.....not just a good cup of tea!
unique organically-grown teas that support growers and their families
and celebrate the culture of Assam
unique organically-grown teas that support growers and their families
and celebrate the culture of Assam
Introducing this month's featured tea grower - Bijit Basumatary!
 
Earlier this year, Bijit constructed a small-scale tea processing facility where his green leaves are withered, rolled and dried.
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Bodo Tribal Tea
Bijit and his family live on the north bank of Assam's Brahmaputra River, not far from the Bhutan border. He's one of many growers from the Bodo Territorial Autonomous Region - and one of the first to take up organic cultivation! This year, his 3 acre garden yielded 60 kg. of black tea and 45 kg. of green. 
The first sample of this year's tea arrived in August - and it's a wonderful black tea with a light, earthy flavour! We can't wait for our first shipment!
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Click here to view images from a recent visit with Bijit and some of the other
small-scale growers we're working with in different regions of Assam!
Read a message from Bijit describing some of the challenges he and other growers
from the Bodo region are facing - and how our partners at Fertile Ground can help!.
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the small tea co-op is a family-based business.
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For almost a century, the tea industry in Assam has been controlled by large, non-Assamese business interests. Relying on a work force originally brought in from other parts of India, it has historically offered few direct benefits to the people of Assam.
In the early 1990’s, a number of Assamese families began planting and cultivating tea in an effort to improve their livelihoods. Today, most of the tea leaves they harvest are sold to bought-leaf factories - often at prices that barely cover production costs.
In the early 1990’s, a number of Assamese families began planting and cultivating tea in an effort to improve their livelihoods. Today, most of the tea leaves they harvest are sold to bought-leaf factories - often at prices that barely cover production costs.
Without access to processing equipment, technical and educational support or a market for their teas, many of the families who’ve shifted to growing tea as a cash crop are struggling simply to survive.
The small tea co-operative is dedicated to assisting some of Assam’s tea growers to develop the capacity to process and market their tea.
Along with a limited quantity of these very special teas, we're also able to offer other naturally-grown teas not available elsewhere in Canada. You can read more about this on our site!
The small tea co-operative is dedicated to assisting some of Assam’s tea growers to develop the capacity to process and market their tea.
Along with a limited quantity of these very special teas, we're also able to offer other naturally-grown teas not available elsewhere in Canada. You can read more about this on our site!
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Great News!
Teas from the small tea co-operative will be available mid-October at Edible Island Whole Foods here in Courtenay. Thanks to Edible and our friends at World Community for the help their support has given to the young tea growers of Assam! |
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