Established in 1839, Assam Company India Limited (ACIL) holds the prestigious title of being the first tea plantation company in the world. Its origins are inextricably linked to the very birth of the Indian tea industry following Robert Bruce’s 1823 discovery of indigenous tea bushes in the Brahmaputra Valley. In a landmark moment for global trade, the company was awarded a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria in 1845. Its founding board was a testament to its significance, featuring Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, the grandfather of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, bridging the gap between British enterprise and Indian aristocracy.

From its inception, ACIL was a catalyst for technological advancement in the province of Assam. In 1839, the company commissioned the first steam-powered machinery in the region—a bench saw engine costing £700 (roughly £50,000 today)—to support garden infrastructure. This spirit of innovation continues in 2026, as the company integrates AI-driven crop monitoring and smart drones to manage its vast estates, ensuring precision in harvesting and resource management.

Today, the company operates 14 tea estates (including flagships like Greenwood, Khoomtaie, and Hajua) covering over 12,000 hectares.

• Production Volume: The company typically produces approximately 11 million kg of premium tea annually.

• Quality Focus: Its gardens are renowned for a diverse range of teas, from robust CTC and tippy Orthodox to specialty Silver Needle and Golden Tips.

• Global Impact: Under the leadership of the BRS Ventures group (which acquired control in 2018), ACIL remains a major exporter, supplying high-quality Assam tea to markets in the UK, Middle East, and beyond.
  

With a workforce of over 15,000 employees, ACIL remains the “beating heart” of the North Indian tea industry, balancing its 187-year heritage with modern sustainable farming practices.