For the first time, the Tea and Tourism festival, which otherwise seen during autumn season was included in the Ooty summer festival. The two-day event was inaugurated at the Research Centre for Tribal Culture building in Ooty on Saturday.
With 10 stalls, the event had on display tea-ice cream and a variety of flavored teas. The Tea and Tourism festival was launched in the hill town in 1994 to promote the habit of drinking tea among the public and tourists.
K Mohan, a tea farmer said, “It has always been the wish of tea factory owners and farmers to organize the Tea and Tourism carnival during the peak tourist season of April and May. “This year, the authorities have included the tea carnival in the summer festival package.”