Free home delivery from €75 (BE)
Delivered within 2-3 working days
Respect for nature
|
Direct trade
|
Unmatched quality
|
Community support
Kanchanjangha Tea Estate
"Nepali teas, though as valuable as tea from Darjeeling, have not yet found their identity. I am here to establish that identity and take it to the next level."
In the eastern mountains of Nepal, in the remote district of Panchthar, lies Phidim, a small village with an extraordinary story. At the foot of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest peak, stretches the Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Centre. The towering mountain shapes both landscape and climate, creating a rare environment for cultivating fine tea. The estate borders Darjeeling in India and Ilam, Nepal’s most famous tea district, drawing from the traditions of its neighbours yet developing a voice of its own.
At altitudes between 1,300 and 1,800 metres, with clear mountain air and fertile soils, this land offers all the ingredients for exceptional tea. But the essence of KTERC is not only terroir and taste. It is equally about people, community, and vision.
A dream begins in Phidim
The story starts with Deepak Prakash Baskota, born and raised in Phidim. As a teenager of fifteen, he travelled to Darjeeling. There he saw how tea gardens created jobs, built infrastructure, and brought prosperity to entire communities. For a boy from a village marked by poverty and limited opportunity, the impact was unforgettable.
Back home he made a promise to himself: one day he would build something similar for his own people. He believed rural communities could only thrive if jobs were created within the villages themselves. Migration to the cities or abroad could never be a lasting solution. Agriculture, and especially tea, held the key.
Years later he returned to Darjeeling to learn, collecting seeds and clones, speaking with experts, and absorbing the basics of what was then known as organic farming. In 1984 he founded Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Centre, the very first certified organic tea garden in Nepal.
More than a tea garden
From its very beginning, KTERC was never meant to be just another business. It was designed as a social project to lift an entire community. The estate grew into a cooperative model where farmers are not only workers but co-owners.
Today more than 150 farmers are directly involved, and another 400 contribute indirectly. Women are at the heart of the work. Over seventy percent of the workforce is female, their presence evident at every stage, from the careful plucking of leaves to managing production and quality control.
Families receive free housing and basic services. The estate subsidises food, provides access to healthcare and education, and actively challenges discrimination. In a sector where tea gardens often symbolise inequality between landowners and labourers, KTERC set out to break that pattern from the start.
Sustainability and innovation
Organic farming stands at the core of KTERC, not as a marketing tool but as a conviction that healthy soil is the foundation of both strong communities and quality tea. Annual inspections by NASAA, the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia, ensure its organic certification.
The research team constantly explores ways to nurture the soil: composting, natural fertilisers, intercropping, and biodiversity projects. The cultivation of herbs and spices enriches the ecosystem further.
A remarkable initiative is the building of eco-houses. These structures provide shelter for families while doubling as storage for freshly plucked leaves, blending living space and workspace in a sustainable and practical way.
The factory evolves alongside the gardens. New areas for quality control enhance selection and processing, preserving the balance between artisanal methods and modern standards.
The challenges of Nepalese tea
Tea has long been part of Nepal’s agriculture, yet the sector struggles. More than eighty percent of its production leaves the country without recognition, disappearing into blends or foreign labels. Farmers rarely see the real value their tea commands abroad.
This invisibility keeps incomes low and limits reinvestment. Although Nepalese teas often equal Darjeeling in quality, they remain underappreciated.
Nepal Tea Collective
To change this course, Nishchal Banskota, son of Deepak Prakash, founded Nepal Tea Collective. His mission is to make the tea chain shorter, fairer, and more transparent. Instead of passing through countless middlemen, tea travels directly from the gardens to drinkers around the world.
This initiative goes beyond marketing. It restores the link between farmer and consumer. Farmers earn a fairer share, while consumers know exactly where their tea comes from.
Building on his father’s vision with a modern approach, Nishchal combines knowledge of global trade with the cooperative values of KTERC. The result is not only an organisation that sells tea but also one that strengthens the image of the entire Nepalese tea industry.
Impact and future
Today KTERC stands as proof that agriculture can be a force for development. Its cooperative structure ensures farmers benefit directly from the estate’s growth. The strong role of women is reshaping social structures in the village. Organic farming and eco-houses bring sustainability into everyday life.
Challenges remain. The international tea market is competitive and price-driven, and Nepalese tea must continue to fight for recognition. Here Nepal Tea Collective plays a vital role, offering both markets and a story that resonates with conscious consumers.
For Tea Kulture this is the reason to partner with KTERC and Nepal Tea Collective. It is not only about extraordinary tea from the Himalayas. It is about community, resilience, and innovation. A story that shows tea is never just leaves, but people working together to build a better future.
