We’ve been working with Kumaon tea farmers since we started our company in 2013. From the beginning, it was clear that shifting ownership of tea factories into the hands of hundreds of smallholders would be the only path to creating a more equitable trade.
WHY OWNING TEA FACTORIES MATTERS
Tea processing is the most lucrative step in tea’s value chain. Inside a tea factory, the value of the harvested tea leaf increases 20-40x* through a series of processing steps that remove water without any additional ingredients.
Historically, tea farmers have lacked the capital, technical expertise, and market access to launch their own factories. As the global market for specialty tea increases, there is an opportunity for farmers to earn more through better quality teas, if only they can own the factories.
From the beginning, Kumaon farmers have always owned their lands and the tea bushes. However, until now, they’ve never owned the processing facilities that would allow their incomes to soar. So these farmers are already gifted at the hardest part - growing the tea bush. Now, we’re working with them to process their harvest into world class teas.
* Note: Based on green leaf rate of Rs 20-40/kg, and factory selling price of Rs 750/kg
QUALITY IN EVERY CUP
- A modern facility equipped with world-class processing equipment
- Designed to US and EU food safety standards
- Single-origin, high-elevation, small batch tea
IMPACT IN EVERY DROP
- Farmers earn 5x commodity rates for their harvest, 90% of whom are women
- Local farmers initially own 49% of the factory, growing to 100% over time
- Farmers receive free trainings on social empowerment and organic agriculture
