Assam has become the first state in India to commercially produce Matcha tea, with Chota Tingrai Tea Estate in Tinsukia launching the country's first commercial batch of the premium green tea. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the achievement, saying it marks a major milestone for Assam's tea industry and will strengthen the global presence of Assam Tea. He said the initiative was made possible through India-Japan collaboration, with the estate spending nearly a decade working alongside Japanese tea experts and manufacturers. The first batch of Indian-produced Matcha was sold at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC), where it fetched Rs 3,000 per kg during Sale 27. Traditionally produced in Japan, Matcha is made by grinding specially shade-grown green tea leaves into a fine powder. With global demand for Matcha continuing to rise, the new venture is expected to diversify Assam's tea portfolio and create fresh opportunities in specialty tea and export markets.