Pakistan-Manzoor Ali, the Minister at the Pakistan Embassy in China, has expressed hope for increased collaboration between Pakistan and China in the tea industry. He pointed out that with Pakistan’s large population of over 200 million and its significant tea consumption, there is substantial potential to enhance bilateral trade in this sector.
The embassy has recently signed an agreement with the International Business Advisory Council of the China International Engineering Consulting Association (CAIEC) to address domestic demand and expand into neighboring Islamic countries, with a long-term goal of reaching European markets.
According to the United Nations COMTRADE database, Pakistan is the world’s largest tea importer, having imported over USD 600 million (approximately RMB 4.033 billion) worth of tea last year. In contrast, China’s tea exports to Pakistan were valued at USD 5.76 million in 2023. This disparity highlights significant opportunities for increased cooperation between the two nations in the tea industry.
A senior official from the Tea Research Institute at the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingyuan, suggested that blending broken tea from China and Pakistan could create new products for the global market, benefiting both countries. He noted that Pakistan has a high demand for broken black tea, commonly used in teabags, which is relatively inexpensive in China. Yunnan could benefit from guiding or transferring industrial processes to Pakistan, potentially boosting tea exports.
PM Stresses Pak-China Friendship as Vital for Regional Stability
Sadia Khatri, a writer from Karachi, emphasized the cultural significance of tea in Pakistan. In an interview with China Economic Net at the 17th Beijing International Tea Exhibition, she described tea as an integral part of Pakistani life and culture. She expressed a desire to find the perfect tea variety, acknowledging that while China is the birthplace of tea, Pakistan has a rich tea-drinking tradition.
Pakistani trader Abdul Haq echoed this sentiment, noting that black tea, often brewed with milk, spices, lemon, and nuts, is particularly popular in Pakistan. He observed that Chinese interest in milk tea reflects the blending and thriving of the two cultures.
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