Ahmedabad: India’s tea industry veteran and Wagh Bakri Tea Group chairman Piyush Desai died after suffering a cardiac arrest late on Tuesday. He was 87. Desai had been unwell for some time.Company executives said Desai was shifted to a city hospital soon after the cardiac arrest, where he died later. He is survived by six daughters. His last rites were performed around 4pm on Wednesday.Desai spent more than six decades in the tea industry and was known for his expertise in tea tasting and evaluation. He was closely associated with the growth of Wagh Bakri, which developed from its roots in Gujarat into one of India’s established tea brands.He was involved in the business at a time when Gujarat’s tea trade was expanding beyond traditional markets. His long association with the company also saw Wagh Bakri strengthen its presence across several parts of the country.Earlier this year, the Northeastern Tea Association honoured Desai with Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the tea industry. The association described him as a “tea maestro” and recognised his expertise in tea tasting and evaluation.The company said Desai championed quality, integrity and ethical practices throughout his career. His death marks the end of a more than six-decade association with the Indian tea trade.
