Assam’s Story: From Tea Gardens to Global Spice Markets

When we think of Assam, sprawling tea gardens and the aroma of fresh brews immediately come to mind. The value of Assam’s tea production is about ₹9750Cr in 2024. Every 9^th cup of tea that is sipped worldwide is from Assam!

But there is a silent contender to Assam tea, cheering Assam’s farmers – the spice revolution !!

Over the past decade, a quiet revolution has taken root in the Brahmaputra Valley. Assam is emerging as a hot bed for spices with high-yielding black pepper whose productivity and quality metrics are beginning to rival India’s traditional pepper belts in the south.

In 2023–24 alone, Assam recorded 2840 metric tonnes of black pepper production. Assam is now among the top 4 black pepper growing states of India. And it is not only pepper, the same story repeats itself for ginger, garlic, coriander, turmeric and chilli and other spices.

Black Pepper’s Journey in Assam:

Black pepper, traditionally confined to the Western Ghats (Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu), has found an unlikely new home in Assam. The state’s humid climate, fertile alluvial soils, and year-round rainfall create ideal conditions for pepper vines.

One of Assam’s most effective cultivation models has been intercropping pepper within tea plantations. The natural shade of tea bushes, combined with organic matter from the estates, reduces input costs and enhances pepper vine growth. This sustainable practice not only improves farm economics but also creates a new cash crop opportunity for tea estate owners and smallholders alike.

While pepper is grown across the state, Kokrajhar, Goalpara, Kamrup, and Nagaon – lead in terms of both area and production. Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Udalguri, Morigaon, and Darrang – smaller but significant contributors. These districts have laid the foundation for Assam’s pepper expansion and continue to play a critical role in its growth story.

Trials by Assam Agricultural University and ICAR show that several varieties adapt well to Assam’s agro-climatic conditions:

• Panniyur-1 – High-yielding (1.6 kg dry berries/vine), premium quality.
• Sreekara – Strong yield and quality balance.
• Karimunda & Subhakara – Noted for good adaptation and vine health.
• Local Germplasm – Certain local accessions have even outperformed Panniyur-1, offering higher dry yields and potential for future commercialization.

The adaptability of these varieties highlights Assam’s strength in both productivity and spice quality differentiation.

And the Assam spice story unfolds beyond pepper.

Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Chilli Pepper):

Among Assam’s most famous spice exports is the legendary Bhut Jolokia, once crowned the world’s hottest chilli with over 1 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Cultivated in districts like Dhemaji, Jorhat, Golaghat, and Sibsagar, this fiery chilli is not just about heat - it is a cultural symbol of Assam’s spice identity.
What makes it commercially powerful is its niche demand. Beyond kitchens, Bhut Jolokia finds applications in speciality sauces, defense (as a non-lethal weapon in tear gas grenades), and pharmaceuticals. For farmers, this chilli is a game-changer. While its cultivation area is limited, the premium pricing - often three to five times higher than regular chillies, ensures better income from smaller plots of land. Its GI tag also protects authenticity, giving Assam’s farmers a clear edge in global markets.

Put together, all chilli varieties in Assam contributed to about 21,000 metric tonnes of production in 2023-24.

Karbi Anglong Turmeric – Assam’s Golden Spice

If Bhut Jolokia is fire, then turmeric from Assam’s Karbi Anglong district is pure gold. This GI tagged turmeric variety is celebrated for its exceptionally high curcumin content (6–7%), far higher than the national average of 2–3%. High-curcumin turmeric is in great demand for nutraceuticals, health supplements, and international spice markets because of its antioxidant and medicinal properties. In all, Assam produced about 22,000 metric tonnes of Turmeric in 2023 -24.

Assam Garlic – Strong Flavor, Strong Market

Garlic cultivation in districts such as Nagaon and Morigaon has developed a reputation for large bulb size and high essential oil content. Assam garlic carries a stronger aroma and flavor compared to many other regions, which makes it particularly attractive to spice processors, pickle manufacturers, and culinary markets.
For farmers, garlic provides a high-value cash crop with relatively short cultivation cycles and strong domestic demand. Its market stability ensures consistent returns, reducing dependence on volatile crops.

 Assam Ginger – Volume Leader with Export Potential 

Assam is one of India’s largest ginger producers with 174,920 MT in 2023-24. the state's humid content and fertile soils help farmers cultivate ginger with high oil content, giving it a distinct aroma and pungency.

Grown across districts like Karbi Anglong, Darrang, Goalpara and Nagaon, Assam ginger is prized for its high volatile oul and oleoresin content , which give it a strong aroma and pungency favored by spice processors.

For farmers, ginger serves as a cashrich crop with steady domestic demand and significant export potential. Rising interest from the Middle East and Southeast Asia in residue free ginger, makes Assam ginger a natural fit. Contract farming and cluster level aggregation can further enhance farm-gate prices.

Assam Coriander – Aroma that Stands Apart

Coriander from Assam is gaining recognition not just for its volume which was 34,470 Metric tonnes in 2024-24, but also for its truly distinctive aromatic richness and essential oil profile. Assam grown coriander often shows high oil levels, enriched with compounds like linalool, geranyl acetate, and terpenoids that give it a complex premium aroma distinct from many other origins. This sensory edge makes it a highly valued for spice blends and flavoring industries.

Farmers benefit not only from the seeds quality but also from its dual-nature, harvested first as fresh green leaves for local consumption and later as dried seeds for spice processors and oil extraction. This provides them with two revenue streams within one crop cycle, ensuring better cash flow and resilience.  

With global consumers increasingly seeking authentic, aroma driven cuisines and natural spice oils, Assam coriander offers buyers a differentiated product that goes beyond commodity value, positioning it as a spice with both heritage and high market appeal.

Commercial & Market Outlook of Assam Spices

For Assam, the production of these spices translates into a high-value opportunity, offering a good case to scale spices production with assured domestic demand and growing export traction, as is clear from the below production numbers (2023-24) and total value greater than ₹3,400 Crores, assuming average primary market prices.

• Ginger – 35000 MT ( ₹475 Crore)
• Turmeric – 57460 MT ( ₹228 Crore)
• Garlic – 101040 MT  ( ₹273 Crore)
• Chillies – 21680 MT ( ₹349 Crore)
• Coriander – 34470 MT ( ₹1,910 crore )
• Black Pepper 2840 MT ( ₹170 crore )

Challenges on the Ground

Despite its promise, Assam’s spices sector faces hurdles:

• Inconsistent moisture control during post-harvest drying, impacting shelf life.
• Variable active ingredient content, making quality uneven across batches.
• Lack of on-site validation and certification, limiting farmer access to premium export markets.

The TARAM Advantage

This is where technology meets opportunity.
TARAM (Green Collar Agritech’s portable spice analyzer) addresses these bottlenecks by:

• On-the-spot testing of piperine, curcumin, chilli heat and colour, volatiles and moisture
• Transparent grading to secure fair prices
• Data-driven market insights for farmers, traders, exporters and extractors.

By enabling quality validation at the farm gate, TARAM can unlock better pricing, export readiness, and farmer income security—transforming Assam’s pepper from a promising crop into a global success story.

The numbers prove that Assam is no longer a “small player” in the spice world. With more than ₹3,400 crore in value, strong agro-climatic conditions, and growing export traction, the state is positioned to become the Spice Gateway of the Northeast. For farmers, this means higher incomes and new markets. For buyers, it means access to a reliable, differentiated, and premium spice source.

And with TARAM enabling data-driven transparency, Assam’s spice farmers can finally compete not just on volume, but on verified quality—unlocking better returns, stronger exports, and a sustainable future for the North East’s spice economy.