Samples of tea purchased at the auctions or direct from plantations are compared with the offer samples received prior to purchase. If they match the contract is concluded. The buyer retains a working sample of 250g generally, for tasting and blending. Tea tasters work carefully on their purchases and prepare blends of tea to meet specific requirements of their customers.In respect of value added tea, blending and packaging are carried out by companies and finished products are exported.

Blending in the international sense means using high quality Ceylon tea with price cutters from cheaper origins in order to match the cost of a blend with predetermined levels. This provides the opportunity to use tea from many growing centers.

On the other hand, bulking relates to mixing of tea purchased from several plantations of equal quality and taste in order to achieve volume required against established quality standards. This is not blending high quality tea with cheap tea.In supplying tea from a single origin - growing country - consistency of quality and taste are maintained at a high cost, of course.