Colombo (Sri Lanka) Prices averaged $3.21/kg this week, ↓ -$0.02/kg from the previous week, reflecting fair demand but softer performance in parts of the premium and Ex-Estate catalogs amid increased offerings.

North India (Kolkata / Siliguri / Guwahati) Prices averaged $1.88/kg, ↑ +$0.09/kg, supported by stronger demand and improved Tea Board benchmark averages.

Mombasa (Kenya / East Africa) Prices averaged $2.21/kg, ↓ -$0.01/kg, reflecting steady but slightly easier conditions with unsold volumes in key grades.

Indonesia Prices averaged $2.41/kg, ↑ +$0.01/kg, supported by improved demand and tighter offerings.

Across the tea lands pricing was mixed. Clearance remains orderly but selective, with persistent unsold volumes in East Africa and uneven performance across Colombo catalogues.

Visit www.teajourney.pub and select Tea Price Report for a detailed regional breakdown, six-month trade signals, and a near-term outlook for Q1 pricing dynamics. | (https://teajourney.pub/tea-price-report/) | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

In 2026, that center has shifted.

The show floor is busier. The audience is broader. Matcha and Japanese green tea suppliers were highly visible thanks to Government-backed export programs. The Tea Board-sponsored pavilions from past years, representing Sri Lanka, India, and Africa, were not. Lipton Tea made its first appearance at the show with foodservice offerings. Innovation is increasingly shaped by trends in café and beverage service.

But beneath the energy is a structural question:

When a trade show grows by changing its audience, does it also change its purpose?

For some exhibitors, this is an expansion.

For others, it is displacement.

And for the industry, it may mark the beginning of a new phase—where tea no longer defines the room, but competes within it.

| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

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NEWSMAKER – Host Dan Bolton

PLUS | World Tea Expo - A Show Transformed | This week, we’re on the floor at World Tea Expo in Las Vegas—where the show has quietly transformed.

No longer a standalone tea event, it’s now embedded inside a broader bar and restaurant ecosystem. Traffic is up. Matcha is everywhere. But for specialty tea, the question is sharper than ever:

Is this still our show—or has the market moved somewhere else? | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

In Colombo, the latest broker-published weekly comparison available during the week showed sales averaged $3.68 per kilo for the 4 March sale, down from $3.85 per kilo for the prior 25 February sale. So Colombo softened on that measure, even as better-made teas continued to attract support. In India, the weekly benchmark picture was incomplete. Disruptions in market demand are apparent due to widespread conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Tea Board India published a North India average for the week ending 14 March, but the prior week was marked as not sold, so there is no clean week-over-week comparison. In East Africa, Mombasa remained active with fair general demand and selective absorption.

Indonesia’s market remained selective and quality-sensitive.

Across origins, the key signal remains the widening gap between dependable manufacture and ordinary teas. Better-made teas continue to clear with disciplined competition, while plainer descriptions require price adjustment. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

NEWSMAKER – Amy Freeman, CEO and Co-Founder Spice & Tea Exchange

PLUS | Tea Discovery Drives Retail Growth | Few specialty retailers have expanded as successfully—or as thoughtfully—as The Spice & Tea Exchange. Founded during the depths of the 2008 financial crisis, the brand has grown from a single shop in St. Augustine, Florida, into a nationwide franchise with more than 90 locations. At the heart of that growth is CEO and co-founder Amy Freeman, whose approach combines entrepreneurial discipline with a strong belief in hospitality, storytelling, and sensory retail. Instead of standardizing stores into uniform outlets, Freeman has created a model that promotes local experimentation, community engagement, and hands-on exploration of spices, loose-leaf teas, and culinary ingredients. In our conversation this week, Amy discusses expanding a franchise network while maintaining authenticity, lessons learned from the pandemic, and why immersive retail and education remain vital for the future of specialty loose-leaf tea. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

Consumers want to know where their tea comes from, how it was produced, and whether environmental and labor standards are being met. At the same time, governments are tightening regulations, brands are facing new compliance requirements, and importers are seeking better visibility into sourcing risks. | The Tea Biz State of the Industry 2026 report describes Sustainability Compliance as the transition from voluntary sustainability claims to verifiable supply-chain data. What used to be marketing is now infrastructure. Companies are being asked not simply to say where tea comes from, but to prove it. | BIO: Samuel Lambert is a supply-chain technology entrepreneur and co-founder of ZenGate Global, the builders behind the Palmyra Platform, a digital infrastructure designed to capture and verify agricultural supply-chain data. His work focuses on building traceability systems that integrate farmers, cooperatives, exporters, and brands into a single structured data environment.

Lambert’s projects span multiple commodities—including coffee, cocoa, honey, and tea—and frequently involve mapping farms, verifying production data, and integrating satellite, geospatial, and blockchain technologies into existing trade systems. His work has focused heavily on emerging markets in Africa and Southeast Asia, where fragmented supply chains make reliable data capture difficult but increasingly essential.

Lambert advocates a pragmatic approach to transparency—one that strengthens existing trade architecture while enabling new forms of decision intelligence built on structured supply-chain data. He is a graduate of the Australian National University with degrees in finance, economics and statistics. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

PLUS | Data Integrity at Scale

Traceability is quickly becoming one of the defining challenges in the global tea trade.

Consumers want to know where their tea comes from, how it was produced, and whether environmental and labor standards are being met. At the same time, governments are tightening regulations, brands are facing new compliance requirements, and importers are seeking better visibility into sourcing risks. Today’s guest, Samuel Lambert, co-founder of ZenGate and architect of the Palmyra supply-chain platform, works at the intersection of blockchain, geospatial verification, and agricultural supply chains. In this Spotlight conversation, we explore how structured data—from farm mapping to chain-of-custody records—can transform traceability from a compliance burden into a far more powerful form of decision intelligence for global tea markets.| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

Across origins, demand remained decisively quality-led: well-made teas cleared consistently, average descriptions met selective enquiry, and plainer invoices faced widening resistance, reinforcing dispersion within catalogues rather than uniform strength.

Buyer participation remained concentrated, with fewer hands setting the clearing level across several catalogues, leaving secondary lines to trade unevenly, especially where liquidity grades dominated offerings.

Exporter discipline persisted, supported by currency dynamics and elevated input costs, which limited the willingness to accept discounts and kept price floors intact even where demand for off-grades softened.

In Colombo, the early-season uplift in select high-grown and bright liquoring teas continued to anchor sentiment, while low-grown segments remained more invoice-specific and sensitive to buyer replacement alternatives.

Prices averaged USD 3.14/kg (Week 7) | USD 3.15/kg (prior week)

In North India, Assam liquidity grades continued to function as the price-setting mechanism, with buying largely contractual and execution-driven rather than speculative.

Prices averaged USD 2.01/kg (Week 7) | USD 2.02/kg (prior week)

In East Africa, competitive bidding concentrated around proven BP1/PF1 and clean dusts, while plainer lots saw wider bid-ask gaps, consistent with a market that is clearing volume but rewarding specification.

Prices averaged USD 2.22/kg (Week 7) | USD 2.21/kg (prior week)

Auction pricing in Indonesia remained secondary to contract and direct sales activity, with selective interest focused on specialty lots and improvement teas. Where spot buying did appear, it was disciplined and specification-led rather than broad-based.

Prices averaged USD 1.19/kg (Week 7) | USD 1.18/kg (prior week)

Overall, headline averages again masked the real signal: the spread between “must-own” teas and undifferentiated teas widened, and that dispersion is increasingly the durable feature of price discovery. | This week’s Tea Price Report is sponsored by the East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA), owners of the Mombasa Tea Auction since 1956. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

Yet at the farmgate, quality is largely assessed after processing—when value has already been diluted. Most growers deliver green leaf with little real-time feedback, limited visibility into downgrading, and minimal transparency into how their harvest performs once it enters the factory. Today, we spotlight Sein Star Kilel, CEO and Co-Founder of FarmerPower.ai, a Nairobi-based ag-tech startup building AI-powered intake infrastructure designed to address that structural gap.

FarmerPower.ai integrates computer vision, machine learning, and conveyor-based sorting hardware to classify green leaf at intake. Each batch is barcoded and linked to the farmer. The system evaluates measurable attributes—leaf count, moisture, size, and structural integrity—using a proprietary model that reports 93% classification accuracy. Primary and secondary leaf are separated before processing, preserving premium yield potential rather than averaging it away. The objective is economic as much as technical: reduce downgrading, increase premium yield ratios, align incentives at intake, and convert quality into measurable data.

Raised in a tea-growing family, Kilel understands the cost of information asymmetry. FarmerPower.ai is currently in prototype development and early-stage fundraising, exploring a leasing model for hardware paired with recurring software and data services.

If scalable, the platform positions itself not as a brand, but as infrastructure—shifting quality accountability upstream and reshaping how Kenyan tea is measured, priced, and monetized. |

BIO: Sein Star Kilel was raised in a family of tea growers and brings firsthand insight into the structural information gaps that affect smallholder income—particularly the absence of real-time quality measurement at intake.

She holds a postgraduate degree in AI and Machine Learning from Caltech and a master’s degree in Sustainability, Innovation, and Technology from Tomorrow University. Sayn is co-founder of FarmerPower.ai, an intake-level quality and traceability platform combining AI-driven leaf classification (93% reported accuracy), barcode-linked batch tracking, and hardware-based sorting to separate primary and secondary leaf before processing. The company is developing a factory-leasing model with recurring software services, positioning FarmerPower.ai as a scalable quality infrastructure for origin markets.

The startup is currently in prototype deployment and fundraising stages.| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

NEWSMAKER – Sein Star Kilel, CEO Co-Founder, FarmerPower.ai

PLUS | FarmerPower.ai | Seventy-eight percent of the 720,000 Kenyan smallholders who rely on tea for their livelihoods cultivate tea on plots of a half-acre or less. The sector is crucial to the economy, providing jobs for millions and contributing significantly to the country's GDP. Yet most farmers operate in the dark, receiving little to no real-time feedback on leaf quality, pricing outcomes, or how their harvest performs at factory intake. Today, we speak with Sein Star Kilel, co-founder of FarmerPower.ai, a Nairobi-based startup developing computer vision and AI tools to improve green leaf quality at the point of intake. By combining barcode traceability, conveyor-based sorting hardware, and a proprietary AI model trained to classify primary versus secondary leaf, FarmerPower.ai aims to reduce downgrading, increase premium yield, and provide real-time feedback to farmers.

If successful, the platform could reshape how quality is measured, rewarded, and monetized in Kenyan tea.| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

Prices averaged USD 3.15/kg (Week 5) | DOWN FROM USD 3.17/kg (Week 4).

In Kolkata / North India | Buying activity remained largely functional and contract-driven, with limited speculative participation. Assam CTC liquidity grades continued to anchor price discovery, while plainer teas saw softer realizations.

Prices averaged USD 2.02/kg (Week 5) | DOWN FROM USD 2.06/kg (Week 4).

In Mombasa (East Africa) | Buyer participation remained broad, with competition intensifying for quality invoices. Large volumes cleared with wide intra-sale dispersion, reflecting selective bidding rather than generalized strength.

Prices averaged USD 2.21/kg (Week 5) | UP FROM USD 2.17/kg (Week 4)

Indonesia | Auction activity remained secondary to direct sales, with selective interest in specialty and improvement lots. Pricing reflected cautious, contract-led demand rather than spot-driven buying behavior.

Prices averaged USD 1.18/kg (Week 5) | DOWN FROM USD 1.24/kg (Week 4). | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

From cold-brewing single-origin teas to layering structure with local Yunnan oak, natural carbonation, and minimal intervention, Kennedy explains how Chalu was designed not as a flavored beverage but as a tea-forward alternative to wine—crafted for restaurants navigating the global shift toward low- and no-alcohol menus.

Grounded in Yunnan’s geography, history, and the ancient Tea Road itself, this discussion connects innovation with restraint, showing how respect for origin, process, and flavor can create a new drinking occasion—without compromising what makes tea, tea. | BIO | Originally trained as a brewer, Fraser Kennedy brings a deep understanding of fermentation, structure, and mouthfeel to tea—applying brewing discipline to preserve, rather than mask, tea’s natural character. After relocating to Yunnan in the early 2010s, he immersed himself in the region’s tea landscapes and traditions, developing a mission to share Yunnan’s flavor with the world. Chalu—named for the ancient Tea Road—cold-brews single-origin teas sourced directly from producers, finishing them with minimal, locally rooted elements to create a structured,wine-adjacent tea experience suitable for Michelin-level tables. Kennedy’s work sits at the intersection of tea tradition and contemporary beverage innovation, reflecting a broader shift toward authenticity, provenance, and tea-first thinking in global RTD and hospitality markets. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

NEWSMAKER – Fraser Kennedy, Founder of Chalu Sparkling Tea

PLUS | Real Tea, Real Craft: Why Tea Is Ready for the Modern Table |

This week on the Tea Biz Podcast, we’re joined by Fraser Kennedy, founder of Chalu, from Yunnan, China. Chalu is a producer redefining what “real tea” can look like in the fast-growing non-alcoholic and restaurant beverage space.

As RTD tea expands globally—often diluted by flavorings, powders, and shortcuts—Chalu takes a different path: starting with single-origin Yunnan tea, cold-brewed to preserve aroma and structure, then finished with the restraint and precision more often associated with fine wine.

In this conversation, we explore why tea—not botanicals, not sugar, not branding tricks—is emerging as the most credible base for premium non-alcoholic beverages, and why authenticity, provenance, and process matter more than ever as tea enters Michelin-level dining rooms and global distribution. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

The 2025 edition of The Leafies, the international awards celebrating artisan tea excellence, concluded this week with an awards program in London, followed by public tastings at Fortnum & Mason.

Launched in 2022 by the UK Tea Academy in partnership with Fortnum & Mason, The Leafies attracted hundreds of entries from tea makers across Asia, Africa, and Europe. All teas were blind-tasted by an expert judging panel, with awards recognizing flavor quality, craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainable practices.

Winning teas earn The Leafies’ prestige mark—now a recognized signal of excellence—and several will be displayed at Fortnum & Mason’s Rare Tea Counter.

More than trophies, The Leafies continue to connect education, terroir, and global tea craftsmanship on a single, credible platform.

BIO: James Suranga is a senior global tea executive and head of the International Tea Committee, overseeing industry data, analysis, and policy engagement. A respected judge and speaker, he brings deep expertise in tea markets, production economics, and international trade dynamics. He holds a master's degree in marketing from Edith Cowan University. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

NEWSMAKER – James Suranga, Executive Director, International Tea Committee

PLUS | The 2025 Leafies Awards | The 2025 Leafies Awards—an international showcase for artisan teas—drew the tea world’s attention to London this week. Judges awarded 21 Gold, 52 Highly Commended, and 9 Special Awards, recognizing excellence not only in flavor but also in innovation, craftsmanship, and alignment with sustainable practices.

Following the awards, winning teas were presented to the public at Fortnum & Mason, underscoring the growing connection between craftsmanship at origin and premium retail at destination. | Joining us today is James Suranga, Head of the International Tea Committee. James participated in tastings and judging of 411 teas entered by producers and tea makers from around the world. He discusses which teas stood out, how standards are evolving, and what this year’s results signal for producers and specialty tea markets worldwide. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

Tea markets closed Week 2 on a steady-to-firm footing as post-holiday buying intersected with structurally constrained supply. Price discovery continued to reward well-made teas, while average descriptions cleared selectively. Exporter resistance remained evident where costs and currency dynamics reinforced price floors early in Q1.

Colombo (Sri Lanka) | High-grown teas continued to attract steady interest, supported by exporter demand for January shipment. Medium and lower elevations showed uneven clearance, reflecting quality dispersion. Kolkata / North India | Assam liquidity grades remained the primary price-setting mechanism. Buying was functional, with a limited appetite for forward coverage.| Mombasa (East Africa) | BP1 and PF grades held narrow ranges on balanced demand. Buyer selectivity increased toward the end of the week. | Indonesia | Auction activity remained secondary to direct sales, with most volumes moving through contractual channels. Specialty orthodox demand was selective. | Next Week's Forecast | Trading next week is expected to remain selective, with outcomes driven by catalogue quality and buyer attendance. That’s the Tea Biz Tea Price Report. For expanded coverage, visit www.teajourney.pub and select the Tea Biz Tea Price Report (https://teajourney.pub/tea-price-report/). | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

HOST – Dan Bolton, Founder, Tea Biz Blog | Podcast

PLUS | A Call for Collaboration | The Tea Biz State of the Tea Industry 2026 forecast is now live—and this year, it’s open by design. Instead of publishing a finished report and soliciting feedback later, we’re inviting informed public commentary as the analysis is still taking shape.

If you work anywhere in the tea ecosystem—production, trade, branding, retail, logistics, or policy—your perspective matters. Thoughtful comments help challenge assumptions, sharpen interpretation, and improve the final forecast.

Stay tuned. In today’s Spotlight, I’ll explain how this collaborative approach works—and how your voice can help shape what comes next. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

Tea markets closed the final trading days of 2025 on a steady-to-firm note, with thin holiday volumes masking structurally supportive fundamentals. Across origins, disciplined seller offerings, year-end inventory positioning, and persistently elevated input costs reinforced price floors. Buyers remained selective by grade and origin, but resistance to sharp declines was evident, particularly for cleaner, well-made teas aligned with established blending programs.

Colombo closed the year firmly, with limited year-end offerings of bright high-grown teas continuing to attract interest from Middle Eastern packers covering January shipment requirements.

South India CTC markets held steady through the year-end period as domestic blenders focused on near-term coverage and deferred discretionary buying until early Q1.

Mombasa remained stable, with BP1 and PF grades clearing within narrow bands as reduced catalogues and cautious buyer participation limited volatility.

Indonesia traded steadily, with most export volumes moving via direct sales contracts rather than open auction channels. | Now the outlook:

Market tone exits 2025 on a firmer footing than it entered the year. Early Q1 restocking interest is expected to emerge gradually as buyers reassess inventory positions, though sensitivity to price and quality dispersion is likely to remain pronounced. Absent a material demand shock, downside risk appears limited by cost structures and disciplined supply management.| This week’s Tea Price Report is sponsored by the East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA), owners of the Mombasa Tea Auction since 1956. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

Cramer has been a consistent voice cautioning against overstated health claims, instead positioning tea as a lifestyle practice rooted in pleasure, habit, and social connection. His perspective reflects a deep understanding of consumer behavior, product design, and the long arc of tea culture across markets. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and an MBA from INSEAD (Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires). His analytical background continues to inform Adagio’s data-driven and customer-centric approach to tea.

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GUEST – Michael Cramer, Founder, CEO Adagio Teas

PLUS | Tea, Wellness, and the Power of Ritual: Why Health Isn’t the Whole Story | January is Hot Tea month, and this year tens of millions are experiencing influenza or flu-like illness, gravitating toward warm soothing beverages associated with comfort, hydration, and routine rather than clinical treatment. Post-pandemic research consistently shows that health and wellness motivations increasingly overlap with behavioral benefits, such as stress reduction, relaxation, and daily rituals, rather than with explicit disease-prevention claims. Adagio Teas founder Michael Cramer joins us today to explain why tea’s greatest benefits lie not in miracle claims, but in habit, ritual, and personalization.

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In Colombo, the market remained firm.

The weekly average held near recent highs, supported by tight availability of bright, high-grown teas and steady buying from the Middle East.

Quality offerings were limited, which helped keep prices supported despite selective bidding.

In South India, CTC prices were mainly steady.

Kerala and Nilgiris auctions saw consistent interest from blenders, with medium- and good-liquoring teas finding ready demand as packers covered near-term requirements ahead of year-end.

At Mombasa, the auction showed mixed results.

Top BP1 grades were selectively dearer, while secondary teas met more resistance.

Buyers remain cautious, but warehouse stocks are still below last year’s levels, limiting downside pressure.

Looking at market conditions, production remains uneven across origins.

Sri Lanka continues to report lower leaf intake in some high-grown areas.

Kenya’s crop is improving seasonally, though fertiliser and fuel costs remain elevated.

In India, higher electricity and labour costs are reinforcing price floors.

On the demand side, year-end restocking continues in the Gulf and parts of Europe, while some buyers are already looking ahead to coverage in the first quarter of 2026.

Now the outlook.

The overall tone is steady to firm.

Colombo prices are expected to remain supported through December.

South India CTC is likely to trade within a narrow range.

Mombasa may continue to fluctuate week to week, but limited stocks should help prevent any sharp decline.

That’s the Tea Biz Tea Price Report for Week 50 ending December 12th, 2025 | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

BIO: Eduardo Molina grew up in Chile, where tea is popular. He worked for several years in hospitality at major hotels in Santiago and with Crystal South America Cruises. He attended Chinese Culture University in Taiwan and holds a degree in Asian Studies from Humboldt University, Berlin. Work in tea includes founding the first tea school in Chile in 2013 and co-founding the Chilean Tea Academy in 2016. Eduardo joined Paper & Tea in 2018 and worked there for five years as head of tea experience.

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NEWSMAKER – Eduardo Molina, Founder of Eduard/ Teas

PLUS | Terroir Curated Tea | Eduard/ Teas is a Berlin-based online tea company founded by tea sommelier Eduardo Molina that launched on Dec. 17. Selections are limited-edition seasonal teas curated by terroir. Collections are introduced quarterly, and loose-leaf teas are sold individually in 20g and 40g pouches, or as a set of five. The initial collection is Eduard/Himalaya, sourced from Nepal, Darjeeling, and Sikkim. Selections are guided by sensory evaluation, stylistic balance, and how individual teas work together as a collection. Molina explains that success for Eduard/Teas is defined by the growth of a knowledgeable and engaged community, the ability to educate and inspire through storytelling, and establishing transparency as an industry standard. The first teas will ship in January. Distribution is limited to Germany, but will expand in the new year.

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In Colombo, prices moved higher again.

The weekly average reached two dollars and eleven cents per kilo, supported by strong interest in bright, high-grown teas.

Limited offerings kept the market firm, and Middle Eastern buyers remained active.

In South India, CTC teas held firm.

The weekly average was one hundred eighty-three rupees per kilo, with steady blender demand across Kerala and the Nilgiris.

Leaf conditions improved, and packers continued seasonal restocking.

At Mombasa, prices softened slightly.

BP1 grades averaged one dollar and eighty-seven cents per kilo, down two cents from last week.

Higher withdrawals signaled resistance at the top of the market, though warehouse stocks remain below last year’s levels.

Across origins, input costs continue to shape pricing.

Sri Lanka’s weak currency, higher fertiliser and diesel costs in Kenya, and rising electricity charges in India are all reinforcing firm price floors.

Looking ahead, the tone is mixed but stable.

Colombo and South India are expected to stay firm into mid-December, while Kenya may fluctuate slightly as Rift Valley output recovers.

Year-end packer demand in the Gulf and Europe should help support overall pricing.

That’s your Tea Price Report for Episode 228 of the Tea Biz Podcast, Week 48 ending November 28.

For expanded coverage, visit www.teajourney.pub and select the Tea Biz Tea Price Report (https://teajourney.pub/tea-price-report/).

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Joining us today to discuss the storm’s impact is Anil Cooke, CEO of Asia Siyaka Commodities and former chair of the Colombo Brokers’ Association. He is a former member of the Sri Lanka Tea Board.

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NEWSMAKER – Anil Cooke, CEO Asia Siyaka, Sri Lanka

PLUS | Ditwah Deluge | The legendary resilience of Sri Lanka’s tea industry is once again evident this week as the Emerald Isle of the Indian Ocean recovers from Cyclone Ditwah. The cyclone formed in unusually warm waters (28-30 degrees Celsius) southeast of Sri Lanka. The slow-moving storm, with sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, released 19 to 21 inches (490 to 540 mm) of rain over 72 hours, causing landslides in parts of the central highlands and severe flooding across a wide area of the 150-mile-wide island where rainfall exceeded 300 mm (12 inches).

Joining us today to discuss the storm’s impact is Anil Cooke, CEO of Asia Siyaka Commodities and former chair of the Colombo Brokers’ Association. He is a former member of the Sri Lanka Tea Board.

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In Colombo, the auction average rose to 2.50 per kilo, supported by strong interest in bright, high-grown liquoring teas and limited fresh offerings.

In South India, the CTC market strengthened to 182 rupees per kilo, driven by active blenders in Kerala and the Nilgiris and by continued seasonal demand from packers. |

In Mombasa, Kenya, BP1 grades rose to one dollar and eighty-nine cents per kilo, a six-cent weekly increase, as buyers from Pakistan and Egypt met lighter Rift Valley production and tighter warehouse stocks.

Worldwide, cost pressures persist. The Sri Lankan rupee remains near record lows; Indian estates face rising electricity, fuel, and labour costs; and Kenyan fertiliser prices are up sharply year over year.

Looking ahead, the tone is firm. Colombo is expected to trade in the US$2.05–2.15/kg range; South India CTC is likely to hold around INR 180–185/kg; and Mombasa may inch toward US$1.90–1.94/kg if lower Kenyan output continues.

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The platform connects verified producers across India, Nepal, and Vietnam with global buyers who need transparent pricing, reliable quality data, and direct access to origin. CuppaTrade offers AI-powered product discovery, digital quality cards, sample management, and full blockchain traceability, giving buyers confidence in authenticity and compliance with origin requirements. It also integrates logistics partners, warehousing, and—soon—digital finance solutions to support seamless procurement.

For producers, CuppaTrade reduces intermediaries and opens new international channels. For buyers, it brings a more efficient, data-rich, climate-smart way to source tea and coffee at scale.

CuppaTrade is led by three principals whose combined expertise has shaped the platform into one of the most advanced sourcing systems in the tea and coffee trade.

Joining us today are newsmakers Mihir Gandhi, Rakhee Biswas, and Satrajit Bannerjee, founders of CuppaTrade Marketplace Joining us today are newsmakers Mihir Gandhi, Rakhee Biswas, and Satrajit Bannerjee, founders of CuppaTrade Marketplace

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NEWSMAKERS-Mihir Gandhi, Rakhee Biswas, Satrajit Bannerjee, founders CuppaTrade Marketplace

PLUS | CuppaTrade Launches a B2B Marketplace | CuppaTrade is a next-generation sourcing platform explicitly designed for the global tea and coffee trade. What sets CuppaTrade apart is its architecture: it is the first AI-driven, blockchain-enabled, climate-aligned B2B marketplace built for bulk buyers, specialty importers, private-label brands, roasters, trading houses, and retail chains.

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• East Africa: PF1 prices strengthened at Mombasa as buyers favored clean teas; plain leaf discounted.

• India: North Indian CTC auctions firm; retail inflation stable at 2.1%.

• Sri Lanka: Uva and Western High Growns held premiums amid limited offerings.

• Indonesia: Orthodox steady to dearer; Java plains easier on light demand.

For expanded coverage, visit www.teajourney.pub

→ Tea Biz → Tea Price Report (https://teajourney.pub/tea-price-report/).

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Preorder: https://a.co/d/16LOkDR Release date: Nov. 25

BIO: Authors Nigel Melican, James Norwood Pratt, Maria Uspenski, and Shabnam Weber are among the world’s foremost tea authorities. Melican is a global tea scientist and innovator living in Ireland; Pratt, who authored the Tea Lover’s Treasury in 1982, is the beloved tea historian and “America’s Tea Sage”; Maria Uspenski, founder of The Tea Spot in Denver, Colo., is the author of Cancer Hates Tea; and Shabnam Weber, President of the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada, headquartered in Toronto, is an accomplished retailer and tea educator who created the Tea Sommelier® program.

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NEWSMAKERS - Nigel Melican, Maria Uspenski, James Norwood Pratt, and Shabnam Weber

PLUS | How Does One Choose What Tea to Drink? The answer is both simple and profound. 101 Teas to Steep Before You Die is far more than a bucket list compiled by four respected tea experts with impeccable credentials. In 256 pages, the book distills a millennium of tea heritage into 101 unforgettable cups. It is both a love letter to Camellia sinensis and a practical guide to brewing and enjoying every style of tea. Each profiled tea is chosen for its flavor, story, and cultural significance. The authors invite us as trusted companions to rediscover familiar favorites, explore rare treasures, and understand how tea connects culture, science, ethics, and pleasure in a single cup.

Preorder: https://a.co/d/16LOkDR Release date: Nov. 25

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In East Africa, lighter catalogues at Mombasa helped PF1 and BP1 hold firm, though plainer grades still met resistance.

In Sri Lanka, Colombo’s seasonal Uva lines drew keen bids while other orthodox grades traded at irregular rates.

India’s Kolkata and Guwahati auctions were steady overall as retail inflation remained contained. On the destination side, Pakistan’s weekly index was mixed, while U.S. beverage prices ticked higher on the month.

Bottom line: quality sells, buyers remain disciplined, and premiums are increasingly tied to leaf cleanliness and cup brightness

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PLUS | The 8th India International Tea Convention was held this year under the banner “Innovating the Tea Ecosystem for Tomorrow” at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, Kerala. This gathering marked the long-awaited return of IITC after a several-year hiatus under the aegis of UPASI, the United Planters Association of Southern India. The Convention aimed to recharge India’s tea discourse: to reconnect producers, drive innovation, re-examine sustainability, and reassert India’s role in the global specialty tea ecosystem. I spoke at the event and recorded my observations later in this podcast.

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India — Retail inflation stayed low, softening pressure on domestic tea prices. Auctions at Kolkata and Guwahati trended steady to softer, while direct estate purchases remained limited.

East Africa — At Mombasa, Sale 35 cataloged over 160,000 packages. PF1s and BP1s with good leaf held firm, but nearly 34% went unsold, showing selective buying.

Sri Lanka — Colombo saw strong interest in seasonal Uva teas, fetching premiums of 15–20 US cents, while Low Growns remained firm. Exporters remain cautious amid higher costs.

Indonesia — Jakarta offered light volumes again, with orthodox teas from North Sumatra firm‑to‑dearer. Direct overseas buying programs were minimal.

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BIO: Ksenia Hleap is Development Director at AVPA in Paris, where she leads communication and development initiatives. With more than seven years advancing AVPA’s global contests, she champions recognition for agricultural excellence—including teas and herbal infusions—connecting small growers worldwide with the gastronomic community and broader consumer appreciation.

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NEWSMAKER – Ksenia Hleap, AVPA Development Director

PLUS | AVPA’s Teas of the World Competition is a unique event that views tea not just as a commodity but as a culinary product equal to fine wines and chocolates. Conducted by the Paris-based Agency for the Valorization of Agricultural Products, the contest honors excellence in both single-varietal teas and herbal infusions. While winning a medal is indeed a mark of prestige, the real benefit is in gaining visibility, building credibility, and telling stories for small producers—especially those operating outside traditional markets. We’ll see how participating can boost growers’ reputations, connect them with new buyers, and showcase the health and cultural benefits of their teas, whether they win a prize or not. Joining us today is AVPA development director Ksenia Hleap.

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For expanded coverage and occasional charts, visit www.teajourney.pub.

BIO: Andrew Goodman is the founder and Principal of The Happy Tea Man, a Bellevue, Washington–based tea education and consulting brand. As a tea educator, consultant, and photographer, he specializes in creating immersive, visually engaging tea experiences. Andrew is a dedicated volunteer and organizer of the Northwest Tea Festival, helping shape one of the region’s most celebrated tea events. A lifelong tea lover, he attended the inaugural edition of the Northwest Tea Festival and has been involved ever since. He is a graduate of City University of New York, Hunter College, and retired following a career in beverage sales and marketing.

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NEWSMAKER – Andrew Goodman, Northwest Tea Festival Organizer

PLUS | The Northwest Tea Festival, held each year at Seattle Center’s Exhibition Hall, features tastings, workshops, and lectures. It brings together tea enthusiasts of all skill levels to discover global traditions and modern innovations. Visitors enjoy interactive experiences, meet vendors, and deepen their appreciation for the culture, artistry, and community of tea in a friendly and engaging setting. Festival coordinator Andrew Goodman previews the activities at this year’s event, scheduled for Sept. 27 and 28. Admission is $25, which includes entry for both days.

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BIO: Indi Khanna says he is proud to have started his career in tea from the very bottom—planting, pruning, and tending the bushes. “That early exposure gave me a deep respect for the craft,” he says. Indi was an assistant estate superintendent at Malayalam plantations in the Kerala high ranges beginning in 1975, and worked as an estate manager in Assam for 11 years. He founded Tea ‘n’ Teas in 1990 and has been offering retailers gourmet quality organic and conventional teas for the past 20 years. His advice as a consultant is widely sought after. “Over time, I realized that tea isn’t just an agricultural product; it’s a living, breathing culture. The people, the landscapes, and the constant learning kept me engaged, and even today I feel there’s still more to discover,” says Khanna.

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NEWSMAKER – Indi (Gurrinder) Khanna, The Tea Studio

| PLUS | The Tea Studio | Known for blending traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation, Indi (Gurrinder) Khanna, managing director at Tea n Teas, co-founded The Tea Studio to make a wide variety of teas on demand. This specialty manufacturing facility produces artisanal, small-batch teas, including India’s first compressed teas modeled on Chinese Pu’er. The Tea Studio’s commercial success and award-winning teas over the past seven years reflect both Indi’s and his daughter Muskan’s passion for quality and dedication to expanding India’s presence in the global specialty market. With nearly fifty years in tea, Indi’s continuing journey is as rich and nuanced as the leaves he selects—a perfect metaphor for the conversation that follows.

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“A water molecule is like a tiny magnet,” he explains, “pulling apart other molecules, including tannins and polyphenols in tea.” As a solvent, water doesn’t just carry H₂O but a host of dissolved minerals, trace metals, and hydrogen ions that directly shape a tea’s flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel.

Cydian is the CEO at Pure Water Northwest, helping people make better, science-backed decisions about their water by combining technical expertise with practical solutions. Whether addressing London’s hard water or Seattle’s softer profiles, he emphasizes the importance of consistency and control — often recommending reverse osmosis systems to optimize the brewing experience.

BIO: Cydian has been with Pure Water Northwest since 2019. What sets him apart is his ability to demystify water treatment, exploring fringe topics such as structured or hydrogenated water, while also addressing challenges like industrial runoff, high iron levels, arsenic, and bacterial contamination. He is certified by the Water Quality Association as a water treatment representative and holds a degree from North Seattle College. “Water clarity,” he says, “should mean more than just how it looks-it should mean transparency about its true contents and impacts.”

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| GUEST - Cydian Kauffman, CEO Pure Water Northwest

| PLUS | The Science of Sip | Cydian Kauffman brings a rare clarity to the chemistry of water and its deep connection to taste—especially in tea.

“A water molecule is like a tiny magnet,” he explains, “pulling apart other molecules, including tannins and polyphenols in tea.” As a solvent, water doesn’t just carry H₂O but a host of dissolved minerals, trace metals, and hydrogen ions that directly shape a tea’s flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel.

Cydian is the CEO at Pure Water Northwest, helping people make better, science-backed decisions about their water by combining technical expertise with practical solutions. Whether addressing London’s hard water or Seattle’s softer profiles, he emphasizes the importance of consistency and control — often recommending reverse osmosis systems to optimize the brewing experience.

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Founder Annabel Kalmar joins Tea Biz to describe the project’s pioneering effort to transform the global tea sector into a regenerative powerhouse, integrating agronomic innovation, ecological integrity, and financial sustainability.

BIO: Annabel Kalmar established Tea Rebellion to transform the tea industry through direct trade, transparency, and single-origin sourcing. Since its launch in 2018, the B Corp-certified brand has won more than 20 international tasting awards. A graduate of the University of California, Davis, and the London Business School, Kalmar holds degrees in agricultural economics and business management and has conducted fieldwork in Latin America. She divides her time between Toronto, Canada, and London, UK.

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NEWSMAKER – Annabel Kalmar, Founder of The Regenerative Tea Action Project

PLUS | The Regenerative Tea Action Project (RTAP) collaborates with smallholder tea farmers and cooperatives to promote the adoption and commercial benefits of regenerative organic farming. The project has advanced from strategic planning to field-level implementation, targeting in-depth agronomic and ecological innovation through four “deep dives” that address soil health and ecosystem resilience, biodiversity, nutrient density, regenerative certification, and carbon and tea.

Founder Annabel Kalmar joins Tea Biz to describe the project’s pioneering effort to transform the global tea sector into a regenerative powerhouse, integrating agronomic innovation, ecological integrity, and financial sustainability.

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She explains that sampling helps, but it’s slow and costly. The key to establishing a successful tea brand lies in authentic storytelling, clear messaging, and fostering an emotional connection. That’s how you turn passion into awareness, and awareness into loyal customers.

BIO: Debbie Wildrick has over 30 years of leadership experience in sales, marketing, operations, and channel strategy within the consumer-packaged goods industry.

A recognized expert in brand building and distribution, she specializes in helping entrepreneurs scale through strategic growth. Debbie spent six years as Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder of MetaBrand and now leads her own consulting firm.

Her executive background includes roles as President of the Beverage Division at Frey Farms, Executive Vice President at HempFusion, and CEO of Bazi, a Colorado-based nutritional beverage company. She began her career in marketing after earning a degree from the University of Texas at Dallas and previously served as Senior Director of Vault and Proprietary Beverages at 7-Eleven.

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GUEST | Food and Beverage Brand and Distribution Consultant Debbie Wildrick

PLUS | Translating Brand Passion into Profits | Founders often create tea products out of deep personal passion. They believe if they love it, others will too. But translating that belief into a message that resonates is challenging. Success starts with knowing your product meets a real need — then communicating not just what it is, but how it makes people feel. Emotion matters, says our guest this week, food and beverage consultant Debbie Wildrick. She explains that sampling helps, but it’s slow and costly. The key to establishing a successful tea brand lies in authentic storytelling, clear messaging, and fostering an emotional connection. That’s how you turn passion into awareness, and awareness into loyal customers.

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Sebastian Michaelis, Head of Tea at Tata Consumer Products, where he oversees the Tetley brand, joins Tea Biz for a fascinating and insightful conversation about the joys and challenges of tasting thousands of teas weekly for over 20 years.

BIO: Sebastian Michaelis is the Head of Tea for the International division of Tata Consumer Products. A renowned tea expert with a 20-year career in the tea trade, he has spent a significant portion of his career based in Kenya, Malawi, and India. He oversees sourcing, supply chain, and product development for the Tetley brand. He has worked extensively with the Ethical Tea Partnership, Rainforest Alliance, and other collaborators to support a thriving, socially just, and environmentally sustainable tea sector, emphasizing sustainable sourcing and responsible tea practices.

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NEWSMAKER – Sebastian Michaelis is the Head of Tea for the International division of Tata Consumer Products, overseeing the Tetley brand.

PLUS | Relentlessly Pursuing Consistency | Elite tea tasters can detect minute differences in aroma, taste, mouthfeel, and aftertaste, but few are supertasters; instead, they are masters of association, disciplined to use precise, industry-accepted terms in their evaluations. The best develop deep practical knowledge that bridges production, procurement, and marketing, combining base teas to achieve consistent taste profiles across batches and seasons without compromising quality.

Sebastian Michaelis, Head of Tea at Tata Consumer Products, where he oversees the Tetley brand, joins Tea Biz for a fascinating and insightful conversation about the joys and challenges of tasting thousands of teas weekly for over 20 years.

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Director Christy Hui joins us to explore the profound cultural impact and commercial evolution of tea. Born in Guangzhou, Christy reveals how this sacred beverage has become humanity's connector, fueling conversations, inspiring creativity, and driving a $260 billion global industry that continues to shape civilizations worldwide.

BIO: Christy Hui is a serial entrepreneur and the CEO and founder of ActionFliks Media. She is known for creating the Emmy-winning XIAOLIN SHOWDOWN franchise (Warner Bros./Cartoon Network) and the spin-off XIAOLIN CHRONICLES (Disney XD/Netflix, now streaming on Amazon). A creative business executive, she specializes in transforming creative concepts into global entertainment franchises that span games, toys, and consumer products.

With over 25 years of building bridges across cultures and industries, Christy has in-depth experience launching ventures across continents—from Sony's pan-Asian satellite channel, AXN, to Gemstar's international rollout of VCR Plus+ consumer technology throughout Latin America and Asia. Her strategic management approach has enabled successful international co-productions, including US-China and US-French collaborations, bringing together diverse creative teams from different cultures.

An award-winning content creator, Christy earned her EMBA from the USC Marshall School of Business and enjoys working with creative teams and corporate partners to produce global content, including Emmys, Tellys, and W3 awards.

Well-traveled and fluent in both Chinese and English, Christy excels at creating meaningful cross-cultural entertainment content and partnerships. Author of FLYING FILLIES: The Sky's the Limit, she is passionate about transforming ideas into inspiring content that ignites the imagination for a global audience.

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GUEST | Christy Hui, CEO and Founder, ActionFliks Media. Writer and Director TEA: The Drink that Changed the World (2024)

PLUS | TEA: The Drink that Changed the World is a cinematic documentary filmed in stunning 4K deep within China's sacred Wuyi Mountains—the ancient birthplace of Oolong and Black teas. Seven years in the making, this 90-minute film captures exclusive footage of master artisans practicing centuries-old traditions, including rare access to the legendary Da Hong Pao Mother Tree Temple and authentic Gong Fu Cha ceremonies. Now streaming on Amazon Prime, and Tubi the documentary reveals tea's transformation from mystical elixir to global phenomenon.

Director Christy Hui joins us to explore the profound cultural impact and commercial evolution of tea. Born in Guangzhou, Christy reveals how this sacred beverage has become humanity's connector, fueling conversations, inspiring creativity, and driving a $260 billion global industry that continues to shape civilizations worldwide.

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Jason, the new CEO at Wollenhaupt Tea North America, shares his insights on specialization in achieving retail excellence. He also comments on consumer trends, including the ongoing matcha craze, and emphasizes the importance of service in sourcing quality teas.

BIO: Jason Adams began his career in tea as a teaologist and later a store and category manager at Teavana in Atlanta, Georgia. Founder Andy Mack recognized him with the Spirit of Teavana Award in 2013. When Starbucks acquired the pioneering specialty chain, Jason moved to Seattle, where he worked in brand management and sourcing. In 2022, he was named senior manager of global tea, responsible for sourcing and developing tea-based beverages across the company’s international network. Jason joined Wollenhaupt as North American CEO in September 2024.

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NEWSMAKER – Jason Adams, CEO Wollenhaupt North America

PLUS | Progressing Toward Premiumization | Jason Adams first noticed the overall shift toward premiumization as a retail manager at Teavana in Atlanta, Georgia. The Lenox Square Mall location, across from the original Elephant Tea Co., inspired a retail venture with an impressive turnover of $200 million, employing 5,000 people at more than 300 US, Canada, and Mexico stores. “My retail experience gave me perhaps the most impactful perspective on actual tea customers,” he says, “Connecting face-to-face was invaluable.”

Jason retained his zeal for specialty tea as head of global tea after Starbucks acquired Teavana and now at Wollenhaupt, a legendary German tea supplier founded in 1881.

Jason, the new CEO at Wollenhaupt Tea North America, shares his insights on specialization in achieving retail excellence. He also comments on consumer trends, including the ongoing matcha craze, and emphasizes the importance of service in sourcing quality teas.

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Joining us is Erin Resch, Founder of Eco Ethos in Redondo Beach, California. Erin believes the global tea industry is well-positioned to promote water conservation and sustainability.

“It is time to rethink our food choices. Food choices that dramatically impact water consumption,” she says. For instance, tea has a smaller water footprint than coffee, dairy, and soda.

She explains that consumers who choose eco-friendly tea brands that prioritize water efficiency, compost spent leaves, and advocate for water-conscious business practices are taking small but significant steps toward sustainability.

BIO: Erin brings real-world business insight from over a decade in the CPG space— including roles at Dannon and Greenleaf Foods, where she championed plant-rich food systems and sustainable go-to-market strategies. As the Conservation Manager at California Water Service, she led programs connecting the dots between animal agriculture, water use, and community conservation efforts. She founded Eco Ethos based on a vision for a cleaner, healthier world for future generations, consulting with companies on how to live more sustainably, affordably, and intentionally, while also saving money.

She's deeply passionate about driving innovation and sustainability in the food and beverage industries by bringing insights to organizations, developing forward-thinking strategies, building purpose-driven partnerships, and creating products and programs that resonate with today’s conscious consumers.

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GUEST – Erin Resch, Founder, Eco Ethos

PLUS | Tea and Water are Partners in Sustainability

Water is our most vital resource. Its plentifulness is crucial for agricultural production, personal health, and the manufacturing of nearly all goods. Yet, how it is utilized in food and beverage production carries hidden costs.

Joining us is Erin Resch, Founder of Eco Ethos in Redondo Beach, California. Erin believes the global tea industry is well-positioned to promote water conservation and sustainability.

“It is time to rethink our food choices. Food choices that dramatically impact water consumption,” she says. For instance, tea has a smaller water footprint than coffee, dairy, and soda.

She explains that consumers who choose eco-friendly tea brands that prioritize water efficiency, compost spent leaves, and advocate for water-conscious business practices are taking small but significant steps toward sustainability.

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RECAP

Study Uncovers Vietnam’s Indigenous Tea Diversity | Chagee Announces NASDAQ IPO| Darjeeling First Flush is Promising

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SPOTLIGHT

Our reporter, Jessica Woolard returned from the Northwest Tea Festival last year with the incredible story of Charles and Laurie Dawson. The couple have been married for 33 years and have an uncommon anniversary tradition - acquiring a good aged tea cake each year. Their anniversary cake is, suitably, the pu erh, and over the years, their collection has grown into an enviable one. Jessica had the good fortune of breaking tea with them and brings us this heartwarming conversation with the couple, one that inspires new tea traditions. 

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BIO: Paul Rice is a visionary social entrepreneur who founded Fair Trade USA in 1998, now North America's leading certifier of Fair Trade products. He spent 11 years working in the coffee lands, establishing Nicaragua’s first Fair Trade coffee export cooperative, owned by 2,500 families. He graduated from Yale University with a degree in economics and political science and holds a master's in business administration from the University of California, Berkeley. During the past 40 years, he has been awarded many honors as an ethical business leader and for his work as a social engineer.

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NEWSMAKER – Paul Rice, Founder Fair Trade USA

PLUS | Every Purchase Matters | Since 1998, consumers purchasing Fair Trade Certified products, including tea, have directed $1.2 billion in increased income to more than one million farmers, workers, and their families. Fair Trade USA certifies 1,700 major brands and retailers, ranging from Albertsons and Costco to Kroger, Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart. In his new book, *Every Purchase Matters*, Fair Trade USA founder Paul Rice writes, “Social change takes time. I believe it’s all about creative problem-solving and reengineering business models to deliver sustainability, profitability, and impact.” Paul joins Tea Biz Host Dan Bolton to discuss the intrinsic value of fair trade and the critical role of consumer purchasing power in driving positive changes in the tea industry.

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The Kenya project, led by Compact Syngas Solutions and supported by Co-REGEN-Supivaa and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, utilizes technology critical to greening the tea industry and documenting a scalable path for industrial decarbonization.

Joining us today from London is Co-REGEN co-founder and CEO Aarti Shah. We discuss the challenges in the tea industry, focusing on innovation, oversupply, and regeneration. Aarti emphasized the importance of systems thinking, collaboration, soil health, and modern technologies, such as gasification and biochar, for its potential to improve soil quality. We also discuss the need for government policies that promote tea and foster a strong consumer-driven business culture in Kenya.

BIO: Aarti Shah advises companies on environmental, climate, and social impact through circularity, regeneration, and frugal innovation. She likes to say that she does not shy away from complexity. As a former senior executive at Thomson Reuters, she oversaw operations in developed and emerging markets across the financial, professional, and scientific sectors. Aarti graduated from the University of Bristol with a degree in French and computer science. She serves as the Board Chair of Third Horizon Earth and consults part-time for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

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NEWSMAKER – Co-REGEN Supivaa Co-founder and CEO Aarti Shah

PLUS | Tea Advances from the Ground Up | The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) announced on March 25 the first five ‘lighthouse’ demonstration projects funded by the UK’s Accelerate-to-Demonstrate. Biomass gasification is among the most promising options for tea, as it can reduce emissions, lower energy and cultivation costs, improve fertilizer efficiency, and increase productivity.

The Kenya project, led by Compact Syngas Solutions and supported by Co-REGEN-Supivaa and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, utilizes technology critical to greening the tea industry and documenting a scalable path for industrial decarbonization.

Joining us today from London is Co-REGEN co-founder and CEO Aarti Shah. We discuss the challenges in the tea industry, focusing on innovation, oversupply, and regeneration. Aarti emphasized the importance of systems thinking, collaboration, soil health, and modern technologies, such as gasification and biochar, for its potential to improve soil quality. We also discuss the need for government policies that promote tea and foster a strong consumer-driven business culture in Kenya.

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Tea Biz stopped by to speak with exhibitors in the tea section about their experience at the show and asked about their products.

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India Tea News

India Ranks 2nd in Global Tea Exports | Assam Tea Industry Gains Government Support | Two Indian Teas Earn Accolades at WTE

PLUS | On the Floor at World Tea Expo

The 21st edition of the World Tea Expo, co-located with the Bar & Restaurant Show, concluded on Wednesday after a busy week, as exhibitors, many of whom were new to the show, met with attendees from across the country and worldwide. Japanese teas were on prominent display. Last year, the United States bought about half of Japan's tea exports.

Tea Biz stopped by to speak with exhibitors in the tea section about their experience at the show and asked about their products.

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ESTA’s outgoing executive director, David Veal, joins the Tea Biz podcast to discuss the association’s achievements, growth to 350 members, and future ambitions.

BIO: David was named executive director in May 2019. Before that, he was executive director of the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) from 2011 to 2018, when SCAE merged with its American counterpart to become the Specialty Coffee Association. David's beverage career began in 1983 when he joined Automatic Catering Supplies (ACS) as Regional Manager for the North of England. At ACS, he played a pivotal role in introducing specialty coffee brands like Douwe Egberts to the UK market.

David officially leaves the post as executive director on March 31 but promises to “hang around for a bit to help with succession and smooth things over.”

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India Tea News | Solar Replaces Fossil Fuels In 100 Assam Factories | Longview In Darjeeling loses 120 hectares of tea to fire | India Gets Its Largest Tea Cafe Yet

Solar Replaces Fossil Fuels In 100 Assam Factories | Longview In Darjeeling loses 120 hectares of tea to fire | India Gets Its Largest Tea Cafe Yet

NEWSMAKER – ESTA Executive Director David Veal

PLUS | David Veal on the Future of the European Speciality Tea Association

Since its establishment six years ago, the European Speciality Tea Association (ESTA) has implemented training programs leading to the certification of tea and coffee professionals, organized competitions to enhance the capabilities of tea baristas, and developed educational programs for consumers. The association has also organized tours to the tea lands and financed research and development to encourage innovation in tea.

ESTA’s outgoing executive director, David Veal, joins the Tea Biz podcast to discuss the association’s achievements, growth to 350 members, and future ambitions.

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Joining us today are Riccardo Colosi, Global Development Manager of SlowTEA Alliance, and my good friend, Marco Bertona, president of the Italy Tea & Infusions Association (AssoTè Infusi) and founder of the International SlowTEA Alliance.

The alliance recently introduced a third-party certification label featuring the ladybug, a symbol of protection and renewal. This certification is based on a new concept of quality, grounded in the three principles of Good, Clean, and Fair tea.

BIO: Marco Bertona is the co-founder and chairman of the Italy Tea & Infusions Association (AssoTè Infusi), Italy's first and oldest tea association. He is a professional tea taster, consultant, and promoter who studied tea at Zhejiang Agriculture University in Hangzhou. He holds certifications and degrees from several Chinese tea research institutes and universities. He was awarded a diploma as an Advanced Tea Taster issued by the Ministry of Labor, China.

Riccardo Colosi, in Lombardy, became devoted to sustainable farming in 2014 when he established an NGO dedicated to promoting and creating a cleaner and more ethical food chain, which he directed until 2021. He has been passionate about tea since 2013, when he completed the Italy Tea & Infusions Association courses. In 2024, he took on the role of Global Development Manager of the SlowTEA Alliance.

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NEWSMAKERS – Marco Bertona, president of the Italy Tea & Infusions Association and founder of the International SlowTEA Alliance | Riccardo Colosi, Global Development Manager of SlowTEA Alliance

PLUS | SlowTEA’s New Certification Program

Italy birthed the Slow Food movement to encourage greater appreciation of locally produced food and beverages. Slow Food promotes the intrinsic qualities and traditions of food processing and preparation. The Slow Tea movement, which originated in 2004, embraced the core philosophy of Slow Food while maintaining its independence. From these early beginnings, the SlowTEA Alliance (STA), a non-profit, non-government organization based in Milan, took shape. STA promotes good, clean, and fair tea production and consumption worldwide, supporting projects that defend local tea traditions, protect biodiversity, and encourage the production of small-scale quality teas.

Joining us today are Riccardo Colosi, Global Development Manager of SlowTEA Alliance, and my good friend, Marco Bertona, president of the Italy Tea & Infusions Association (AssoTè Infusi) and founder of the International SlowTEA Alliance.

The alliance recently introduced a third-party certification label featuring the ladybug, a symbol of protection and renewal. This certification is based on a new concept of quality, grounded in the three principles of Good, Clean, and Fair tea.

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Joining us today is Melissa San Miguel, spokesperson for the National Coffee Association. The association has launched a new B2C website that provides easy access to evidence showing that coffee drinkers tend to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. The website URL is “ABOUTCOFFEE.org.”

BIO: Melissa has supported NCA’s communications and public affairs strategies since 2017. She has extensive expertise in agriculture, food, consumer goods, and trade and has advised some of the world’s leading companies and associations. She was previously Senior Director of Global Strategies for the Grocery Manufacturers Association (now the Consumer Brands Association). She served nine years in the U.S. Foreign Service, including two tours in Latin America. She holds degrees from Princeton University and the University of California, Los Angeles.

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NEWSMAKER – NCA Spokesperson Melissa San Miguel

PLUS | Coffee Health Status Update

The US Food and Drug Administration recently expanded its list of healthy beverages to include coffee. Independent peer-reviewed research shows that drinking coffee is linked to many significant health benefits, notably longevity. Coffee is the source of 70% of Americans' caffeine intake, up 15% since 2010-11, according to an ongoing study of 49,000 US adults. The latest update finds that fewer individuals consume caffeinated beverages, and those who do opt for stronger doses.

Joining us today is Melissa San Miguel, spokesperson for the National Coffee Association. The association has launched a new B2C website that provides easy access to evidence showing that coffee drinkers tend to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. The website URL is “ABOUTCOFFEE.org.”

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Rather than a blanket removal, U.S. policymakers should explore targeted solutions, such as industry-specific exemptions, that assist small-scale imports while addressing trade concerns. Otherwise, this decision will make premium tea less accessible for consumers and disadvantage U.S. retailers against global competitors.

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Commentary by Dan Bolton | Ending De Minimis Exemption is Short-Sighted | Eliminating the $800 de minimis tariff exemption will significantly impact the U.S. tea industry. The recent imposition of a 10% tariff on top of the 7.5% duty on Chinese tea, with a threatened additional 10% duty under discussion, has disrupted and burdened quality-driven tea enthusiasts and small businesses. Removing the de minimis exemption further alienates those committed to quality and innovation in the tea market. Rather than a blanket removal, U.S. policymakers should explore targeted solutions, such as industry-specific exemptions, that assist small-scale imports while addressing trade concerns. Otherwise, this decision will make premium tea less accessible for consumers and disadvantage U.S. retailers against global competitors.

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Reporters at news outlets are documenting the impact on health, disaster and refugee relief to focus attention on the plight of these programs, which may lead others to assist.

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India Tea News | India Tea News | Kangra Looks Towards West Bengal for Tea Tourism Inspiration | West Bengal Government to Meet Tea Industry Stakeholders

PLUS | Salvaging USAID’s Ongoing Tea Projects

Dismantling USAID (the US Agency for International Development) has disrupted every project dedicated to improving the tea sector worldwide. The full impact remains to be seen as stakeholders assess the long-term consequences of the US policy shift. USAID has ongoing projects in 130 countries, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The USAID East Africa Mission is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and oversees projects in Tanzania, Malawi, and Rwanda. Their status is unknown. Since USAID public relations no longer responds to media queries, we are compiling this information and sharing it globally via Tea Biz Blog | Podcast

Reporters at news outlets are documenting the impact on health, disaster and refugee relief to focus attention on the plight of these programs, which may lead others to assist.

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Joining us today is Sean Hsu Hao Sheng, CEO of Trilliant Tea Industry, a Taiwan-based tea-producing and exporting venture that supplies branded companies worldwide. Sean seeks to demystify and help tea drinkers fully appreciate the complexities of well-made oolong tea.

BIO: Sean is an expert in oolong production. He co-founded FuNing Trading Company in 2012 in China after a career in IT and sales, including six years as general manager of a Poland-based computer company. He attended Chung Yuan Christian University, where he studied business administration and graduated from the International Trade Institute (ITI).

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India Tea News | Darjeeling Faces A Challenging First Flush | Growers Ask for 100% Auction Sales | Two Tea Brands Raise Funding

GUEST | Sean Hsu Hao Sheng, CEO of Trilliant Tea Industry, Taiwan

PLUS | Demystifying Taiwan Oolong | Taiwan is a significant tea-consuming and tea-growing nation that processes 14,000 metric tons annually from 12,000 hectares of tea farms. The country of 23 million produces enough tea to supply a third of domestic demand, but growers often get better prices exporting their prized oolongs to the United States, China, and Japan. Taiwan ranked 9th in export value globally in 2023, exporting 12,400 metric tons. Valued at $100 million, Taiwan accounted for 1.4% of global tea exports. That same year, Taiwan imported about 14,500 metric tons of mainly green tea from Vietnam. Tea consumption per capita has increased fivefold since 1980 to an average of 1.88 kilos per person per year.

Joining us today is Sean Hsu Hao Sheng, CEO of Trilliant Tea Industry, a Taiwan-based tea-producing and exporting venture that supplies branded companies worldwide. Sean seeks to demystify and help tea drinkers fully appreciate the complexities of well-made oolong tea.

BIO: Sean is an expert in oolong production. He co-founded FuNing Trading Company in 2012 in China after a career in IT and sales, including six years as general manager of a Poland-based computer company. He attended Chung Yuan Christian University, where he studied business administration and graduated from the International Trade Institute (ITI).

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Tea plantations drive socio-economic growth in Nepal, according to the 57-page report. QUOTE “However, despite their importance and potential for growth and job creation, the sectors are characterized by poor working conditions, lack of information and awareness of fundamental rights issues, including the right to a safe and healthy working environment, low levels of productivity and skills, inadequate access to public service, and weak trade union presence. Work in these sectors is particularly vulnerable for women who are often subjected to various forms of workplace harassment and discrimination,” writes ILO.

Anshu Giri, a third-generation large-scale plantation director at Samsher Tea in Nepal, is a respected progressive thought leader. He joins us to discuss the ILO assessment and a common-sense approach to compliance in the organized sector that growers at every level should employ.

BIO : Anshu Giri has managed the operations of the Giri family’s two tea estates since 2010. Samsher & Gangadevi T.E and Giribandhu T.E are Pesticide MRL compliant with EU Standards. They produce 1 million kilos of premium CTC (cut, tear curl) tea annually and 600,000 kilos of high-quality, low-grown orthodox tea exclusively for export. Anshu earned an undergraduate degree in manufacturing operations management and holds an MBA from the Herberger Business School at St. Cloud State University in the US.

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INDIA TEA NEWS | Tea Gets Allowances in this Year's Union Budget | TRA Tocklai Needs Financial Support

NEWSMAKER – Anshu Giri, Director, Samsher Tea, Nepal

PLUS | UN Assesses Health & Safety of the Nepal Tea Sector | A UN assessment of tea plantation health and safety by the International Labor Organization (ILO) found few risks and food safety hazards but cautioned that the prevalence of temporary work without formal contracts limits worker protections.

Tea plantations drive socio-economic growth in Nepal, according to the 57-page report. QUOTE “However, despite their importance and potential for growth and job creation, the sectors are characterized by poor working conditions, lack of information and awareness of fundamental rights issues, including the right to a safe and healthy working environment, low levels of productivity and skills, inadequate access to public service, and weak trade union presence. Work in these sectors is particularly vulnerable for women who are often subjected to various forms of workplace harassment and discrimination,” writes ILO.

Anshu Giri, a third-generation large-scale plantation director at Samsher Tea in Nepal, is a respected progressive thought leader. He joins us to discuss the ILO assessment and a common-sense approach to compliance in the organized sector that growers at every level should employ.

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Founder Tao Wu and his sister Mingzhu Gao, who manages the event, consider the more than 4,000 attendees family guests.

Wu, 41, grew up in Wuyishan, China, a region famous for its oolong tea. He remembers fondly the traditional gatherings of families who spared no expense to be together for the Lunar New Year. Since 2013, he has shared his vision with the support of The Tea Guild of Canada volunteers.

Tao joins us today to discuss this year’s event: A Journey Through Terroir.

BIO: Tao Wu, a second-generation tea trader, arrived in Canada in 2007 after working in mainland China with his father and uncle, a tea exporter. He traveled to many different tea regions during his youth to learn about tea. He founded Tao Tea Leaf in 2009, an award-winning, full-service tea retail store and wholesaler in the fashionable Yorkville area of Toronto. Known best for an extensive selection of over 180 teas. His specialty is loose-leaf Chinese teas, and he also stocks teas from Japan, India, South America, and Africa with an extensive line of USDA-certified Organic teas. Tao is a graduate of George Brown College and is a certified sommelier.

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India Tea News

Planters' Bodies Hit Out at Tea Imports | Plucking Dates Announced For 2025 | Tata Wins at the Indian Marketing Awards

GUEST – Tao Wu, Toronto Tea Festival Co-Founder

PLUS | A Frigid Toronto Tea Festival Creates Warm Ties

The Toronto Tea Festival, one of the fastest-growing tea gatherings in North America, convenes annually during the Chinese New Year celebration – by design. This year’s event is from 10 am to 5 pm at the Toronto Reference Library on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 1-2. Tickets are available at the door.

Founder Tao Wu and his sister Mingzhu Gao, who manages the event, consider the more than 4,000 attendees family guests.

Wu, 41, grew up in Wuyishan, China, a region famous for its oolong tea. He remembers fondly the traditional gatherings of families who spared no expense to be together for the Lunar New Year. Since 2013, he has shared his vision with the support of The Tea Guild of Canada volunteers.

Tao joins us today to discuss this year’s event: A Journey Through Terroir.

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Since 2021, several tea companies have successfully turned to equity crowdfunding as an alternative to traditional loans and elusive venture capital. Tea Journey is doing the same.

Invest in our move to the tea lands.

Nepal Tea Collective founder Nishchal Banskota raised more than $600,000 from small investors to expand operations, including new retail stores in Kathmandu. Young Mountain Tea founder Raj Vable’s ongoing WeFunder campaign has raised $225,450 to construct and operate a community-owned tea-processing factory in Kumaon, India. Others include Revival Tea and CUSA Tea and Coffee, which raised $1.2 million in 2022.

Peter Yang, President and CEO of OverSubscribe+ joins us today to discuss equity crowdfunding. OverSubscribe+ is a non-crypto, fully regulated way for customers and fans to fund company growth and earn back a share of their profits.

BIO: Peter Yang graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a degree in computer science and holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. He worked for 15 years in Silicon Valley at banks, as a Goldman Sachs financial analyst, and at Emergence Capital Partners, and was head of corporate development at Corel Corporation. Peter and co-founder Jae Kim founded New York City-based OverSubscribe+ in 2018.

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India Tea News

Indian Tea Industry Flags Poor Imports | Chai Point Aims For Guinness Record at The Kumbha Mela

GUEST – Peter Yang, Co-Founder, President and CEO of OverSubscribe+

PLUS | Tea Firms and Fans Share Financial Success

Tea stakeholders globally find it difficult to access capital via traditional financial networks. Institutional investors cite daunting obstacles, including persistently low prices, a fragmented supply chain, and low profit margins in commodity markets. The tea industry’s vulnerability to climate change heightens risk.

Since 2021, several tea companies have successfully turned to equity crowdfunding as an alternative to traditional loans and elusive venture capital.

Nepal Tea Collective founder Nishchal Banskota raised more than $600,000 from small investors to expand operations, including new retail stores in Kathmandu. Young Mountain Tea founder Raj Vable’s ongoing WeFunder campaign has raised $225,450 to construct and operate a community-owned tea-processing factory in Kumaon, India. Others include Revival Tea and CUSA Tea and Coffee, which raised $1.2 million in 2022.

Peter Yang, President and CEO of OverSubscribe+, joins us today to discuss equity crowdfunding. OverSubscribe+ is a non-crypto, fully regulated way for customers and fans to fund company growth and earn back a share of their profits.

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Professor Pitelka joins us today to reveal tea’s unique role in Bringing Communities Together in times of war and peace.

Morgan’s talk is one of four thought-provoking presentations during the day-long Global Tea Institute’s 10th Anniversary Colloquium at UC Davis on January 30. Registration is free at globaltea (dot) ucdavis (dot) edu.

BIO: Morgan Pitelka is a historian of Asia and a researcher internationally known for his expertise in Japanese art and culture (and his love of tea). After graduating from Oberlin College, Morgan earned a doctorate in East Asian Studies at Princeton University. He next taught for eight years at Occidental College in Los Angeles. In 2013, he was named director of the Carolina Asia Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He chaired the Department of Asian Studies at UNC from 2019 to 2024 and is now a Distinguished Professor of History and Asian Studies. The son of a potter, he has a life-long passion for all things tea.

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India Tea News

Wagh Bakri Plans Expansion in 2025 | Tocklai Launches Learning Platform

GUEST – Tea Art Historian Professor Morgan Pitelka, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

SPOTLIGHT | Lessons From Japan’s Deep Engagement with Tea

In medieval times, Japanese commanders bestowed teaware on valiant survivors at banquets, explains historian Morgan Pitelka. Later, in the early modern period, tea culture permeated every walk of life in the imperial capital of Kyoto. The prevalence of Chanoyu in the Shogun era, a time of social upheaval and war, provides relevant insights into coping with stressful times today.

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Joining us today is Professor Katharine Burnett, an expert in East Asian Studies and the art and cultural history of China and founder and director of the institute. She describes how, in 2012, their mutual fascination with tea brought together a research cluster of faculty and librarians to establish a group that would become the institute and organize its first colloquium. The collaboration inspired an innovative global educational hub offering advanced studies, continuing education leading to professional certifications, and a new book series, Global Tea Studies, with De Gruyter Brill Publishing. Plans include constructing an on-campus tea center equipped with a sensory theater, processing center, exhibition hall, classrooms, and space for public display of tea art and cultural materials.

BIO: Katharine Burnett is a professor of art history and a 2023 public scholarship and engagement fellow who co-chairs the university’s Department of Art and Art History. She is a Faculty Affiliate of the East Asian Studies Program who travels frequently to the tea lands. Katharine holds degrees from both the University of Michigan and Wellesley College and has taught at the University of California, Davis, for 27 years.

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GUEST – Professor Katharine P. Burnett, Founder and Director of the Global Tea Institute at UC Davis

PLUS | Tea and Peace

Hundreds of tea professionals, educators, and enthusiasts will travel from around the world to attend the UC Davis Global Tea Institute’s 10th Anniversary colloquium on January 30 at UC Davis. This year’s theme is Tea and Peace: Bringing Communities Together.

Joining us today is Professor Katharine Burnett, an expert in East Asian Studies and the art and cultural history of China and founder and director of the institute. She describes how, in 2012, their mutual fascination with tea brought together a research cluster of faculty and librarians to establish a group that would become the institute and organize its first colloquium. The collaboration inspired an innovative global educational hub offering advanced studies, continuing education leading to professional certifications, and a new book series, Global Tea Studies, with De Gruyter Brill Publishing. Plans include constructing an on-campus tea center equipped with a sensory theater, processing center, exhibition hall, classrooms, and space for public display of tea art and cultural materials.

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BIO -- The son of Indian immigrants in the US, Raj became intrigued by the people of the tea lands on his return to India as a Fullbright-Nehru Fellow. He has since spent 15 years connecting Himalayan farmers to American markets. Raj founded Oregon-based Young Mountain organic tea company in 2013. The company is a purpose-driven business praised for its high-grade, whole-leaf teas.

Young Mountain is currently engaged in an equity crowdfunding campaign on WeFunder that has generated over $200,000. The campaign requires a minimum investment of $250 and has a goal of $375,000. Raj says, “Sharing ownership aligns everyone’s values: if the farmers do well, so do the tea drinkers, and vice versa. And if we do it right, there will be plenty for everyone.”

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NEWSMAKER - Raj Vable, founder of Young Mountain Tea

PLUS | Sharing Ownership to Align Supply Chain Values

Raj Vable is committed to bridge the gap between tea farmers and tea drinkers, breaking a vicious cycle of urban migration and land degradation at a time when climate change is making things worse. He joins us today to explain THE TEA SOLUTION. “Tea creates rural jobs, revitalizes wastelands, and removes CO2 from the atmosphere." The first step was to share ownership of the tea trade with farmers by financing India’s first farmer-owned specialty tea factory in Kumaon, India. Vable says that now that the factory is built and US distribution deals are in place, “We are creating a pathway for customers to co-own Young Mountain Tea and become part of the same system as the farmers who grow and process the tea.

Who better to describe this history than our guest today, Santa Claus?

Jolly old St. Nicholas recounts the nearly two-thousand-year evolution of holiday beverages.

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India Tea News

Tea Exports on a High | The First Assam Type Indian Tea Genome Decoded

GUEST – Jolly Old St. Nicholas (Santa Claus)

PLUS | The History of Tea at Christmas

The tradition of drinking tea, herbal infusions, and spiced beverages during the holiday season has evolved from medieval medicinal remedies to sophisticated and cherished modern holiday customs. These customs reflect centuries of cultural exchange, religious symbolism, and festive cheer. Who better to describe this history than our guest today, Santa Claus?

Jolly old St. Nicholas recounts the nearly two-thousand-year evolution of holiday beverages.

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This week, Seattle-based Red Lotus Tea co-founder Glen Bowers joins correspondent Jessica Natale Woollard for an insightful discussion on the company’s artist-inspired, eye-catching designs, vibrant colors, and clear branding on Pu’er wrappers that entice new tea drinkers to try these exotic dark teas from Yunnan.

BIO: Crimson Lotus is a Seattle-based company specializing in Yunnan Pu’er. Now, they’ve departed from those packaging traditions and brought tea-cake wrapper designs into the modern era. Crimson Lotus works with artists in the United States and China to design compelling packaging that reflects the tea beyond the wrapper. Think of the style of artwork you see on Western craft beer labels or chocolate bar labels: bright colors, modern graphic illustrations, and often edgy imagery, with artwork specifically chosen to tell the story of the product inside the package.

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India Tea News

Time for Tea Festivals in India | Young Mountain Tea Opens Fundraising | Restoration Ecologists In The Nilgiris Push For Reclaiming the Grasslands from Green Desert

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GUEST – Glen Bowers, co-founder of Red Lotus Tea, Seattle

PLUS | Compelling Packaging

Tea packaging is not just about aesthetics—it is a strategic tool for brand positioning, customer engagement, and market differentiation. Well-designed and functional packaging can significantly impact a customer's decision to purchase and repurchase a tea.

This week, Seattle-based Red Lotus Tea co-founder Glen Bowers joins correspondent Jessica Natale Woollard for an insightful discussion on the company’s artist-inspired, eye-catching designs, vibrant colors, and clear branding on Pu’er wrappers that entice new tea drinkers to try these exotic dark teas from Yunnan.

BIO: Crimson Lotus is a Seattle-based company specializing in Yunnan Pu’er. Now, they’ve departed from those packaging traditions and brought tea-cake wrapper designs into the modern era. Crimson Lotus works with artists in the United States and China to design compelling packaging that reflects the tea beyond the wrapper. Think of the style of artwork you see on Western craft beer labels or chocolate bar labels: bright colors, modern graphic illustrations, and often edgy imagery, with artwork specifically chosen to tell the story of the product inside the package.

Abhijeet Hazarika, the former Head of Tea Process Innovation at Tata Global Beverages, explains that because every aspect of tea production is labor-intensive, tea is on the threshold of transformation, as mechanization and automation demonstrate. Since capital is limited and the return on investment is not substantial, Hazarika has made himself a champion of frugal innovation.

BIO Abhijeet Hazarika began his career in tea in the early 1980s in the Calcutta saleroom at Brooke Bond, Ltd. He joined Tata Tea in 1991 and worked in tea buying and blending in Guwahati, Bangalore, and Kolkata for 18 years before moving to London, where he worked for nearly seven years in product management and supply management for Tata Global Beverages. He has a home in Bangalore and has worked as a tea and process innovation consultant at T Sigma Consultancy based in Assam for five years.

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| GUEST – Abhijeet Hazarika, Founder T Sigma Consultancy

PLUS | Frugal Innovation on the Farm

Capital-intensive advances in agricultural technology—ag-tech—are altering the efficiency and economics of cultivation. However, unlike commodity food crops, tea remains stubbornly labor-intensive. Tea plants are long-lived and require extensive infrastructure, including drainage improvements, flood protection, terracing, and planting shade trees. Fieldwork involves heavy fertilizer use, four-year pruning cycles, uprooting old stock, and maintaining extensive paths and access roads. Harvest rounds yielding 50 or fewer kilos of leaf per worker occur every eight to ten days during much of the year.

Abhijeet Hazarika, the former Head of Tea Process Innovation at Tata Global Beverages, explains that because every aspect of tea production is labor-intensive, tea is on the threshold of transformation, as mechanization and automation demonstrate. Since capital is limited and the return on investment is not substantial, Hazarika has made himself a champion of frugal innovation.

Everyone covets trophies and bragging rights. In this episode, Jennifer describes the far more valuable underlying benefits of tea competitions for those who enter -- and the industry at large.

BIO Jennifer Wood has worked in tea for 18 years after a successful career in branding. In 2007, she founded Canton Tea in London to supply fine, artisan tea to Five Star Hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, and independent coffee shops. Jennifer is the Director of the UK Tea Academy, which she co-founded with writer and educator Jane Pettigrew in 2015. The UKTA trains tea professionals and offers courses for tea enthusiasts. Next year, OCN London, a regulated qualifications body with international recognition, will endorse the academy’s courses and certify the qualification for Tea Sommelier. The UKTA launched The Leafies in 2022 to celebrate the producers and embed best practices in the UKTA's learning program.

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India Tea News | West Bengal Introduces SOPs For Reopening Abandoned Gardens | Tocklai Looks At CTC Green Tea Production

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| GUEST - Jennifer Wood, Director of UK Tea Academy | The Leafies

PLUS | Beyond the Trophy -

The Leafies International Tea Awards, now in its third edition, attracted almost 400 entries this year and, on Nov. 6, named 26 Gold Award winners. An additional 42 teas were Highly Commended by 16 judges representing each major tea-growing region. Director Jennifer Wood explains that judging teas by region and type enables the panel of experts to evaluate the teas more fairly. All judges collaborate to reassess the gold award winners and select best-in-show. Organizers in 2022 saw “A massive gap in the market for a window to origin. The competition seemed like a great way of recognizing the people who work so hard to produce sensational teas only to struggle to get a voice in the marketplace.”

Everyone covets trophies and bragging rights. In this episode, Jennifer describes the far more valuable underlying benefits of tea competitions for those who enter -- and the industry at large.

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As the former head of global tea expertise at Lipton Tea & Infusions, our guest today is in demand as an advisor, educator, and judge of tea competitions.

BIO: Kurush began his career in tea in 1985 with Brooke Bond India Limited, shortly after the Anglo-Dutch major Unilever acquired the storied brand. He worked for 20 years in India, with tenures at all six of India's Tea auction centers as a taster and tea buyer and at the company's blending and packing factories as a tea blender. He then relocated to Dubai, where he spent 8 years as Lipton's Beverages Supply Chain Director, buying, blending, and packing tea for markets across its Asia and Africa region. Over the next decade, his work in the UK focused on consumer research, recipe design, building a tea culture....and training a global cadre of up to 80 tea tasters across Lipton's integrated tea business from bush to brand. He has traveled extensively, partnering with producers and sourcing sustainably certified and organic teas from the world's most exclusive network of growers. He holds a degree in Economics from Mumbai University and plans to return soon from the UK to his home in India.

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India Tea News

LB Brewers Launch India's First Tea Beer | Regen Agri Certification Planned | Assam Launches Mobile Medical Units For Tea Gardens

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| GUEST – Tea Taster and Educator Kurush Bharucha

PLUS | Tasting Insights with Kurush Bharucha

Kurush Bharucha is among the foremost tea tasters in the world and a brilliant teacher. As a student of his craft, he has always followed the mantra, 'Practice makes perfect, so perfect your practice' - which describes his apprentice days when he tasted up to 1000 cups of tea daily. His expertise, over four decades, extends well beyond the ability to discern quality tea. Seeing synergies across all links in the beverage chain has enabled him to develop a sharp and holistic appreciation of ground realities, constantly pushing boundaries and QUOTE “asking the right questions to constructively challenge the status quo.”

As the former head of global tea expertise at Lipton Tea & Infusions, our guest today is in demand as an advisor, educator, and judge of tea competitions.

Zubin joins us today to discuss the effect of the forced shift in trade from lucrative North America to European markets and, finally, Russia. He reports that while overall production declined last year to 28,000 metric tons, harvest totals could easily double by cultivating idled tea estates to meet domestic and overseas demand for premium, organic, pest-free, third-party certified teas.

BIO: Zubin Amiri is the CEO and founder of Zubin Organic, an Iranian agribusiness that produces tea, walnuts, oranges, raisins, and wild pistachios. He is the fifth generation to manage the family-owned business, which was founded in 1898.

Zubin has been a member of the board of the Iran Organic Association since 2008 and serves as vice president of the board of directors of Bio COOP of Iran.

He graduated cum laude from the Kogod School of Business at American University and holds a degree in French Studies at Ecole de Roches and a diploma from the Institute Le Rosey in Switzerland. More recently, he studied Global Sustainability Management at UCLA.

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| GUEST – Zubin Amiri, Managing Director Zubin Tea, Iran

PLUS | Tea with the Taste of Persia

Tea grower and organic tea brand owner Zubin Amiri is a champion of the Caspian Sea tea-growing region, an area that produces well-regarded Persian orthodox black teas. Iran’s 92 million residents consume around 80 to 90,000 metric tons of tea annually, most of which is imported. Consumption averages 1.23 kilos of tea per person (less than three pounds per person compared to the more than 6.5-pound average in 2013). In recent years, consumption has declined by more than half due to economic woes, competition with coffee, production declines due to erratic weather, and the burden of sanctions that date back to 1979.

Zubin joins us today to discuss the effect of the forced shift in trade from lucrative North America to European markets and, finally, Russia. He reports that while overall production declined last year to 28,000 metric tons, harvest totals could easily double by cultivating idled tea estates to meet domestic and overseas demand for premium, organic, pest-free, third-party certified teas.

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| GUEST – Kristina Tucker, Minister of Enlightenment and Commerce of The Republic of Tea

PLUS | The Republic of Tea

The Republic of Tea, headquartered in Larkspur, Calif., is a pioneering specialty tea retailer founded on the idea that a tea brand could inspire a lifestyle of intentional living, embodying tranquility, creativity, and personal well-being. Citizens of the Republic share a sense of mindfulness and practice self-care rituals, brewing a range of more than 350 teas and herbal infusions. Conceived by Banana Republic founders Mel and Patricia Ziegler in 1992 and nurtured by CEO Bill Rosenzweig, the company sources exceptional teas from multiple origins marketed with a holistic narrative that tea is a gateway to healthier, more intentional living.

Minister of Enlightenment and Commerce Kristina Tucker joins us today to discuss how The Republic of Tea cleverly transformed an unconscious beverage habit into a mindful lifestyle choice.

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Minister of Enlightenment and Commerce Kristina Tucker joins us today to discuss how The Republic of Tea cleverly transformed an unconscious beverage habit into a mindful lifestyle choice.

BIO: As vice president of sales and communications for The Republic of Tea, Kristina Tucker believes in the beauty and power of the leaf. Her mission is to educate and inspire people worldwide about teas and herbs: their varieties, origins, rituals, cultures, and health benefits. She joined The Republic of Tea in 2003 and was named Minister of Enlightenment in 2007. Before that, she was the national sales manager at Just Desserts and worked as the promotions manager at Whole Foods Market’s Allegro Coffee Company in Boulder, Colo. She is the current chair of the board of trustees of the American Herbal Products Association. Tucker holds a degree in economics from Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics at the University of Delaware and a master's in strategic communication from the American University School of Communication.

George joins us on Tea Biz to share key takeaways from the event, including details on establishing a global alliance to benefit tea-producing countries.

BIO: George Omuga was named EATTA managing director in January 2024. He was welcomed as a seasoned professional “who brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to lead our dynamic team. We are confident that his leadership will drive innovation, foster collaboration, and propel our association to new heights.” George is a graduate of Egerton University with an advanced degree in community studies and a Bachelor of Science in agriculture and human ecology. He managed fields and factory operations for Sotik Tea Companies as general manager at Ngorongo Tea Company in Kiambu and managed Trans-Atlantic Trading Co. in Nairobi.

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India Tea News

4th Edition of Assam FolkTea Festival Announced | Tata and HUL Announce Hike in Tea Prices | Japan's ILEM Launches Tea Range in India

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| NEWSMAKER – George Omuga, Managing Director, East African Tea Trade Association

PLUS | A Global Tea Alliance

Africa’s tea stakeholders believe that actions, more than words, are needed to address the global challenges facing the tea industry. East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) Managing Director George Omuga said the 500 tea professionals attending the 6thAfrican Tea Convention understand the need to reduce production volume to improve quality and raise profitability, which is essential to financing climate resilience and achieving sustainable cultivation at origins worldwide.

George joins us on Tea Biz to share key takeaways from the event, including details on establishing a global alliance to benefit tea-producing countries.

This week, editor Aravinda Anantharaman interviews veteran importer and retailer Elizeth van der Vorst. Her business, Amigos do Chá (Friends of Tea), is located near São Paulo, the hub of specialty tea, a market she has served for 30 years.

Bio: Elizeth van der Vorst has been a Brazilian tea importer since 1994. Her company, Amigos do Cha, embodies her love of tea and its power to bring people together. Elizeth has been our friend at Tea Journey for several years. Among other things, she feels a deep love for India, particularly Darjeeling. In 2022, Elizeth and her husband Gerard made their maiden trip to India, that was years in the planning. She has returned yearly and plans to lead a tour group from Brazil, South America, and Europe to India in 2025. Elizeth speaks about her love for India and why she can’t wait to bring tea lovers here.

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Singtom Tea Garden Bungalows In Darjeeling Burn | Kangra Tea Promotion Plans Announced | Ratan Tata Passes Away at 86

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GUEST – Elizeth van der Vorst, Amigos do Cha

NEWSMAKER - George Omuga, managing director, East African Tea Trade Association

PLUS | Amigos do Chá

Brazil is a vast beverage market with a well-established tradition of tea and herbal infusions. Coffee and yerba mate dominate, but at-home tea is projected to generate $8 billion in sales this year, and restaurant, delivery, and takeaway tea sales will add $6 billion more. Growth is powered by evolving health and wellness trends that favor diverse and distant teas and blends. Conversations among young, urban consumers seeking healthier lifestyles now center on origins, styles, and functionality. Low-calorie, preservative-free beverages are associated with relaxation and well-being.

This week, editor Aravinda Anantharaman interviews veteran importer and retailer Elizeth van der Vorst. Her business, Amigos do Chá (Friends of Tea), is located near São Paulo, the hub of specialty tea, a market she has served for 30 years.

Bio: Elizeth van der Vorst has been a Brazilian tea importer since 1994. Her company, Amigos do Cha, embodies her love of tea and its power to bring people together. Elizeth has been our friend at Tea Journey for several years. Among other things, she feels a deep love for India, particularly Darjeeling. In 2022, Elizeth and her husband Gerard made their maiden trip to India, that was years in the planning. She has returned yearly and plans to lead a tour group from Brazil, South America, and Europe to India in 2025. Elizeth speaks about her love for India and why she can’t wait to bring tea lovers here.

Thaleon joins Tea Biz to explain how a vertically integrated cooperative producing coffee thrives with valuable lessons on microeconomics for the tea industry.

Bio: Thaleon Tremain has been involved in business development for the past 25 years. He holds a master's in entrepreneurial studies and marketing from Texas McCombs School of Business and an MBA from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. A former Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia, he was a volunteer cooperative leader of the US-Cuba working group of the National Cooperative Business Association.

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India Tea News

Bonus Discussions Continue | Tea Board Announces Funds To Promote Domestic Consumption | Elephant Attack in the Nilgiris Claims Third Life In 3 Months

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GUEST – Thaleon Tremaine, CEO, Pachamama Coffee

PLUS | Pachamama Co-op Profits from Soil to Cup |

Pachamama is a farmer-owned global cooperative of 400,000 smallholder coffee growers in Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, and Ethiopia. The venture demonstrates that farmers who retain control of their supply chain earn significant returns by capturing the profits of value addition from soil to customer. Headquartered in Sacramento, Calif., the cooperative was co-founded by Thaleon Tremain, who, as CEO, is celebrating 20 years of innovation.

Thaleon joins Tea Biz to explain how a vertically integrated cooperative producing coffee thrives with valuable lessons on microeconomics for the tea industry.

Tea sustainability and environment consultant Ashok Batra joins Tea Biz in a conversation with Pinaaki Aggarwal, co-founder of Agravity Systems, a deep-tech precision agriculture startup focused on tea, building and employing a system of autonomous drones and imaging sensors to monitor, analyze, and diagnose plant health problems on the fly and then treat them with precision using advanced AI, sensors, and robotics.

“The solution that we bring to the table will minimize the use of chemicals and maximize the productivity and quality of tea by providing an end-to-end solution,” says Aggarwal. “Using AI and drones, we scan the tea field and identify the issues. Then, using another set of drones, we target and treat those issues. Overall, the yield increases, the chemical usage decreases, and crop loss significantly declines to nearly zero,” he says.

SEGMENT BIO

Pinaaki Aggarwal holds an MBA from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. Previously, he co-founded Brainworks, a management consulting firm primarily geared towards global startups. He is now the principal officer at AGRAVITY Systems, a startup with a vision to transform agriculture by empowering farmers with AI-driven solutions to manage crop health.

Ashok Batra is a respected broker, former Chair of J. Thomas, a thought leader, and was a long-time Rainforest Alliance, India consultant.

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India Tea News

Darjeeling Workers Bonus Demands End In Strike | Amul Plans To Diversify Into Tea

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NEWSMAKER – Pinaaki Aggarwal, co-founder Agravity Systems

GUEST – Environment and sustainable tea consultant Ashok Batra, former chair J. Thomas brokers and former consultant Rainforest Alliance, India.

PLUS | Precision Agriculture Launches a Tea Transformation

Three of the biggest challenges tea growers worldwide face are climate change-accelerated pest attacks and the rapid spread of diseases that lower yields and impact quality. Heavy use of chemicals and mitigation efforts are compounded by acute labor shortages. India alone is experiencing crop loss estimated at 147 million kilos annually, costing growers billions of rupees.

Tea sustainability and environment consultant Ashok Batra joins Tea Biz in a conversation with Pinaaki Aggarwal, co-founder of Agravity Systems, a deep-tech precision agriculture startup focused on tea, building and employing a system of autonomous drones and imaging sensors to monitor, analyze, and diagnose plant health problems on the fly and then treat them with precision using advanced AI, sensors, and robotics.

“The solution that we bring to the table will minimize the use of chemicals and maximize the productivity and quality of tea by providing an end-to-end solution,” says Aggarwal. “Using AI and drones, we scan the tea field and identify the issues. Then, using another set of drones, we target and treat those issues. Overall, the yield increases, the chemical usage decreases, and crop loss significantly declines to nearly zero,” he says.

PLUS | The Resilience of Intercropping

Tea is a principal source of livelihood for nine million small and medium-sized producers, who account for 60% of global tea production. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), they are the “backbone” of the sector, but cultivating only tea is not sustainable. According to the International Institute for Sustainable Development, "Tea is extremely vulnerable to climate-related events, so it is vital to promote measures such as planting drought- and stress-tolerant cultivars, diversifying production and intercropping tea."

Incorporating mixed cropping can lead to a more resilient, sustainable, and profitable tea farming system, especially for smallholders with limited resources who need to optimize their land use and reduce risks.

Rural entrepreneurs Ashok Kuriyan and his son Rohan, who own and manage Balanoor Plantations in South India, join us today to discuss the importance of intercropping to sustain tea and coffee farms.

Bonus Decisions In North Bengal | Climate-smart Seed Stock Introduced | NYC-based Kolkata Chai Co. Gets Backing from Hasan Minhaj

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INDIA TEA NEWS

Bonus Decisions In North Bengal | Climate-smart Seed Stock Introduced | NYC-based Kolkata Chai Co. Gets Backing from Hasan Minhaj  

GUEST: Ashok and Rohan Kuriyan, Balanoor Plantations, South India

PLUS | The Resilience of Intercropping

Tea is a principal source of livelihood for nine million small and medium-sized producers, who account for 60% of global tea production. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), they are the “backbone” of the sector, but cultivating only tea is not sustainable. According to the International Institute for Sustainable Development, "Tea is extremely vulnerable to climate-related events, so it is vital to promote measures such as planting drought- and stress-tolerant cultivars, diversifying production and intercropping tea."

Incorporating mixed cropping can lead to a more resilient, sustainable, and profitable tea farming system, especially for smallholders with limited resources who need to optimize their land use and reduce risks.

Rural entrepreneurs Ashok Kuriyan and his son Rohan, who own and manage Balanoor Plantations in South India, join us today to discuss the importance of intercropping to sustain tea and coffee farms.

Fifty years ago, three industrious Turkish brothers in Havza, near Türkiye’s tea-growing region along the Black Sea, fabricated a modern chromium steel version of the traditional samovar. These storied vessels, fired by wood or coal, brew tea while keeping large volumes of hot water on tap.

The Sözen brothers were skilled copper, bronze, aluminum, and steel metalworkers. Their compact, easily disassembled design for Sözenler Semavers (the Turkish word for tea-urn) is now the nation’s most popular brand.

Listen to their story.

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PLUS | Samovar Tea at Sunset

Fifty years ago, three industrious Turkish brothers in Havza, near Türkiye’s tea-growing region along the Black Sea, fabricated a modern chromium steel version of the traditional samovar. These storied vessels, fired by wood or coal, brew tea while keeping large volumes of hot water on tap.

The Sözen brothers were skilled copper, bronze, aluminum, and steel metalworkers. Their compact, easily disassembled design for Sözenler Semavers (the Turkish word for tea-urn) is now the nation’s most popular brand.

Listen to their story later in this podcast.

Sally Lyons Wyatt, the chief advisor for consumer goods and food service insights at Circana, joins Tea Biz to discuss new findings on self-care in a report that identified more than 55 ways consumers activate their well-being. The data-rich, free-to-download 15-page report shows how tea companies can support consumers' wellness journeys.

BIO: Sally is the Global Executive Vice President and Chief Advisor for Consumer Goods and Foodservice Insights at Circana, a leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior. Her skills include analyzing big data to develop consumer and shopper insights and consumer relationship management.

She graduated from the University of Alabama and began her career at SmithKline Consumer Products. She joined AC Nielsen in 1991 and worked as a top-level executive for more than 20 years at IRI and Symphony IRI Group, joining the company as a senior vice president in January 2001. She was twice named to the Top Women in Grocery list and is the executive sponsor of Circana’s Early Career Professionals Business Resource Group.

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India Tea News

Time For Bonus Talks In North Bengal | FAITTA Meeting In Guwahati

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GUEST -- Sally Lyons Wyatt is the Global Executive Vice President and Chief Advisor for Consumer Goods and Foodservice Insights at Circana

PLUS | Tapping into the Global Well-Being Opportunity --

A newly published report by Circana finds that 78% of consumers actively practice self-care to enjoy optimal physical, mental, and social balance. Instead of expensive doctor visits and pharmaceutical remedies, they seek to prevent illness and relieve stress by consuming healthy foods and beverages, including tea. According to the American Psychological Association, nearly eight in 10 psychologists have reported seeing an increase in the number of patients with anxiety disorders since the beginning of the pandemic. Awareness of tea’s ability to relax and relieve anxiety and stress is growing, which is evident in functional formulations pairing tea with herbs.

Sally Lyons Wyatt, the chief advisor for consumer goods and food service insights at Circana, joins Tea Biz to discuss new findings on self-care in a report that identified more than 55 ways consumers activate their well-being. The data-rich, free-to-download 15-page report shows how tea companies can support consumers' wellness journeys.

“Brewed from the dried leaves and tender shoots of an evergreen tree native to South America, yerba mate gives its drinkers the jolt of liquid effervescence many of us get from coffee or tea,” Christine tells Tea Biz correspondent Jessica Natale Woollard in a wide-ranging and engaging conversation about the world’s third-most popular naturally stimulating beverage.

BIO: Christine Folch is an associate professor of cultural anthropology at Duke University in North Carolina. Yerba mate is the most well-known of the three ilex beverages, and as you're going to hear from Christine, it did become widely popular, just not everywhere. In a previous conversation on Tea Biz, she traced the history of yaupon and guayusa—two native stimulants that never managed to compete on the world stage with coffee and tea during those first few centuries of Colonial America. In Argentina, southern "gaúcho" Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, mate is the stimulating brew of choice, famously quaffed by the Argentine national football team en route to its 2022 FIFA World Cup victory.

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Kangra's Tea Factories May See Revival | Tea Prices May Go Up As Procurement Costs Rise | CAG Report Highlights Poor Implementation of Labor Laws In Assam

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GUEST – Christine Folch, Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Duke University, North Carolina

PLUS | Yerba Mate’s Meticulous Chronicler

Prof. Christine Folch is one of the world’s authorities on the history of beverages. A delightful storyteller, anthropologist, and historian, she recently penned The Book of Yerba Mate: A Stimulating History, released this week by Princeton University Press.

“Brewed from the dried leaves and tender shoots of an evergreen tree native to South America, yerba mate gives its drinkers the jolt of liquid effervescence many of us get from coffee or tea,” Christine tells Tea Biz correspondent Jessica Natale Woollard in a wide-ranging and engaging conversation about the world’s third-most popular naturally stimulating beverage.

Today, Dan takes us into the auction hall, where the bidding is about to begin.

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India Tea News

Wayanad Landslide Aftermath | Andrew Yule Reports Loss

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SPOTLIGHT | The Relevance of Outcry Auctions

On the eve of World War II, London’s tea brokers sold 60% of the world’s tea, but when the London auction resumed in 1951, the bulk of tea was transacted in the tea lands. Today, most of the world’s tea is auctioned at regional tea centers in India, Africa, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. In July, the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association organized a London-style Open Outcry Auction for Charity that earned 46 million rupees (about $150,000) to build 130 “smart” classrooms and provide English Language lessons for the children of tea workers.

Today, Dan takes us into the auction hall, where the bidding is about to begin.

BIO: Julie Rosanoff is a pioneer in specialty tea dating to 1990 when she co-founded the Perennial Tea Room near Pike’s Market on the Seattle waterfront. In 2004, Julee hosted tea-themed dinners there, with author Norwood Pratt narrating the story of teas as courses were served. Tastings and special events led to the founding of the Puget Sound Tea Education Association and the region’s first tea party featuring Barnes & Watson, Teahouse Kuan Yin, Tea Geek (Michael Coffey), Sa Tea, Village Yarn & Tea and Choice Organic Tea. Inspired by the mass tastings hosted by Bay Area tea firms for the 50,000 foodies attending the first Slow Food Nation in September 2008, the Northwest Tea Festival, a not-for-profit venture, launched to wide acclaim later that month.

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India Tea News | Assam Tea Estates Get Tourism Support | Sanjay Singhal Appointed Wagh Bakri CEO | Auction Prices High In Sale 33

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NEWSMAKERS – Northwest Tea Festival Co-Founder Julee Rosanoff and Doug Livingston

PLUS | Northwest Tea Festival Nears

Tea festivals are enjoying a resurgence, basking in the renewed enthusiasm of health-conscious consumers and the joy of imbibing quality tea. The 14th Annual Northwest Tea Festival draws tea enthusiasts to Seattle for two educational and fun days at the Seattle Convention Center on September 28th and 29th. The Northwest Tea Fest has a rich history in tea, evolving from a small local event to become the foremost social gathering for tea lovers in a region known for its beverages.

Joining us today are founders Julee Rosanoff and Doug Livingston.

· Monovarietal teas (camelia sinensis), with many categories depending on the method of preparation of the leaves.

· Herbal teas (infusion plants other than camellia sinensis), blends, and flavored teas.

Carine Baudry, an expert in sensory analysis and founder of the Quintessence, chairs this year’s jury. Ksenia Hleap, who is responsible for communications and development of the AVPA programs, joins us from Paris to explain the many benefits of participating.

BIO- Ksenia joined AVPA in 2017 after several years of work in communications, product promotions, and brand management. She holds a master's degree in international project management from UPEC and a master’s in economics from SUD University in Paris. She graduated from Ural State Technical University in Sverdlovsk, Russia.

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An Indian Independence Day Tribute to Chai, by Aravinda Anantharaman

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GUEST – Ksenia Hleap is responsible for communication and development at AVPA.

PLUS | AVPA Teas of the World Contest

The September 30 deadline is nearing for tea and botanical growers and brands to submit entries in the annual "Teas of the World" Contest organized by AVPA, the France-based Agency for the Valorization of Agricultural Products – there are two distinct parts:

· Monovarietal teas (camelia sinensis), with many categories depending on the method of preparation of the leaves.

· Herbal teas (infusion plants other than camellia sinensis), blends, and flavored teas.

Carine Baudry, an expert in sensory analysis and founder of the Quintessence, chairs this year’s jury. Ksenia Hleap, who is responsible for communications and development of the AVPA programs, joins us from Paris to explain the many benefits of participating.

“Why tea?” writes Andrea Warren for the IWFS International Secretariat, QUOTE: “Tea needs further exploration as it increasingly becomes part of the gastronomic scene, along with its diversity of styles and flavors, it is attracting the attention of new drinkers—including those keen to enjoy low-alcohol drinks and those that bring health benefits and well-being. The similarities between tea and wine are numerous, which may well also pique the interest of wine drinkers,” she writes.

Will joins us today from his family farm in the Lincolnshire countryside to discuss the importance of tea education and the role of tea in promoting health. He also discusses the joy of authoring and paging through a printed monograph, one of a series that spans decades.

BIO: Will Battle is a British tea expert who runs Fine Tea Merchants Ltd, an import and wholesale business. He has been tasting teas and creating blends for tea lovers for the past 25 years. He authored the World Tea Encyclopedia, published in 2017, with a second edition in 2020.

Andrea Warren, speaking for the non-profit International Wine & Food Society founded in London in 1933, writes QUOTE: “It was felt Will was ideally suited to give an introduction to the world of tea.” The organization will make the monograph available to its 6,500 members in 130 branches in Europe, North America, Africa, Australia, and Asia. A digital version will be available for purchase from the society, visit www.iwfs.org or the Tea Biz blog for details.

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INDIA TEA NEWS – Wayanad Rescue Update | Tea Board Officials Visit North Bengal Gardens | Trustea Issues First Version 3 Certification

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GUEST – Author Will Battle, Founder Fine Tea Merchants, Ltd.

PLUS | The World of Tea –

The International Wine & Food Society chose tea for its annual beverage monograph this year and selected tea expert Will Battle to author the pocket-sized 102-page The World of Tea, published in May.

“Why tea?” writes Andrea Warren for the IWFS International Secretariat, QUOTE: “Tea needs further exploration as it increasingly becomes part of the gastronomic scene, along with its diversity of styles and flavors, it is attracting the attention of new drinkers—including those keen to enjoy low-alcohol drinks and those that bring health benefits and well-being. The similarities between tea and wine are numerous, which may well also pique the interest of wine drinkers,” she writes.

Will joins us today from his family farm in the Lincolnshire countryside to discuss the importance of tea education and the role of tea in promoting health. He also discusses the joy of authoring and paging through a printed monograph, one of a series that spans decades.

Pradeep Uluwaduge currently oversees three leading plantation companies that manage 49 tea gardens in Sri Lanka as a single brand. The parent company’s acquisitions of Lipton Tea & Infusions plantations in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, as well as James Finlay Kenya Estates in 2023, will expand Browns’ production capabilities to 87 million kilograms. Terms of the sale, which is expected to close soon, call for Browns to supply Lipton with most of its tea.

Lipton’s Chief Executive Officer, Nathalie Roos, announced the sale, saying, “We are really shifting from volume to quality of tea.”

Supplying quality tea at scale is a challenge Browns Plantations readily accepts.

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| Kenya Estimates 20 Million Kilos of Last Year’s Harvest Remains Unsold | Traditional Medicinals Names New CEO

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| Kenya Estimates 20 Million Kilos of Last Year’s Harvest Remains Unsold | Traditional Medicinals Names New CEO

INDIA TEA NEWS – Wayanad Landslides See High Death Toll | Kangra Tea Sees Low Production And Prices | Tea Board Announces Winter Closure Dates

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NEWSMAKER-Pradeep Uluwaduge, Chairman Browns Plantations, Sri Lanka

PLUS | Browns Plantations: Aspiring to be Both Biggest and Best –

The executive chairman of Browns Plantations, soon to be the world's largest single-company producer of black tea, joins the Tea Biz Podcast to discuss the challenge of large-scale quality improvements at massive gardens on two continents.

Pradeep Uluwaduge [ULU WADU GEI] currently oversees three leading plantation companies that manage 49 tea gardens in Sri Lanka as a single brand. The parent company’s acquisitions of Lipton Tea & Infusions plantations in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, as well as James Finlay Kenya Estates in 2023, will expand Browns’ production capabilities to 87 million kilograms. Terms of the sale, which is expected to close soon, call for Browns to supply Lipton with most of its tea.

Lipton’s Chief Executive Officer, Nathalie Roos, announced the sale, saying, “We are really shifting from volume to quality of tea.”

Supplying quality tea at scale is a challenge Browns Plantations readily accepts.

He said plantations inherited from the colonial age should transition to agro-businesses integrating land use and factory production in a sustainable sector that employs millions to produce clean, sustainable tea to achieve zero emission targets. The government will manage plantation housing and redistribute these properties among workers. He called on the industry to develop a clear strategy to attract younger generations to enjoy tea.

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NEWSMAKER – Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe

PLUS | Sri Lanka’s Agro Business Transformation –

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe described several policy and strategic changes for the tea industry in remarks during the opening session of the Colombo International Tea Convention on July 25.

He said plantations inherited from the colonial age should transition to agro-businesses integrating land use and factory production in a sustainable sector that employs millions to produce clean, sustainable tea to achieve zero emission targets. The government will manage plantation housing and redistribute these properties among workers. He called on the industry to develop a clear strategy to attract younger generations to enjoy tea.

Listen to the president’s remarks later in this podcast.

Construction of a state-of-the-art facility in Brookshire is underway, with a move-in date in September. The new facility will double the company’s temperature-controlled manufacturing space and warehouse up to seven million pounds of tea and botanicals. Expanded capabilities include automated packaging, tea and powder blending, micro-reduction capabilities, and expanded 3PL logistics services.

QTrade CEO Manjiv Jayakumar discusses the business and quality-of-life considerations that led to the move.

Manjiv was named QTrade’s chief executive officer in 2010, originally a trading company his father founded in his uncle’s garage in 1994. QTrade specializes in sourcing organic tea and botanicals and has grown to be one of the largest organic tea suppliers and contract manufacturers in North America. Manjiv is a Harvard graduate with a master's in public policy and a degree in foreign service from Georgetown University. Prior to joining QTrade, Manjiv worked with Goldman Sachs in New York and London.

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INDIA TEA NEWS – ITO EN Plans India Entry | Tea Prices Rise in India | Pesticide Detection Tool Testing Underway

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NEWSMAKER – QTrade Teas & Botanicals CEO Manjiv Jayakumar

PLUS | Relocating to Expand and Enhance Lives –

QTrade Teas & Botanicals, one of the biggest tea blenders and packers in the United States, is relocating from Cerritos, California, to Houston, Texas, a port city on the Gulf of Mexico.

Construction of a state-of-the-art facility in Brookshire is underway, with a move-in date in September. The new facility will double the company’s temperature-controlled manufacturing space and warehouse up to seven million pounds of tea and botanicals. Expanded capabilities include automated packaging, tea and powder blending, micro-reduction capabilities, and expanded 3PL logistics services.

QTrade CEO Manjiv Jayakumar joins us to discuss the business and quality-of-life considerations that led to the move.

“From climate change and healthcare to quality management and artificial intelligence, our mission is to make lives easier, safer, and better – for everyone, everywhere,” writes ISO.

Dr. Keerthi Mohotti, Ph. D., SLSI National Mirror Committee Chair and ISO delegate, is joining us today as a correspondent and guest.

He says, “The one-day ISO Plenary Meeting on Tea is one of the few international meetings organized in Sri Lanka after the COVID-19 pandemic, and substantial business and international attractions and affiliations are expected.

This meeting is particularly significant as Sri Lanka fully adheres to and champions ISO’s tea standards. “The objectives are to showcase Sri Lankan capacity and commitment to adhere to ISO requirements on tea as the sole tea-producing country fully aligned with ISO standards,” said Mohotti.

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Dr. Keerthi M. Mohotti, Ph.D., Chair, National Mirror Committee of Sri Lanka Standards Institution and International Standards Organization (ISO) Delegate

PLUS | ISO Tea Techs Convene in Sri Lanka –

The Sri Lanka Standards Institutitution will host the International Standards Organization’s 34th/Plenary Meeting on Tea on July 23 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The one-day event will convene delegates from 18 nations. ISO is an independent federation of national standards bodies from more than 160 countries. It is a non-governmental organization that convenes experts to agree on the best way of doing things.

“From climate change and healthcare to quality management and artificial intelligence, our mission is to make lives easier, safer, and better – for everyone, everywhere,” writes ISO.

Dr. Keerthi Mohotti, Ph. D., SLSI National Mirror Committee Chair and ISO delegate, is joining us today as a correspondent and guest.

He says, “The one-day ISO Plenary Meeting on Tea is one of the few international meetings organized in Sri Lanka after the COVID-19 pandemic, and substantial business and international attractions and affiliations are expected.

This meeting is particularly significant as Sri Lanka fully adheres to and champions ISO’s tea standards. “The objectives are to showcase Sri Lankan capacity and commitment to adhere to ISO requirements on tea as the sole tea-producing country fully aligned with ISO standards,” said Mohotti.

In the Himalayas of northern India, Kumaon Tea has opened its first farmer-owned and managed factory in a trailblazing partnership with US-based Young Mountain Tea. The region was one of the earliest to be planted by the British in the 1860s. A century ago, these high-mountain estates were abandoned, and the formerly productive tea fields lay fallow until an enterprising young entrepreneur marshaled the resources of US-based Frontier Co-op and USAID’s Cooperative Development Program to benefit hundreds of tea smallholders.

Joining us today is Raj Vable, founder of Young Mountain Tea in Marquette, Mich., who inspired the villagers of Kumaon to create a new era of economic resiliency and autonomy. The solar-powered factory with state-of-the-art equipment will process regeneratively grown certified organic tea in four styles available in retail locations by November. Vable writes, “We hope our model serves as a blueprint that can be replicated and improved upon so we can all collectively raise the bar on transparent sourcing, regenerative agriculture, and smallholder farmer equity.”

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"Think of us as a digital caravan of storytellers, bringing authentic, authoritative, and exclusive stories to you weekly from the tea lands.” – Dan Bolton

INDIA TEA NEWS – Nepal Consul General Meets Indian Growers to Quell Crisis | Assam Experiencing Very Heavy Rainfall

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Raj Vable, Founder of Marquette, Mich.-based Young Mountain Tea

SPOTLIGHT | Revitalizing Kumaon

In the Himalayas of northern India, Kumaon Tea has opened its first farmer-owned and managed factory in a trailblazing partnership with US-based Young Mountain Tea. The region was one of the earliest to be planted by the British in the 1860s. A century ago, these high-mountain estates were abandoned, and the formerly productive tea fields lay fallow until an enterprising young entrepreneur marshaled the resources of US-based Frontier Co-op and USAID’s Cooperative Development Program to benefit hundreds of tea smallholders.

Joining us today is Raj Vable, founder of Young Mountain Tea in Marquette, Mich., who inspired the villagers of Kumaon to create a new era of economic resiliency and autonomy. The solar-powered factory with state-of-the-art equipment will process regeneratively grown certified organic tea in four styles available in retail locations by November. Vable writes, “We hope our model serves as a blueprint that can be replicated and improved upon so we can all collectively raise the bar on transparent sourcing, regenerative agriculture, and smallholder farmer equity.

Gillian has been helping ethical companies grow for more than 30 years. As a former talk show host of a nationally syndicated green radio talk show, Gillian provides fresh, experienced, and dynamic insight and strategies to build companies into Iconic Brands based on value, meaning, and ethics. Gillian’s greatest passion is helping ethical companies succeed in making the world a better place.

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INDIA TEA NEWS – Assam Small Tea Growers Pledge To Grow Clean Tea | North India Tea Production Lower by 60%

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Ethical Food and Beverage Marketer Gillian Christie, CEO of Christie & Co. in Santa Barbara, Calif.

PLUS | Purpose-Driven Marketing | Dozens of teas and tisanes were displayed at the 68th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York. Healthful, functional, and sustainably produced plant-based beverages with clean labels were in the spotlight—along with purpose-driven brands aligned with consumers’ desire for authenticity and social responsibility. Ethical Food and Beverage Marketer Gillian Christie, CEO of Christie & Co. in Santa Barbara, Calif., joins us this week to share her insights after three busy days maneuvering among the crowd of 30,000 walking the Javits Center show floor.

A half dozen critical tea supply chain handoffs require quality control assessments By producers and processors, traders, wholesale buyers, and retailers. Ascertaining and predicting tea quality at each step is time-sensitive, laborious, and expensive. Newly developed cloud-based predictive and prescriptive profilers powered by artificial intelligence are redefining transactions by offering buyers and sellers unbiased reference points. These portable devices expedite quality assessment by producing an affordable digital profile that is as unique as a fingerprint and traceable. Profiles combine tasting notes and test results on-site in minutes.

Tea Biz invited the development team at ProfilePrint in Singapore to describe their technology and its application to tea. Sherman Ho, Chief Science and Technology Officer, Ellis Chua, Chief Commercial Officer, and Hoe Phong Tham, Head of Corporate at Profile Print, joined us for the briefing with tea buyer Ravi Pillai, Director of Quality and Development at DAVIDsTea in Montreal.

ProfilePrint Founder Alan Lai is a pioneer in digital food identity as a service (IDassS), which uses AI-driven portable analyzers to gather complex molecular data from ingredient samples. The result is a digital fingerprint that establishes the identity and predicts the quality of rice, grains, seeds (including coffee and cocoa), tea leaves, spices, and oils.

Alan explains that the objective is not to replace tasters who manually evaluate hundreds of cups daily, combining art and skill beyond the existing technology. The hyperspectral analysis is comparable to an off-site lab, but buyers and sellers benefit most from combining an organoleptic assessment to create a model of what they want. Sellers create a model of what they offer in a digital marketplace where matches are made in milliseconds.

The analyzers also reduce repetitive and mundane tasks like screening out undesirable samples before the meticulous preparation required for cupping. “Our clients view ProfilePrint as an apprentice who is ready to learn and helps complete tasks the same way we would have done them ourselves, freeing us up to focus on the more complex tasks,” he said. “Industry professionals don't enjoy mundane and repetitive jobs, but they still prefer to personally complete them as much as practically possible because it's difficult to rely on others when they are ultimately still held responsible.” Trusting and training an apprentice takes years without the certainty that it will always succeed,” writes Lai.

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INDIA TEA NEWS – BBTC's Singampatti Group Ceases Operations at Oothu, Manjolai, Manimuttar Estates | ABLTMA Launches Mobile Testing Lab | New Tea Disease Discovered in Assam

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GUESTS – Sherman Ho, Chief Science and Technology Officer, Ellis Chua, Chief Commercial Officer, and Hoe Phong Tham, Head of Corporate at Profile Print, with tea buyer Ravi Pillai, Director of Quality and Development at DAVIDsTea in Montreal.

SPOTLIGHT | Assessing Tea Digitally

ProfilePrint Founder Alan Lai is a pioneer in digital food identity as a service (IDassS), which uses AI-driven portable analyzers to gather complex molecular data from ingredient samples. The result is a digital fingerprint that establishes the identity and predicts the quality of rice, grains, seeds (including coffee and cocoa), tea leaves, spices, and oils.

Alan explains that the objective is not to replace tasters who manually evaluate hundreds of cups daily, combining art and skill beyond the existing technology. The hyperspectral analysis is comparable to an off-site lab, but buyers and sellers benefit most from combining an organoleptic assessment to create a model of what they want. Sellers create a model of what they offer in a digital marketplace where matches are made in milliseconds.

The analyzers also reduce repetitive and mundane tasks like screening out undesirable samples before the meticulous preparation required for cupping. “Our clients view ProfilePrint as an apprentice who is ready to learn and helps complete tasks the same way we would have done them ourselves, freeing us up to focus on the more complex tasks,” he said. “Industry professionals don't enjoy mundane and repetitive jobs, but they still prefer to personally complete them as much as practically possible because it's difficult to rely on others when they are ultimately still held responsible.” Trusting and training an apprentice takes years without the certainty that it will always succeed,” writes Lai.

Shrey Agarwal grew up in Darjeeling, where his family owns the Selim Hill Tea Estate. Last year, he graduated from the well-known Birla Institute of Technology and Science at Pilani, majoring in mechanical engineering and chemistry. He founded Alt Carbon to permanently remove 5 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. He focuses on the Indian tea industry alone, using Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), a geoengineering technique that speeds up the natural process of carbon removal from the atmosphere by applying crushed rock to soil. Editor Aravinda Anantharaman discusses his ambitions in this podcast.

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INDIA TEA NEWS – Assam CTC Fetches Record Price | Kochi Auction Sees Good Demand | TRA Tech Hackathon Winners Announced

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GUEST – Chemist and Mechanical Engineer Shrey Agarwal, founder Alt Carbon

SPOTLIGHT | Locking Carbon Away – Shrey Agarwal grew up in Darjeeling, where his family owns the Salim Hill Tea Estate. Last year, he graduated from the well-known Birla Institute of Technology and Science at Pilani, majoring in mechanical engineering and chemistry. He founded Alt Carbon to permanently remove 5 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. He focuses on the Indian tea industry alone, using Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), a geoengineering technique that speeds up the natural process of carbon removal from the atmosphere by applying crushed rock to soil. Editor Aravinda Anantharaman discusses his ambitions in this podcast.

The top three teams are Team Orthodox, representing the Assam Science & Technology University with a novel non-chemical pest control solution; the second prize goes to Team Neuro Linga at the PSG Institute of Technology and Applied Research in Coimbatore for designing an integrated weather and crop health monitoring system. Team Doodle, also from PSG, proposed a network of sensors that monitor plant conditions for growers, signaling areas of concern. A resource website with a chatbot informed by a machine-learning AI model will assess their concerns and suggest remedies.

The winning students Pranjit Barman and Pragyan Sen Deka designed a drone-mounted hyperspectral imaging eye that roams tea gardens, searching for indications of pest infestations. Suspended below the drone is a smoke chamber that delivers natural fumigants that pests avoid.

Fumigating crops with low-hanging smoke is an ancient, effective, and non-chemical method of driving pests away. In this segment, winning team leader Pragyan Sen Deka narrates how a modern “Spectro Smoke” generator heats ferns and grass with electrically controlled nichrome wire, producing a downward-driven column of smoke that rises to the underside of leaves and drives away pests like the tea mosquito, one of several insects that reduces tea yields in India by an estimated 147 million kilos a year.

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INDIA TEA NEWS – Iran Halts Tea Imports From India | NETA Asks for Ban on Six Pesticides | Kangra Tea Seeks Interventions From State Government

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NEWSMAKER – Pragyan Sen Deka, student, Assam Science & Technology University, Jorhat, India

PLUS | Winners of India’s Tech Brew Hackathon Announced –

India’s Tocklai Tea Research Institute in Jorhat announced this week, the winners of a Tech Brew Hackathon competition hosted on International Tea Day. With their innovative solutions, the winning students received 50,000 rupees for tackling their choice of five industry challenges. Teams from 20 universities participated in submitting projects addressing tea waste, marketing and promotion, and climate change. Judging was by a panel of nine tea industry experts.

The top three teams are Team Orthodox, representing the Assam Science & Technology University with a novel non-chemical pest control solution; the second prize goes to Team Neuro Linga at the PSG Institute of Technology and Applied Research in Coimbatore for designing an integrated weather and crop health monitoring system. Team Doodle, also from PSG, proposed a network of sensors that monitor plant conditions for growers, signaling areas of concern. A resource website with a chatbot informed by a machine-learning AI model will assess their concerns and suggest remedies.

The winning students designed a drone-mounted hyperspectral imaging eye that roams tea gardens, searching for indications of pest infestations. Suspended below the drone is a smoke chamber that delivers natural fumigants that pests avoid.

Fumigating crops with low-hanging smoke is an ancient, effective, and non-chemical method of driving pests away. In this segment, winning team leader Pragyan Sen Deka narrates how a modern “Spectro Smoke” generator heats ferns and grass with electrically controlled nichrome wire, producing a downward-driven column of smoke that rises to the underside of leaves and drives away pests like the tea mosquito, one of several insects that reduces tea yields in India by an estimated 147 million kilos a year.

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GUEST – Food Scientist and Author Dr. Bryan Quoc Le

SPOTLIGHT | Sensors and Food Safety –

Packaged herbal infusions are generally safe to drink, but there are rare instances that highlight the importance of food safety procedures. One such incident occurred recently when Yogi Tea voluntarily recalled about 877,000 tea bags in 54,000 boxes that contained echinacea in a certified organic herbal blend that did not contain camellia sinensis.

Food safety scientist Dr. Bryan Quoc Le is an avid tea drinker, food safety consultant, and the author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered, published by Simon & Schuster. He earned a doctorate in food science from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he studied the biological effect of savory flavors from plant-based sources on mammalian cells.

Bryan joins us today in a conversation that touches on sensory input, tea processing, and the challenge of keeping the tea supply chain clean and safe.

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Packaged herbal infusions are generally safe to drink, but there are rare instances that highlight the importance of food safety procedures. One such incident occurred recently when Yogi Tea voluntarily recalled about 877,000 tea bags in 54,000 boxes containing echinacea in a certified organic herbal blend that did not include camellia sinensis.

Food safety scientist Dr. Bryan Quoc Le is an avid tea drinker, food safety consultant, and the author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered, published by Simon & Schuster. He earned a doctorate in food science from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he studied the biological effect of savory flavors from plant-based sources on mammalian cells.

Bryan joins us today in a conversation that touches on sensory input, tea processing, and the challenge of keeping the tea supply chain clean and safe.

Kyle Bosshardt, director of business development, joins us today to explain why Snapchill™, a Massachusetts-based technology and bottling company, is venturing into tea. Snapchill’s patented innovative heat-exchange method produces canned teas that capture hot-brewed tea's delicate aroma and full flavor. Teas are rapidly cooled to 38 degrees Fahrenheit (about 4 degrees Celsius) without dilution and then nitrogen-flushed to purge oxygen. As Bosshardt explains, the key is to chill the tea rapidly during the brewing process (it takes about a minute), ensuring it retains its flavor and on-shelf stability.

Bosshardt joined Snapchill in 2020. He previously worked as a coffee director in Boston's hospitality segment after graduating with a degree in Anthropology and Philosophy from the University of Arizona and a master's in healthcare communication from Boston University.

He knew Snapchill co-founders Dave Dussault and Michael Corrado from their work producing a cold brew alternative, Snapchill cold coffee, an innovative process to brew coffee hot to be enjoyed chilled. The company, founded in 2017, initially sought to sell its technology but established a Green Bay, Wis., canning facility to serve roasters nationwide for e-commerce and direct distribution to regional retail stores.

Snapchill has since adapted the brewing process to produce canned tea.

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INDIA TEA NEWS – First Flush is Over | Workers Protest Decision to Close Bought Leaf Factories in Assam | North Bengal Producers Want Tea Named India's National Drink

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GUEST – Kyle Bosshardt, Snapchill Director of Business Development

Snapchill™ Hot Brewed Tea –

Tea’s enticing aroma dissipates so quickly after it is brewed that it prevents ready-to-drink (RTD) manufacturers from capturing one of the beverage’s most desirable characteristics. Oxidation then takes its toll, reducing shelf life and altering the tea’s flavor within the can.

Kyle Bosshardt, director of business development, joins us today to explain why Snapchill, a Massachusetts-based technology and bottling company, is venturing into tea. Snapchill’s patented innovative heat-exchange method produces canned teas that capture hot-brewed tea's delicate aroma and full flavor. Teas are rapidly cooled to 38 degrees Fahrenheit (about 4 degrees census) without dilution and then nitrogen-flushed to purge oxygen. As Bosshardt explains, the key is to chill the tea rapidly during the brewing process (it takes about a minute), ensuring it retains its flavor and on-shelf stability.

Matt McLean, founder and CEO of beverage brand Uncle Matt’s Organic, joins Tea Biz to discuss why his brand is betting on refrigerated Southern-style black teas. His sweet tea features a blend of organic agave and stevia. He says most traditional sweet teas contain 30 to 40 grams of sugar, using a mix of cane sugar and artificial sweeteners. His third tea is a sweetened half-and-half made with organic lemonade. McLean’s proprietary blend of black teas is freshly brewed and being packaged at his Texas bottling facility for a July 1 national rollout.

Uncle Matt’s is a pioneer in the organic beverage category, noted for its Florida orange juice, lemonades, tropical blends, and organic energy shots. It is the largest US-certified organic orange juice company, with over 15 million bottles sold annually at 15,000 outlets. The brand launched in 1999 and became a Certified B-Corp in 2022. Matt McLean is a third-generation Florida citrus grower with orchards from the late 1800s. In the 1980s, a devastating freeze destroyed 600 acres of orange groves, and more recently, the industry experienced setbacks from pests and disease. Oranges are now outsourced mainly from Brazil and Mexico. In 2017, Dean Foods (a Dairy conglomerate) bought the company, enabling McLean’s parents to retire. Two years later, Dean Foods was bankrupt, and in 2020, McLean, his father, his wife, and his brother repurchased the company.

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NEWSMAKER – Matt McLean, founder and CEO of beverage brand Uncle Matt’s Organic

The Ins and Outs of Organic Refrigerated Tea –

According to Mintel International, refrigerated ready-to-drink teas are leading the growth in the ready-to-drink tea category. US sales are approaching $1.5 billion of the $4.2 billion worth of bottled tea sold in multi-outlets. Interestingly, it’s not just the younger generation driving this growth. Older tea drinkers and millennials are also contributing, while Gen Zs prefer hot herbal infusions and sweeter profiles, including flavored green teas in ready-to-drink format.

Matt McLean, founder and CEO of beverage brand Uncle Matt’s Organic, joins Tea Biz to discuss why his brand is betting on refrigerated Southern-style black teas. His sweet tea features a blend of organic agave and stevia. He says most traditional sweet teas contain 30 to 40 grams of sugar, using a mix of cane sugar and artificial sweeteners. His third tea is a sweetened half-and-half made with organic lemonade. McLean’s proprietary blend of black teas is freshly brewed and being packaged at his Texas bottling facility for a July 1 national rollout.

Twenty-five years ago, specialty tea was grown on fewer than five acres on the Big Island of Hawaii, a remnant of the thousands of acres cultivated on large estates that flourished at the turn of the century. Today, Hawaii produces more specialty tea than any state in the U.S. thanks to an enterprising US Department of Agriculture researcher and horticulturist, Dr. Francis Zee. Zee, who was 70, passed away on March 29 in Honolulu, Hawai’i.

Zee, a black belt in Kendo martial arts, was born in Hong Kong. He received his doctorate in horticulture at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he began working with tea cultivars for commercial production. The failure of those attempting large-scale production led him to champion specialty tea grown in harmony with the unique terroir of Hawai’i and high-altitude farms like that founded by Eva Lee and her husband, Chiu Leong. Lee collaborated with Zee at their Volcano Village farm to develop locally acclimated rootstock at her nursery, producing 25,000 saplings primarily planted on Hawai’i farms but also in demand abroad.

In 2001, Zee explained to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin how cultivating specialty tea could transform the local tea industry. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “I believe many times these things start in the backyard. It has to become a hobby first," he said, highlighting the potential for growth and expansion of the local tea industry. Eva Lee reminisces about working with Zee and describes how his vision continues to shape the future of Hawai’i tea.

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INDIA TEA NEWS – Bought Leaf Factories Blames India Tea Board For Non-Support of Food Safety Compliance Requirements | Weather Impacts Tea Crop in Assam's Barak Valley

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| GUEST – Eva Lee, CEO of Tea Hawaii & Co. and founding member of the Hawaii Tea Society

| IN MEMORIAM – Dr. Francis T.P. Zee, retired Research Leader and Horticulturist with the US Department of Agriculture, is credited with reviving the Hawaii tea industry by inspiring small growers to produce specialty tea.

Twenty-five years ago, specialty tea was grown on fewer than five acres on the Big Island of Hawaii, a remnant of the thousands of acres cultivated on large estates that flourished at the turn of the century. Today, Hawaii produces more specialty tea than any state in the U.S. thanks to an enterprising US Department of Agriculture researcher and horticulturist, Dr. Francis Zee. Zee, who was 70, passed away on March 29 in Honolulu, Hawai’i.

Zee, a black belt in Kendo martial arts, was born in Hong Kong. He received his doctorate in horticulture at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he began working with tea cultivars for commercial production. The failure of those attempting large-scale production led him to champion specialty tea grown in harmony with the unique terroir of Hawai’i and high-altitude farms like that founded by Eva Lee and her husband, Chiu Leong. Lee collaborated with Zee at their Volcano Village farm to develop locally acclimated rootstock at her nursery, producing 25,000 saplings primarily planted on Hawai’i farms but also in demand abroad.

In 2001, Zee explained to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin how cultivating specialty tea could transform the local tea industry. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “I believe many times these things start in the backyard. It has to become a hobby first," he said, highlighting the potential for growth and expansion of the local tea industry. Eva Lee reminisces about working with Zee and describes how his vision continues to shape the future of Hawai’i tea.

In celebration of International Tea Day, the Purple & Specialty Tea Association of Kenya (PSTAK) will host its inaugural conference in the Nandi Hills on May 22-23. The event, endorsed by the Kenya Tea Board, spotlights Africa’s untapped potential in Orthodox tea production.

Representatives from 50 specialty producers in eight nations will attend educational sessions by tea experts, a competition for the best locally produced tea, and festivities. Sessions will be streamed online, enabling the entire global tea community to participate.

Conference Chairman Boaz Katah shares his enthusiasm for this long-awaited gathering.

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INDIA NEWS – More Support For Small Tea Growers | Low Crop Volumes In Auctions This Year | IMD Predicts Light To Moderate Rain In The Coming Week

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| NEWSMAKER – Tumoi Tea Founder Boaz Katah, Chair of Africa’s first Purple & Specialty Tea Association Tea Conference

| FEATURED – Africa’s Untapped Potential in Orthodox Tea | Tea has reshaped East Africa for 120 years, evolving from colonial dominion to a vibrant entrepreneurial endeavor producing a third of the world’s tea. Kenya’s 650,000 smallholders are the beating heart of Africa’s tea industry, which provides a livelihood for five million people in ten tea-growing countries.

In celebration of International Tea Day, the Purple & Specialty Tea Association of Kenya (PSTAK) will host its inaugural conference in the Nandi Hills on May 22-23. The event, endorsed by the Kenya Tea Board, spotlights Africa’s untapped potential in Orthodox tea production.

Representatives from 50 specialty producers in eight nations will attend educational sessions by tea experts, a competition for the best locally produced tea, and festivities. Sessions will be streamed online, enabling the entire global tea community to participate.

Conference Chairman Boaz Katah shares his enthusiasm for this long-awaited gathering.

Buyers bid weekly on teas from China, India, Sri Lanka, and East Africa. The auction and banking sector enabled brokers and foreign agents to secure a shipload or a single chest of exotic tea. Certified warehouses provided efficient storage, and logistics firms organized delivery to local retailers, blenders, and packers.

Three hundred years later, at their peak, the world’s tea auctions captured 80% of the international tea trade by volume, which has steadily declined in the past decade.

Joining us this week is Sam Lambert, co-founder and chief operations officer of zenGate Global, a technology company whose Palmyra.app Platform upgrades tea transactions with seamless blockchain traceability for all stakeholders, increasing trust, improving cross-border payment solutions, and conveniently providing access to financing.

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INDIA NEWS – India Orders Testing of Every Batch of Imported Nepal Tea | Tata Reports Greater Shift to Premiumization | India Halts Exports to West Asia

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| GUEST – Sam Lambert, co-founder and COO zenGate Global and the Palmyra Platform

| FEATURED – Expanding Markets in an Ever-Shrinking World

The London Tea Auction in 1679 was a “version 1.0 one point 0” marvel at connecting buyers and sellers. Price discovery in the world’s biggest tea market was competitive and transparent.

Buyers bid weekly on teas from China, India, Sri Lanka, and East Africa. The auction and banking sector enabled brokers and foreign agents to secure a shipload or a single chest of exotic tea. Certified warehouses provided efficient storage, and logistics firms organized delivery to local retailers, blenders, and packers.

At their peak, the world’s tea auctions captured 80% of the international tea trade by volume.

Joining us today is Sam Lambert, co-founder and chief operations officer of zenGate Global, a technology company whose Palmyra Platform upgrades tea transactions with seamless blockchain traceability for all stakeholders to increase trust, improve cross-border payment solutions, and conveniently provide access to financing.

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INDIA NEWS – Amalgamated PlantationsAPPL Head Resigns | First Flush in North India Sees Low Crop But High Quality

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| SCA PRESENTER – Youngmok Kim, the principal scientist at Finlays

| FEATURED – The Specialty Coffee Association’s annual exposition in Chicago last week attracted more than a dozen tea exhibitors and featured several expert presentations on tea. While most consumers visit grocery and department stores to purchase tea, coffee shops, and cafes are the second most popular retail outlets by value. More than 38,411 branded coffee shops in the United States and 42,800 in Europe generate 10% to 20% of their beverage revenue from specialty tea. In this episode, Tea Biz narrates the highlights of a talk by Youngmok Kim, the principal scientist at Finlays. In his presentation, Kim compares coffee and tea, the world’s most popular caffeinated beverages, with useful insights on distribution, markets, and relative health benefits.

Texas native Noli Ergas discovered green tea in his teens, researching and refining his palate from Arizona RTD convenience store cans to exquisite artisan “works of art.” After he moved to Japan, his professional journey in tea unfolded with the successful completion of the intense training required of a Certified Japanese Tea Advisor

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| GUEST – Noli Ergas, Senior Account Manager in the Seattle offices of Sugimoto Tea

| FEATURED – Beyond Matcha | Matcha, a shining success story that revived the Japanese tea industry, also paved the way for enthusiasts interested in other Japanese teas, such as hojicha, a light brown colored green tea roasted in porcelain pots over charcoal. Noli Ergas, Senior Account Manager in the Seattle offices of Sugimoto Tea, joins us this week to explain how matcha’s success instills hope for the future of the Japanese tea industry, especially among younger consumers who prefer sweeter, less bitter teas to the traditional “grassiness” of Japanese greens.

Texas native Noli Ergas discovered green tea in his teens, researching and refining his palate from Arizona RTD convenience store cans to exquisite artisan “works of art.” After he moved to Japan, his professional journey in tea unfolded with the successful completion of the intense training required of a Certified Japanese Tea Advisor

Tea Squared is one of those specialty grocery brands.

Tea importer, blender, and wholesaler Frank Weber founded Tea Squared in 2013. His initial intent was to supply tea shops, hotels, and restaurants. However, his business has thrived in these sectors and expanded to 1,200 grocery and mass market outlets. Frank joins us on the podcast to share his insights on the perils and profits of selling tea in grocery stores.

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| INDIA TEA NEWS – Assam BLF Association Factories Stop Production | The Golden Leaf Competition Underway | Elections Present Darjeeling Planters an Opportunity to Seek Intervention

| GUEST – Frank Weber, founder of Tea Squared, Toronto, Canada

| FEATURED – Selling Tea in Grocery | When asked where they buy their tea, 89% of Canadian consumers prefer supermarkets. This number is even higher in the US, with 91% of shoppers buying tea in grocery stores. Grocery is a promising but challenging channel for specialty tea wholesalers. These surveys revealed that 36% of shoppers select their tea by brand, underlining the importance of brand recognition in this competitive market.

Tea Squared is one of those specialty grocery brands.

Tea importer, blender, and wholesaler Frank Weber founded Tea Squared in 2013. His initial intent was to supply tea shops, hotels, and restaurants. However, his business has thrived in these sectors and expanded to 1,200 grocery and mass market outlets. Frank joins us on the podcast to share his insights on the perils and profits of selling tea in grocery stores.