Ilam Tea Producers Pvt Ltd (ITPPL) has begun marketing high quality orthodox tea in 150 and 200gram sachets aimed at promoting the brand in international markets. At present, Nepali orthodox tea finds its way to Germany and Japan.

Nepal produces some of the world's best orthodox leaf in the eastern hills and many farmers sell the leaf to processors in India's Darjeeling district. Growers say Ilam produces better quality leaf because the plants are younger, though climatic conditions are similar across the border. Nepal now annually produces 700,000 thousand kg of orthodox tea and 7 million kg of CTC tea, the most widely available form in the market. The government also has ambitious plans to bring 30,000 hectares of land under tea cultivation in the next few years.