Table of Contents
- Introduction to Nepali Orthodox black tea.
- Suryodaya Municipality: Nepal’s Tea Paradise
- Exploring Tea gardens of Suryodaya Municipality
- The future of Nepal’s and Suryodaya’s tea exports
- Maintaining the momentum
Introduction to Nepali Orthodox black tea.
Black orthodox tea, a global favourite amongst tea lovers, by introduction is a product of 100% oxidization of two variants of tea plant (Camellia sinensis sinensis and camellia sinensis assamica) which is carefully handpicked and later carefully crafted using traditional methods which involves withering, rolling, oxidizing, and drying tea leaves to perfection, resulting in a rich, full-bodied brew with a complex flavor profile.
Nepal, a country with rich biodiversity, offers ideal conditions for cultivating exceptional tea. The eastern regions of Nepal in particular the districts of Ilam, Panchthar, Jhapa, Terhathum, Dhankuta, and Nuwakot, are renowned for producing high-quality premium orthodox black tea among which Ilam stands firmly as the largest premium quality tea-producing district of Nepal.
The unique geograhical situation combined with traditional tea-making techniques gives Nepalese black tea a distinct character from the rest of it’s counterparts. Nepali Orthodox black tea offers rich aroma, bold flavor, and potential health benefits (Boosted immunity, improved heart health, weight management/weight loss and powerhouse for antioxidants) which has an immense potential to attract new and retain existing tea customers in the international tea market making orthodox black tea as a prized commodity for Nepal on the international market.
Suryodaya Municipality: Nepal’s Tea Paradise
Suryodaya (name accurately translates to Rising Sun) Municipality, situated in the heart of Ilam district, Nepal, is a picturesque hill region known for its breathtaking natural scenery and pleasant weather.The Municipality was formed in 2013 through the merger of Kanyam, Phikkal, Panchhakanya, Gorkhey, Pashupatinagar, Shree Antu, Samalbung, Laxmipur and ward 8 and 9 of Jogmai Village Development Councils (VDCs).
Home to nearly Fifty-seven thousand civilians and spanning in the area of 252.52 sq.km. in the Mahabharata range, Suryodaya municipality boasts a favourable climate on the quality tea cultivation, making it a prominent, high quality, pesticide free Orthodox tea-producing region in Nepal.
The municipality has fully embraced its slogan, “Prosperity of Suryodaya Municipality, Organic Agriculture, Eco-Tourism, and Economic Equality.” To realize its vision, the municipality has actively promoted organic farming practices among local farmers. Additionally, the municipality has provided hand-held tea picking machines to improve harvesting efficiency. Furthermore, the establishment of scheduled to open state-of-the-art Tea Testing and Research Center aims to ensure and improve the quality , boost market promotion, and branding of the region’s tea.
With its scenic beauty, favorable climate, and focus on organic tea production, the municipality is poised to become a true tea paradise, contributing significantly to Nepal’s expanding tea industry while preserving its natural environment.
Exploring Tea gardens of Suryodaya Municipality
Suryodaya with Tea as one of the major cash crops, boasts numerous tea estates across the regions of municipality. These states offer tourists and visitors a pleasing, serene greenery of Tea gardens where they can witness the processes of crafting high quality tea firsthand. Below are some of the serene landscapes of the tea gardens of Kanyam.
The Future of Nepal’s Tea Exports
The future of Nepal’s tea exports seems promising, particularly with the emergence of potentially lucrative and large market of China helping the reduced dependency on the Indian tea market due to which Nepali tea producers have faced several challenges such as price manipulation and import restrictions in the past.
Maintaining the Momentum
While the current situation of the Nepali Orthodox black tea, particularly Suryodaya’s appears promising, several steps must be taken to maintain and ensure the continued growth of Nepal’s tea exports, some of these steps include:
- Focusing on Quality: Maintaining and improving the quality of Nepali tea is crucial for attracting new and retaining existing buyers in the international market. This includes adhering to international standards and obtaining quality certifications. The Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board is already working on issuing a quality trademark for CTC tea to maintain export quality standards.
- Active Promotion of Nepali Tea: Active marketing and promotion campaigns are needed to increase awareness of Nepali tea in potential markets like China and other countries. Highlighting the unique characteristics and quality of Nepali tea, like its 185-year history of orthodox tea production, can attract buyers.
- Diversifying Export Destinations: While exploring the Chinese market, Nepal should continue to diversify its export destinations to reduce reliance on any single market. The sources note that Nepal is already exporting tea to countries like the Czech Republic, Japan, Russia, the US, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Canada, France, Taiwan, and the UAE.
- Strengthen Government Support: The Nepalese government should provide continued support to the tea industry through initiatives like:
- Facilitating trade procedures and access to export markets.
- Investing in research and development to improve tea cultivation and processing techniques.
- Providing financial assistance and subsidies to tea producers.