Nepalās altitude, seasonality, soil, and various microclimates combine to establish a remarkably well-suited terroir for growing tea. The countryās finest teas are delicate with subtle aromas; Handmade teas are an expression of the tea makerās art, inspired by new demand for delicate whites, oolongs, and airy black teas sold directly to retailers in Europe, Asia, and North America.
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The aroma of sweet tea wafts through the air, that weary trekkers like us respond eagerly to. Over the years,Ā I have taken to stopping by the teahouses on my treks, even if for a brief pause.
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Nepal Tea Collective, based in the US, offers a unique ten-day tour that allows visitors to experience Nepali tea gardens from various perspectives. They offer their guests a chance to peek into the trade secrets, meet amazing tea farmers and producers, and taste unlimited delicious teas directly from the organic gardens lapped on the Himalayan foothills.
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Bhairab Risal, a veteran journalist with a sharp memory at 94, speaks with ease and zeal of his memories of the early days of Kathmanduās tea culture. In 1948, at the age of 20, he recalled his first cup of tea at Tilauri Mailako Pasal, one of Kathmanduās earliest and best-known tea shops. In this article, Kathmandu journalist Prawash Gautam shares tales of two storied tea houses.
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A lack of infrastructure, a lack of capital, natural disasters, a pandemic, and a very tough competitor at the border ā are the challenges faced by Nepal growers. The Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board report that very few (3,244) of the three million employed in Nepalās tea industry work full-time. Seventy-four percent of temporary workers are women, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. There are 18,180 small farm owners, in stark contrast to India’s vast tea plantations and the social complexity of such systems. The farmers can either process the tea themselves or sell the raw leaves to factories.
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The Nepal tea industry has the potential to grow and prosper. However, for this to happen, effective marketing strategies must promote Nepali tea domestically and internationally. Nepal is investing in marketing its tea globally through NISTEP (Nepal Increased Sustainability Tea Exports Project). NISTEP funded this marketing plan, customized to meet the goals of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies.
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To get his fill of the best quality fresh tea leaves, Sharad Subba partners with 80 farmers in the neighborhood. This is one of the many ways Jasbire Tea Processing Center keeps the manufacturing of tea communal and delivers one of the finest Nepal teas. The quality tea made in Subba’s factory is consistent, distinctive, and truly representative of Jasbire.
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The Barbote tea farm is nestled in the steep hills of Ilam, Nepal. It was planted by Narendra Kumar Gurung’s grandfather and tended by his father. Narendra spent most of his working years with the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Like most of Nepalās new-generation farmers, specialty tea is a new endeavor built on a century-old foundation of commodity production.
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Nepal’s eastern tea-growing region leads the country’s tea trade, but the landscape is changing as rural entrepreneurs expand the tea terroir. Upcoming tea brands are establishing Nepal Tea as a global brand offering premium differentiated products with a compelling story that is authentic and modern.
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Long before marketers labeled it organic, Nepal tea was grown with care. Harmony with nature was always the province of the nation’s 18,000 small tea farmers clinging to the mountainsides like the trees they nurtured.
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Smallholders are the backbone of the tea industry, especially in underdeveloped Nepal. Hereās the story of one Nepali smallholder: a widowed grandmother who has spent a lifetime nurturing tea in turn with nature, faith and family.
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The pandemic was the worst thing to happen to Nepal’s Kanchanjangha Tea Estate, but there is a silver lining. It radically changed how we work, says Nishchal Banskota, who manages operations via Zoom calls between Long Island, New York, and his family’s tea estate. Itās early morning for me and the end of the day for him, but after nine months, he says, “I have more confidence that I can manage a farm remotely.”
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