Kathmandu, March 26 -- Nepal exports more than 88 percent of its orthodox tea to India, leaving only a small fraction for third-country markets.

A recent report highlights the need for market diversification to countries like Japan, China, and Russia, suggesting that expanding exports beyond India could help Nepali orthodox tea producers achieve better price gains and reduce market dependency.

Nepal processes 7,838 tonnes orthodox tea annually. The export of orthodox tea to third countries stands at 11.4 percent. Orthodox tea uses traditional methods, including plucking, withering, rolling, oxidation, and drying.

There are two types of exports: organic certified and uncertified. The export of organic certified orthodox tea to third cou...