Mar 2025
March was a hectic and exciting month for us, filled with lots of traveling and our first flush production.
What’s happening recently at Nepal Tea Collective?
World Tea Expo 2025
We attended the World Tea Expo this month. While we’ve been attending for the past 7 years, this year felt different in a really good way. We’ve always focused heavily on showcasing our teas and blends, but this time, we finally gave our spices and botanicals the spotlight they truly deserve. We split our booth into two sections: one for teas and the other for botanicals. It was an absolute hit, and surprisingly, the real buzz wasn’t even about our teas! We found ourselves talking more about our ginger, turmeric, and lemongrass.
Our on-the-ground efforts we put back in 2020 to boost our spice production really paid off, and we ended up making some great connections for bulk sales. We also snuck in a quick one-day retreat to Death Valley before diving into expo mode.
Our on-the-ground efforts we put back in 2020 to boost our spice production really paid off, and we ended up making some great connections for bulk sales. We also snuck in a quick one-day retreat to Death Valley before diving into expo mode.
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There were a couple more things that made this year’s expo incredibly special. For one, we sponsored our tote bags, which meant that Nepal Tea Collective’s logo was everywhere at the expo.
And what truly made us proud was that, for the first time ever, three of the speakers at the World Tea Expo were from Nepal. Just a couple of years ago, until 2022, there hadn’t been a single Nepali speaker. This is a huge milestone for the Nepali tea industry, and we were thrilled to witness this shift before our own eyes. It was a powerful moment of visibility and pride, putting Nepali teas and their stories in the global spotlight.
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While the buzz around our spices and botanicals stole the highlight, another major win for us was being able to showcase our new acquisition: Build-A-Blend.
In the past, we had some real limitations in terms of what we could offer our clients. We couldn’t support startups or established tea brands looking for custom formulation and private labeling. But now that's a thing of the past!
With Build-A-Blend, we’re working directly with producers around the world to help our clients create custom blends and manage manufacturing. In addition, we’ve now set up all of our co-packing and manufacturing in Nepal as well. This means we’ve officially closed the loop. We’re now overseeing the entire journey from farm to cup - from the fields to the final packaged product - everything happens in-house!
A huge shout-out to the entire team for making this happen!
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First Flush Production
The last week of February marked the beginning of our first pluck of the season, and what a beautiful beginning it was. We were able to produce a solid batch of our signature first-flush greenish-black tea, crafted with the delightful floral and toasted almond notes we look forward to every year.
I’ve been hopping from farm to farm, tasting teas right at the source, and I have to say, this light and bright first flush might just be our best yet.
If you are curious to taste it for yourself, head over to our website. The leaves, after their period of rest during dormancy, are now bursting with freshness. It is reflected in the delicate, vibrant flavors of these first flush teas.
You can expect a pale, bright liquor with just the right touch of astringency and subtle floral lift. If you want to dive deeper into the world of Nepali first flush black teas, check out the link.
What's happening at the farm in Nepal?
Sharad Subba’s Factory Rebuild
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came together to support the rebuilding of Sharad’s Factory after the devastating fire. Sharad’s factory was not just a workplace. It supported the livelihoods of 300-400 farmers, tea pluckers, and workers, and its loss impacted an entire community right before the new harvest season.
Thanks to the generosity of our US clients and a European buyer, we were able to raise $5.5K, which we have already donated to Sharad through the Nepal Tea Foundation. We are happy to share that the rebuilding work is officially underway. Read more here.
Welcoming Tea Tour Guests
Our first group of the season kicked off this week, and they’re loving every bit of the immersive experience. What started as a humble experiment to bring people to Nepal and share with them the challenges and beauty of tea-making has now grown into a full-fledged vertical and an entirely new revenue stream for us.
This year, for the first time, it's not just me and Nish leading the tea tours. Our team members are taking the lead, guiding the groups, and building real and meaningful connections with the people behind the tea. And, honestly, that kind of connection is what this is all about.
We have about 29 guests joining us this season from the U.S. and Canada. If you’re thinking about visiting Nepal in 2026, let us know—we’re already building the list!
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Dormant Season, Second Flush
With first flush production complete, the gardens are currently in the dormant "Baji" period. Plucking is being adjusted based on green leaf availability, and right now, we’re focusing on rough plucking for broken and fannings grades of black tea. Production is a bit lower than last year due to prolonged dry conditions we’ve been experiencing. We're also in the process of preparing the necessary paperwork to get our annual organic certification.
In retrospect, March has been a great month for us. We've strengthened partnerships, embraced new initiatives, and witnessed the growing influence of Nepali teas on the global stage. As we continue on this journey, we stay committed to our mission of elevating Nepali teas while uplifting our farming communities.
We are looking forward to the next few months with great enthusiasm as more guests join us in Nepal for the tea tours! It’s always a joy to share this journey with people who are as excited and passionate about teas as we are!
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