Only a few miles from Ilam, the tea capital of Nepal lies the quiet wetland generally known as Mai Pokhari. The local weather is seldom sunny and clear, nevertheless there’s a certain readability throughout the omnipresent fog of the place. Pilgrims from in all places within the nation flock to Mai Pokhari (goddess pond). Legend says Hindu deities Lord Shiva and Parvati meet proper right here yearly.
The sunshine of this divine rendezvous, always hidden beneath the fog, sharpens the whole thing colored inexperienced. The inexperienced proper right here is so intense that little doubt stays of how alive and spirited the place is. Mai Tea Property is just some miles from this magnificent wetland, respiration life into the neighborhood with its premium orthodox teas.
Mai Tea Property, a sister agency of Guranse Tea Property, was established in 2001 by the late Dr. Vijay Gajananda Vaidya. Mai Tea breathes life into the neighborhood with its premium orthodox teas. Specializing in orthodox loose-leaf and specialty teas, the manufacturing facility at all times experiments to create new flavors in order so as to add to its portfolio.
The tea manufacturing facility in Mai, Ilam, is offered by 180 native farms situated at varied altitudes. The farmers, residing between 4,921 and 6,889 ft above sea stage, promote their tea leaves to Mai Tea. The manufacturing facility has been a boon to the farmers, providing a gradual earnings from producing high-quality teas. The company shares the an identical mission and values as its sister agency, i.e., to create a sustainable, pure setting throughout the hills of Nepal, to create employment for the world folks with a cope with empowering girls, to create publicity for all Nepali tea on a worldwide scale and to proceed creating among the many greatest, pure teas.
In July 2023, after 15 years of adhering to pure cultivation and a three-year transition, Mai Tea was granted pure certification by Ceres.
Sooner than Mai Tea was established, the farmers throughout the space acknowledged the potential of tea leaves nevertheless wished a close-by producer ready to collect their harvest and create high-quality brews. Consequently, the farmers wanted to move their leaves day-to-day by means of freeway by way of the season, shedding treasured hours, vitality, and money. Mai Tea was a solution to this collective topic, says Thribikram Subba, the current tea maker of the manufacturing facility. The inception of Mai Tea symbolized a reliable confederate for the native farmers, rather a lot so that in its preliminary days by way of the height of the season, its assortment center averaged spherical 12,000 kg day-to-day.
Skilled Tea Maker
Thribikram Subba, affectionately known as Sanu Bhai (little brother) in all places within the metropolis, has been working and learning about tea for the earlier 22 years. He joined Mai Tea in 2000 as a vehicular contractor, renting out his personal vehicle to maneuver inexperienced leaves spherical. Sanu bhai is the right occasion of tea’s hypnotic grip. No matter having plans to solely work from the sidelines, Subba found himself working extra prolonged hours even after his duties as a result of the availability degree specific particular person was over. Initially, he helped change the inexperienced leaves into the manufacturing facility from his automotive. Nonetheless it slowly grew to become longingly making an attempt on the withering leaves, which grew to become conversations regarding the tea making to additional extended discussions on flavors and the art work of brewing the right cup.
With undivided consideration, Subba slowly gained alternate options to work with specialists from India who obtained right here to the manufacturing facility as consultants. He honed his tea-making experience for nearly twenty years, and now, over the previous two years, he has started making his private tea with out supervision. “I actually really feel like I’ve lastly mastered the language of tea,” says Sanu Bhai.
The highest tea makers of Mai tea acknowledge the steering of Pratibha Raj Dewan, who taught him the technical components of tea making. He now could be conscious of that emphasis on tea making isn’t merely huge steps. “Anyone may make tea,” he says with considerably giggle. “Nonetheless making good tea requires being attentive to the importance of small however important steps akin to defending the acceptable flavors from getting evaporated, making sure the consistency in tea leaves.”
When requested about among the finest tea he’s ever made, Subba shares, “There’s no such issue as a really perfect tea, nevertheless the Aamla Fung (“Wild Orchid” in Limbu language) tea from the first flush of 2022 obtained right here close to it.” Aamla Fung’s tea leaves have been an unintended discovery. Subba found the fascinating leaves – shaped like blooming wild golden orchids within the midst of the darkish forest, throughout the gardens of an space farmer named Dil Bahadur Karki. When he seen these three full leaves aiming for the gloomy sky, he knew he had stumbled upon one factor specific. Sanu bhai collected these specific kinds of leaves and began working. From that one yard, he made 4-5 kilos of Aamla Fung with a whole evening time’s dedication to easily that small batch of tea. This oolong tea, produced by the use of a blended course of, exuded a mode paying homage to honey and had a lightweight golden hue. Sanu Bhai considers it his closest attempt at creating a really perfect tea.
Making tea has flip into an dependancy for Sanu Bhai, he confesses. As a result of it has flip into intertwined alongside together with his life, he considers his complete life to be a part of the tea-making course of and by no means the alternative method spherical. “Tea makers sometimes uncover themselves entranced by the strategy, unable to depart the tea leaves behind, and I am actually one in all them,”
Nonetheless, the reality is that tea makers cannot set the worth for his or her merchandise. More often than not, the value of any particular tea is ready by the customers, who sometimes pay decrease than the worth to produce the tea. Furthermore, an absence of warehouses with managed environments means the tea can solely be saved for a short time and needs to be provided as quickly as made, forcing tea makers like Sanu Bhai to advertise at any worth obtainable.
Export Prime quality Teas
Mai Tea exports its teas worldwide, along with to neighboring India. Whereas Mai tea thrives with its huge sister tea agency Guranse’s assist, the problem stays. Nepali tea makers aspire to promote tea consumption inside Nepal, nevertheless smaller tea factories’ survival is determined by exports. The ban imposed by India in 2022 triggered the market to virtually come to a standstill, severely impacting Nepali tea makers. As a result of the ban was lifted, Nepal growers have been selling tea beneath value, incurring losses to repay the farmers to among the finest of their abilities.
View of Mai Tea EstateDespite the love and fervour invested in tea making in Nepal, the way in which ahead for tea makers like San Bhai stays uncertain. Challenges akin to pricing constraints and market fluctuations pose threats to their livelihoods. Resilience and dedication proceed to shine by the use of as they attempt to beat obstacles and ensure the survival of their craft.
Tea lovers and prospects ought to acknowledge the efforts and hardships tea makers face. Supporting native tea industries and advocating for truthful product prices may make an enormous distinction. By embracing Nepali teas and spreading the phrase about their distinctive prime quality, the worldwide tea neighborhood can help keep the livelihoods of these passionate tea makers and ensure the preservation of Nepal’s rich tea heritage and its prosperous future.
