Coimbatore : The first level screening of teas for the 15th edition of the Golden Leaf India Awards: Southern Tea Competition was held at Coonoor in Nilgiris District today.

The Competition was conceived by United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI) in collaboration with Tea Board of India, an annual feature eagerly looked forward by the tea fraternity in South India.

This competition over the last 14 years helped immensely to showcase the quality teas of various regions of South India all over the world.

The 15th edition received 152 entries ftom 44 Estates/Companies from different agro-climatic regions of Nilgiris, Wayanad, Anamallais, Travancore, High Ranges, other minor tea growing regions and from Bought Leaf Factories, Organising Committee Convenor Arun Kumar said.

This unique event generated an intense competition among the 6 growing regions to produce quality teas, he said.

A 5 member panel representing leading tea brokers and packeteers evaluated the teas that had entered the competition.

The teas qualifying the first level of screening will also be screened for pesticide residue parameters and heavy metals in the NABL accredited laboratory of UPASI Tea Research Foundation.

The final tasting session is likely to be hjeld in Ahmedabad, he said.