Dutch investors eye Malawi tea market

A seven-member delegation of Dutch investors is in the country to evaluate Malawi tea for export to their market.

Malawi is the second largest tea producer in Africa after Kenya and the industry contributes about seven percent to the gross domestic product (GDP).

The delegation comprises tea importers, tea shop owners, health consultants and bank representatives, a situation which shows “how sophisticated the advanced world tea market is”, according to Tea Association of Malawi (Taml).

Taml chief executive officer Clement Thindwa said yesterday the health consultant is meant to look at the proven health elements of tea such as antioxidants, antibacterial, antiviral, antiallergenic, anti-inflammatory and ageing suppression, among other benefits.

“The importer will facilitate the import of tea into Belgium in bulk, the shop owners will then dispense to the Dutch consumers, the bankers will provide finance for the transactions and perhaps most interestingly are tea schools for facilitating understanding of tea and how to brew it,” he explained.

The Dutch businesspersons attended Malawi Tea Auction Number 25 on Tuesday at the Limbe Tea Auction, located along Kidney Crescent in Blantyre, and were impressed with the conduct and sophistication of the auction. n