Refreshing Packaging Solutions for the Tea Industry When it comes to the packaged tea industry in India, Nichrome has been a trailblazer. The first ever four-line seal, standup pouch for tea packaging was adopted by Tata Tea in 2005 when they invested in Nichrome’s tea packaging machine. This new technology proved to be a cost-effective solution as it eliminated the old manual process and automated the pouch formation, filling and sealing process. There is a wide variety of tea produced in India; from Green Tea to CTC tea to the aromatic Darjeeling tea and the strong Assamese tea, the range of tea available in India is unparalleled. Regardless of the type of tea, preserving its special flavor and freshness is critical. Tea leaves are delicate and must be packed with care so that the aroma and flavor is maintained. Modern packaging protects tea from moisture, odors, UV rays and punctures which could adversely affect the freshness of the tea. Moreover, modern packaging offers limitless opportunities for attractive designs that stand out on retail shelves and induce customers to buy. In an industry that saw record tea production in FY 2015-16, with exports of 232.9 mn kg (valued at INR 4493 crore), packaging acquires even greater importance. Indeed, Indians take a lot of pride in their tea industry because of the pre-eminence of the industry as a significant earner of foreign exchange and a significant contributor to India’s GNP. Within the country too, tea consumption is huge and continues to grow. With increasing disposable income and awareness of product differentiation (aroma, origin, taste, etc), the loose/standard tea is making way for more premium variants and flavours. At the same time, the increasing consumer health quotient is boosting sales for green tea and its variants – mint, lime/lemon, classic, etc.