Tea is India’s most popular beverage.
Though the tradition was introduced by the British, tea has evolved into an integral part of Indian culture. In India, a cup of tea has become a conversation starter.
It is a frequent accompaniment of any entertainment, a source of income, relaxation, an ice-breaker, a part of the gossip culture, and a family tradition. It is inextricably linked to the country’s socio-cultural and socio-economic well-being.
In Indian culture, offering tea is a sign of hospitality. Cups of hot tea with a plateful of snacks like samosa, kachori, aloo pakoda, and so on are an integral part of social interaction. Regardless of the season, tea is ever-popular. Tea’s versatility knows no bounds, whether it is lemon tea in the summer or masala chai in the winter.
Some of the best tea grown on Indian land comes from the northeast, especially Assam. It is the world’s largest tea-growing region. Sprawling green tea gardens in the state aren’t just a huge source of the plant, but also charming tourist destinations.
Out of this hilly paradise comes Esah Tea’s concoctions. A boutique tea manufacturer, they believes a good cup of tea transports you to another world! Let’s find out more about them and their products.
From Seed to Leaves
Esah Tea was founded in 2019 by 26-year-old Bijit Sarma. It is dedicated to providing the best and most delectable tea experience possible. The company is based in Mangaldoi, Assam, and collaborates closely with local tea growers to ensure the highest quality.
It works with local tea producers, who have been in this profession for generations and brings fresh, aromatic tea from its estates to your cups.
Our loyalty to provide the best organic and flavourful tea in the most ethical way is a collective dream and the motto of our brand. Our tea will give you the perfect experience and will leave you asking for more!
Esah Tea aims to serve the highest quality brews. According to the founders, this grew due to their admiration for the art and skill of tea production and culture.
Esah Tea is concerned about the environment and supports extraction and production methods that are both sustainable and ethical. Its decision to use plastic-free teabags stems from its commitment to sustainability.
The farmers are the core foundation of the brand. They have years of experience in the field of tea farming. The company makes sure their farmers are fairly compensated for their skills and knowledge when it comes to tea.
What Goes In The Cup?
Esah Tea offers a selection of single-origin organic tea blends that have been meticulously chosen to refresh and revive the mind, body, and spirit. Batches are kept small to ensure the highest quality. Tea has amazing therapeutic properties.
These are fully captured in the tea leaves gathered from the 150+ small, local firms that the company works with.
Organic teas are well-known for their ability to cure and rejuvenate. Esah Tea R&D has created the ideal combination of aesthetics, flavor, scent, and sophisticated mixes that will give you a boost of dopamine at any time of day.
The company sells a variety of tea variants, including whole-leaf black tea, green tea, oolong tea, and white tea. Flavors such as Organic Assam Masala Chai, Rose Black Tea, and Lychee Black Tea are also available.
Its iconic English Breakfast Tea, herbal blends like Chamomile, and Moringa Tea are among the popular mixes offered on its carefully curated website.
The website also offers beautiful bamboo teaware, gift sets, and more.
Future Plans And Funding
Along with quality business models, Esah Tea now boasts seed funding. The company raised 3 crores in its pre-series A round from NEDFI Venture Capital Ltd. in December 2021 (NVCL). Esah Tea’s financing demonstrates the market’s potential for authentic artisanal teas and handcrafted teaware-like mugs.
Esah Tea is Assam’s first tea start-up to get venture capital investment. The brand previously received angel funding from SRD Group as well as a grant from Assam Startup and NEAT-E-Hub.
The North East Venture Fund (NEVF) is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Development of the North-East Region, the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation, and the Small Industries Development Bank of India.
It is a North East India-oriented venture fund. The fund is dedicated to supporting creative and scalable business concepts as well as creating a healthy startup environment for regional entrepreneurs.
The cash will be used to grow the marketing and operational teams within the startup. It will also use the increased funding to create new items and open brand stores in new markets.
By 2023, Esah Tea hopes to have converted over 20,000 acres of land to organic tea farming and have onboarded 1,000+ local small tea producers.
Brewing Success
Production and consumption of tea in India are higher than ever before. Previously, the industry was mostly dominated by behemoths and multinational companies.
With the advent of boutique local startups like Esah Tea, India’s indigenous farmers get to shine. On the other hand, consumers show a growing trend of demand for artisanal, and homegrown products.
Be it in foods and beverages, or clothes and accessories, “going local” is the trend. Organic products are good for your health, are culturally important, environmentally sustainable, and provide a way to feed crores of hardworking farmers and artisans.
Therefore, from the heart of Assam’s bustling traditional tea scene, let Esah Tea bring you the goodness of a hot brew. Refreshing and delicious, it will leave you wanting more.
