Mar 2023

I hope you are all having a wonderful week ahead! Over the past few years, I have been sending out monthly Nepal Tea updates featuring news from the garden and updates regarding the Nepal Tea Collective. However, beginning this month, I am excited to introduce a new format for these updates. In addition to the latest news, I will also be sharing some historical information and discussing major topics within the Nepali tea industry. To start things off, I will be exploring the fascinating history of Nepali teas. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

Here’s what’s new at Nepal Tea Collective

• We're thrilled to announce that 27 of you have already signed up to visit our tea gardens in Nepal this summer! We still have a few spots left, so be sure to shout "shotgun" before it's too late. Here's the link to get more information.
• As part of our commitment to sustainability, we're excited to introduce compostable tea bags to our product line. This will make it easier for more people to enjoy our organic, high-altitude teas from Nepali farms.
• We're growing as a company and excited to introduce you to some new team members. Please give a warm welcome to Aakriti and Kshitiz, who are helping us connect with more tea and beverage companies. We're also pleased to have Anish on board as our design guru and Bidhan as our social ads specialist.

First Flush Production

• The plucking of the first flush tea leaves has begun and the first production run was for 20 KG on March 5th, as my grandfather had selected this auspicious date to start production for the season. The priest chanted numerous mantras and declared that the fresh tea leaves were ready to be plucked.  If you're interested in purchasing first flush tea samples or buying in bulk, please reply back to me or fill out the sample request form to try it out. 

Updates from the garden

• We've successfully produced Yacon Syrup and plan to include it in our next shipment.
• Production of Ginger, Bay Leaf, Turmeric, and other spices are complete. If you're interested in adding botanicals to your product line, please let us know.
• We're thrilled to be working with a Chamomile Producer, and the harvest has begun. 
• Our tea tours continue to progress, and we're excited to share that construction of the glass dome in the heart of the tea garden is still underway. We anticipate its completion by next month, providing guests with an exceptional opportunity to appreciate the garden's tranquility and beauty during their stay.

History of Nepal Tea

Nepal's tea industry has a rich history dating back to 1842 when the Chinese Emperor gifted the first tea seeds to Prime Minister Junga Bahadur Rana, the founder of the 100-year Rana Dynasty. The Ilam Tea Estate and Soktim Tea Estate were planted in 1863 and 1865, respectively. The first factory was built in Ilam in 1878, serving the two estates and small gardens planted by Col. Gajaraj Singh Thapa in the 1860s. However, it wasn't until 1959 that the first large-scale plantation was established at Bhudhakaran.

As of 2020/2021 fiscal year, Nepal produced roughly 25,000 metric tons of tea, with approximately 70% of this being CTC (cut, tear, and curl) and the remaining 30% being specialty teas. A total of 16,920 hectares of land are used for tea plantation, with 55% being managed by larger tea estates and 44% by smallholder farmers.

As the specialty tea market began to emerge in the 1990s, Nepali tea growers saw an opportunity to showcase their unique and high-quality teas to a wider audience. They began to focus on producing specialty teas like oolongs and white teas, which were less well-known but highly sought-after by tea enthusiasts around the world.

Since then, Nepali specialty teas have continued to gain popularity and acclaim around the world. Today, Nepali teas are known for their exceptional quality and unique flavor profiles, which incorporate notes of fruit, flowers, and spices.