What is the definition of ‘Tea’ as per FSS Regulations? What is the labelling guideline on added flavour in Tea?

As per FSS regulations, ‘Tea’ is mentioned under Beverages and has three sub-types – Tea, Kangra Tea & Green Tea.

‘Tea’ has been defined as; tea which is obtained by acceptable processes, exclusively from leaves, buds and tender stems of plant of the Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze. The form of tea could be of black or oolong tea. Tea shall have characteristic flavour free from any off odour, taint and mustiness and it should also be free from living insects, moulds, dead insects, insect fragments and rodent contamination visible to the naked eye. 

‘Kangra Tea’ is the tea which is exclusively derived from the leaves, buds and tender stems of plants of the Camellia sinensis or Camellia tea which is grown in the Kangra and Mandi valleys of Himachal Pradesh. 

‘Green Tea’ means the tea product which is derived solely and exclusively, produced by acceptable processes, notably enzyme, inactivation, rolling or comminution and drying from the leaves, buds and tender stems of varieties of the species Camellia Sinensis (L) O. Kuntze, known to be suitable for making tea for consumption as a beverage. 

A package containing tea will have to comply with the labelling requirements as have been mentioned under FSS (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011.

A packaged tea product with added flavour shall bear the following label: 

“Flavoured Tea” (common name of permitted flavour / percentage)                                       Registration No. ………………………

 The specifications and the requirements of the tea product have been declared under FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. A tea product shall conform to the requirements and the figures on the materials as have been defined under BEVERAGES (Other than Dairy, Fruit & Vegetable based).