Licences of two tea factories in Ajjur at Kothagiri in Nilgiris District were temporarily cancelled on Wednesday, following alleged adulteration in tea – both in mixing and colouring. Officials seized around two lakh kilos of tea from the godowns.

Based on complaints by Tea Trade Association in Coonoor, officials of Tea Board of India had taken tea samples two weeks ago and sent it for test in Coimbatore and Mumbai.

With the tests confirming adulteration like mixing saw dust and also adding color, officials seized two lakh kilos of tea, worth Rs.13 crore, from the factory godowns.
They also sealed the factories and temporarily cancelled the licences.