardamom, tulsi, etc) are showing popularity and export potential.
You should consider the following in making a potential investment in tea processing machines.
Choosing the right machine depends on your tea type, processing volume, and location (availability of power/fuel).
The evolution of tea processing machines in Nepal has transformed the tea industry and improved the efficiency and quality of tea products, while also improving Nepal's competitiveness in the tea marketplace. While challenges are still visible, the development of new initiatives and advancements in technology provide reasons to be optimistic about the future of Nepal's tea sector. Nepal has the ability to be one of the world's greatest producers of tea by reducing the gaps in skills, creating financial support, and embracing innovation.
At Changing Nepal, we believe that change is the engine of progress. The transformation of Nepal's tea industry is just the start, and with the right technology, the possibilities are endless. If we focus on closing skills gaps, increasing access to affordable machinery, and promoting modern solutions, we can help take Nepal's tea industry and elevate it to a world-class industry.
Contact Changing Nepal to power this change. Let's build the future of Nepal's tea industry—one machine at a time.
The cost will depend on the type of machine and size. For example, an Automatic Green Tea Rolling Machine YZT-25 may be purchased in about NPR 130,000 to NPR 500,000 in Nepal, based on the supplier and requirements.
Yes. For example, the Central Tea Co-operative Federation (CTCF) offers training programs as part of its overall skilling agenda in tea planting, processing, and packaging.
Although the initial investment can be substantial, various financing and subsidy programs from government and non-governmental organizations can help small-scale producers purchase quality machinery.