Indians drink fewer cups of tea compared to those in neighbouring Pakistan and there is a huge potential to improve per capita consumption in the country, said a top official of Mcleod Russel India Ltd, the world’s largest tea producer.

“We are still lagging behind Pakistan in terms of tea consumption. India consumes around 700 gram per capita per annum, while Pakistan drinks 1.2 kg tea per capita per annum,” Mcleod Russel India Ltd (MRIL) Director Azam Monem told PTI.

There is a need to increase “craving” in every drinker in India by an additional cup of tea to at least reach the level of the neighbouring country, he said.

Monem was in the national capital to promote tea consumption at the “India Tea Road Show” organised jointly by the Indian Tea Association and Delhi Tea Packeteers Association.

Citing reasons for stagnant demand, Monem said tea consumption has not improved much because there are still a large number of youth who don’t drink tea.

Besides, there is lack of awareness about the health benefits of tea, which currently are available in different flavours for different needs, he added.

Tea production in India, the world’s largest producer, stood at 966 million kg in 2010-11. Production has touched 843 million tonnes during the April-November of this fiscal.

“From population point of view, India is top in tea consumption at 850 million kg but not in terms of per capita consumption,” Monem said

Pakistan consumes around 220 million kg every year and recently surpassed Russia’s level of 175 million kg.

The tea industry bodies said that more than 90 per cent of the country’s population drink black tea, which is known as CTC tea. However, there is potential for increasing demand for orthodox tea, which includes Assam tea, Darjeeling tea, Green tea and Organic tea, they said.