The gap in the use of recommended tea culture technology among small tea growers in three districts of Assam, India, was studied. Data were collected from 48 growers trained by STAP (Small Tea Growers' Advisory Programme) during 1994 and 1995 and from 48 untrained (without STAP training) growers. The relationship between technology gap and six socioeconomic variables (age, educational qualification, area under tea cultivation, credibility of information sources, mass media exposure, and economic motivation) was also studied. Results indicate a 19.97%-48.07% technology gap among the majority of growers. A higher technology gap (46.08%-78.13%) was observed in 10.42% of trained and 20.84% of untrained growers, respectively. The mean technology gap was 26.40% among trained growers and 40.00% among untrained growers. Educational qualification and mass media exposure had a significant but negative relationship with technology gap. Age had a significant positive relationship with technology gap.