The Argentine tea harvest began in October, with good weather and high yields per hectare in Misiones, the heart of the country’s tea-producing region.
Automated harvesters and favorable terrain enable Argentina to supply about half of the black tea consumed in the US. The country has optimized production by adopting vegetative propagation using cultivars with yields as high as 2,500 kilos per hectare. For decades, the harvest averaged 70,000 to 90,000 metric tons annually. However, demand is declining as consumers drink less flavored, artificially colored, sweetened iced tea.
Argentina exported only 50,000 metric tons of tea last year. Export revenue fell to $58.5 million in 2023, down 10.6% from the previous year. Growers shut down production mid-season after fulfilling their contracts.
Now, Argentina needs to find new export markets to maintain previous volumes. The domestic market is limited as citizens favor yerba mate by a wide margin, consuming 5.9 kilos per capita annually compared to 250 grams of mainly black tea.
Sales and traffic manager Pedro Newell at Don Basilio SRL explains that long-term relationships with buyers enable producers to balance supply and demand accurately. He said, “Argentina tea producers have had good production for years. It was only last year that we had to finish harvesting before the season ended and only after we produced what was contracted.”
Don Basilio, owned by the Okulovich family, is a tea and yerba mate plantation with a history that dates to 1935. There is plenty of capacity to expand production, says Newell. “As long as the U.S. continues to demand iced tea, Argentina will remain a key supplier, drawing on decades of expertise and production capacity to meet this market’s needs. We are not prepared to move away from a market that, although no longer growing, still represents our highest volume demand,” he said. “At the same time, we are open to exploring new markets and co-developing products tailored to specific requirements,” he said.
He explains that the company is seeking export partners. Expanding into markets like the European Union presents particular challenges, as compliance with their strict PA regulations significantly raises our production costs.” Ensuring compliance requires manual field cleansing, involving teams of 50 to 70 people manually removing weeds across plantations, he said. Don Basilio supplies tea for iced tea blends to Unilever/Ekaterra.
One possibility is Chile, a big consumer of black tea that has been importing $50 to $75 million annually in the past three years. In 2021, Chile imported $7 million worth of Argentine tea, about 10% of the $63 million Chileans spent on tea imports that year. In contrast, Chile imported 74% of its yerba mate from Argentina last year.
BIZ INSIGHT – Argentina is a compelling example of how origins that conform to the demands of destination markets can shape their supply chains to prosper in every conceivable way—until the market does an about-face.
Dan is a content creator who fosters genuine connections globally through informative, educational, and captivating conversations centered on tea. Tea Biz Blog | Podcast
US Climate Commitment Questioned at COP29 | Argentina’s Tea Harvest is Off to a Good Start | FAO Food Outlook Reveals Rising Coffee and Tea Prices | PLUS | Kurush Bharucha is among the foremost tea tasters in the world and a brilliant teacher. He shares his tasting insights in the latest Tea Journey Taster’s Profile. Read more…
US plans to withdraw from the 2015 Paris Agreement were viewed as a setback this week as delegates assembled in Baku, Azerbaijan, to attend COP29.
The annual gathering sponsored by the United Nations seeks to coordinate efforts to reduce global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions. The world is on track to once again set a record as the hottest on Earth in modern times. For the first time, average temperatures will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming compared to pre-industrial times.
According to the New York Times, scientists say nations must cut emissions by 40% by the end of this decade. Instead, global greenhouse gas emissions soared to a record 57 gigatons last year.
Continued…
“The consequences of that warming are being felt on every continent,” writes the Times, citing torrential rain in Brazil, flash floods in Spain, hurricanes in the US, and expansive wildfires.
Financial aid for developing nations, many of which grow tea, is a focus of the talks attended by world leaders, green market investors, and climate scientists.
On the eve of the event, more than 650 investors with $33 trillion in assets worldwide urged governments to enact policies to prevent temperatures from reaching catastrophic levels.
The US helped design the agreement under President Barack Obama. President-elect Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement during his first term, a decision reversed by President Biden in 2020.
Almost every country now has a plan to draw down emissions. The US is pumping at least $390 billion into wind, solar, and other clean energy manufacturing. The automotive industry has transitioned to electric vehicles and hybrids. Nuclear power generation is gaining renewed acceptance. During the last gathering, nearly every country, including the United States, pledged to transition from fossil fuels.
The Paris Agreement is a pact stating that nations of all levels of wealth share responsibility for causing climate change. Individual countries set emissions targets. Targets are not legally binding, and there are no penalties for failure to meet goals. In 2017, no country followed the US withdrawal from the agreement, and none have indicated they will do so in 2025 when Trump takes office. Withdrawal requires one year’s notice, meaning the US exit will not be official until 2026.
Scientists say temperatures that trigger extreme weather will only stop if emissions decline. Beyond that threshold, the world risks a significant increase in drought, heat waves, wildfires, and erratic rain, all of which have an outsized impact on tea.
BIZ INSIGHT – Exceeding the 1.5 degree Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warming threshold for a single year differs from the goal adopted in the 2015 Paris Agreement. That goal was to cap warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius on average over 20 or 30 years to stave off the worst effects of climate change on humanity, including extreme weather. This year, A United Nations report said that since the mid-1800s, the world has already heated 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit) on average.
Argentine Tea Harvest Underway
Argentina’s Tea Harvest is Off to a Good Start
By Dan Bolton
Automated harvesters and favorable terrain enable Argentina to supply about half of the black tea consumed in the US. The country has optimized production by adopting vegetative propagation using cultivars with yields as high as 2,500 kilos per hectare. For decades, the harvest averaged 70,000 to 90,000 metric tons annually. However, demand is declining as consumers drink less and less flavored, sweetened iced tea. Last year, Argentina exported only 50,000 metric tons.
Export revenue fell to $58.5 million last year, down 10.6%. Growers shut down production mid-season after fulfilling their contracts.
Now, Argentina needs to find new export markets to maintain previous volumes. The domestic market is limited as citizens favor yerba mate by a wide margin, consuming 5.9 kilos per capita annually compared to 250 grams of mainly black tea.
Sales and traffic manager Pedro Newell at Don Basilio SRL explains that long-term relationships with buyers enable producers to balance supply and demand accurately. He said, “Argentina tea producers have had good production for years. It was only last year that we had to finish harvesting before the season ended and only after we produced what was contracted.”
Don Basilio, owned by the Okulovich family, is a tea and yerba mate plantation with a history that dates to 1935. There is plenty of capacity to expand production, says Newell. “As long as the U.S. continues to demand iced tea, Argentina will remain a key supplier, drawing on decades of expertise and production capacity to meet this market’s needs. We are not prepared to move away from a market that, although no longer growing, still represents our highest volume demand,” he said. “At the same time, we are open to exploring new markets and co-developing products tailored to specific requirements,” he said.
He explains that the company is exploring new export partners. Expanding into markets like the European Union presents particular challenges, as compliance with their strict PA regulations significantly raises our production costs.” Ensuring compliance requires manual field cleansing, involving teams of 50 to 70 people manually removing weeds across plantations, he said. Don Basilio supplies tea for iced tea blends to Unilever/Ekaterra.
Chile is a big consumer of black tea, importing $50 to $75 million annually in the past three years. In 2021, Chile imported $7 million worth of Argentine tea, about 10% of the $63 million Chileans spent on tea imports that year. In contrast, Chile imported 74% of its yerba mate from Argentina last year.
BIZ INSIGHT- Argentina is a compelling example of how origins that conform to the demands of destination markets can shape their supply chains to prosper in every conceivable way—until the market does an about-face.
FAO Food Outlook Shows Rising Coffee and Tea Prices
Prices of commodity beverages, including cocoa, coffee, and tea, boosted the global import food bill to more than $2 trillion, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
FAO’s Food Outlook November 2024 report indicates that import expenditures on cocoa, coffee, and tea are anticipated to increase by 22.9% this year, accounting for more than half of the $2 trillion overall increase in value terms.
“That reflects soaring international prices for these commodities due mostly to weather conditions and logistics issues. Cocoa prices reached almost four times their ten-year average earlier this year, those for coffee nearly doubled, and those for tea rose 15% above their usual long-term levels,” according to FAO.
FAO Food Outlook 2024
The Economist Intelligence Unit Tea Forecast projects black tea prices will average $2.83 per kilo in 2024, up from $2.74 in 2023. The World Bank reports the October 2024 average price for tea globally (which includes both black and green tea) was $2.31 per kilo.
Food expenses were also buoyed by higher import costs for fruits and vegetables, according to FAO Food Outlook, released Nov. 14.
Meanwhile, declining import bills for cereals and oilseeds offer relief to lower-income countries. High-income countries account for two-thirds of the global food import bill and will face a 4.4% increase in 2024, while the bills for upper-middle-income, lower-middle-income, and low-income countries are likely to contract.
FAO’s latest forecasts point to favorable output outlooks across most basic foodstuffs, although global production systems remain vulnerable to risks from extreme weather events, rising geopolitical tensions, and policy changes. These could tip delicate demand-supply balances and dampen prospects for international trade in food commodities and global food security.
The FAO’s biannual publication offers updated forecasts for major food staples’ production, trade, utilization, and stocks and explores topical themes. The latest issue features an analysis of fertilizers, noting sharp drops in quotations for nitrogen products, which closely track natural gas prices and potassium fertilizers. However, phosphate fertilizers have not displayed a broader decline due in part to ongoing trade barriers. Overall, in September 2024, a basket of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium price series had declined by more than 50% since their April 2022 peak.
Kurush Bharucha is among the foremost tea tasters in the world and a brilliant teacher. As a student of his craft, he has always followed the mantra, ‘Practice makes perfect, so perfect your practice’ – which describes his apprentice days when he tasted up to 1,000 cups of tea daily. His expertise, over four decades, extends well beyond the ability to discern quality tea. Seeing synergies across all links in the beverage chain has enabled him to develop a sharp and holistic appreciation of ground realities, constantly pushing boundaries and “asking the right questions to constructively challenge the status quo.” As the former head of global tea expertise at Lipton Tea & Infusions, our guest today is in demand as an advisor, educator, and judge of tea competitions.Read more…
US Climate Commitment Questioned at COP29 | Argentina’s Tea Harvest is Off to a Good Start | FAO Food Outlook Reveals Rising Coffee and Tea Prices | PLUS | Kurush Bharucha is among the foremost tea tasters in the world and a brilliant teacher. He shares his tasting insights in the latest Tea Journey Taster’s Profile. | Episode 194 | 15 November 2024
The Republic of Tea’s Minister of Enlightenment and Commerce, Kristina Tucker, discusses how the California-based brand cleverly transformed an unconscious beverage habit into a mindful lifestyle choice. Citizens (customers) of the Republic share a sense of mindfulness and practice self-care rituals, brewing a range of more than 350 teas and herbal infusions. Conceived by Banana Republic founders Mel and Patricia Ziegler in 1992 and nurtured by CEO Will Rosenzweig, the company sources exceptional teas from multiple origins. It markets traditional, functional, and beautifying infusions with a holistic narrative that tea is a gateway to healthier, more intentional living. The Republic of Tea is a pioneer in specialty tea and was founded on the idea that a tea brand could inspire a lifestyle of intentional living, embodying tranquility, creativity, and personal well-being.
Listen to her story
The Republic of Tea Minister of Enlightenment and Commerce Kristina Tucker
Kristina Tucker, Minister of Enlightenment and Commerce, visiting Uji, Japan
Inspiring a Lifestyle of Intentional Living
By Dan Bolton
As vice president of sales and communications for The Republic of Tea, Kristina Tucker believes in the beauty and power of the leaf. Her mission is to educate and inspire people worldwide about teas and herbs: their varieties, origins, rituals, cultures, and health benefits. She joined The Republic of Tea in 2003 and was named Minister of Enlightenment in 2007. Before that, she was the national sales manager at Just Desserts and worked as the promotions manager at Whole Foods Market’s Allegro Coffee Company in Boulder, Colo. She is the current chair of the board of trustees of the American Herbal Products Association. Tucker holds a degree in economics from Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics at the University of Delaware and a master’s in strategic communication from the American University School of Communication.
Dan: The Republic of Tea first articulated its commitment to ethical sourcing, fair labor practices, reducing waste, rejuvenating land, and sustainable cultivation over thirty years ago. Advocating a daily tea ritual to drink tea Sip by Sip Rather Than Gulp by Gulp resonated with consumers, who were pleased to find more from a tea brand than attractive tins and eco-friendly messaging. Will you describe how that advocacy evolved?
Kristina: We’re so fortunate at the Republic of Tea that the brand’s concept is in a book called The Republic of Tea, which Mel Patricia Ziegler and Bill Rosenzweig wrote in the early 90s. All the ideas are captured in this book, so we can always refer back to it for inspiration and go back to where it began and then infused all of us.
The Republic of Tea book was first published in 1992
Dan: Author Simon Sinek, in START WITH WHY, discusses the importance of companies establishing they exist. Sinek argues that people are drawn not to what an organization does but to why it does it. This approach builds deeper loyalty and trust. During a lengthy correspondence, The Republic of Tea’s founders applied this approach, describing the process in a 355-page book of letters to a young entrepreneur. The book details ‘What we want The Republic of Tea to be, ‘ the values they aspire to, and the steps necessary to realize their vision. Will you talk a little about convincing millions of consumers to emigrate to the Republic?
Kristina: Well, of course, it all starts with great taste. You know, all these different varieties, all this innovation is all about delivering on that promise, that it’s going to taste amazing, and then we work from there. Part of that taste experience is the philosophy and lifestyle that we emphasize. It begins there, and then it expands.
We created The Republic of Tea so that people can emigrate and become a citizen. And this whimsy, this idea that you’ve immigrated to a special place that the tea takes you to, and that helps you have this lifestyle of well-being, is really quite magical and fun. And yes, at times, it might be a little bit of a stretch for some, but when you embrace it, it becomes part of your whole experience. And that’s our promise to deliver that great taste experience as part of being a citizen.
Dan: In the last few years, we’ve seen the word botanicals or infusions attached to several former “tea” companies. As you developed your concept, you did not signal, “We are Camellia sinensis and nothing else.” Instead, you promoted a range of infusions, herbal blends, and green tea. The Republic of Tea, for example, was always big on green tea. Talk about why infusions are now a thing.
Kristina: We think of it this way. All these magical plants, Camellia sinensis to chamomile to hibiscus to ginseng – you name it- all of these plants, herbs, shrubs, and roots come together and unite in the blends we make at the Republic of Tea.
We have over 350 varieties of teas and herbs, including botanicals blended with Camellia sinensis and traditional black and green tea.
So it’s just being innovative and creative, not being afraid. We take a lot of risks. We import from over 80 countries now, so we play with all the different ingredients all the time.
When it comes to trends, we really listen to our citizens. They often tell us what they’re looking for in herbal infusions and botanicals. Some are looking for functions.
We started blending with more herbs right from the beginning, but then, in 2006, we expanded into our Be Well collection, so we started working more with function with our beautifying botanicals, which we launched a few years back. We played with blue butterfly pea flowers and different white hibiscus. Then we launched our super adapt collection, using ashwagandha, rhodiola, and some of these wonderful adaptogenic herbs.
We have a collection of our super herbs, our single herbs of origin that are all organic, premium, best in class, and different herbals, like Egyptian hibiscus or South African Green Rooibos. We are always looking again for the best flavor in the cup.
Daisy and Mrs. Patmore’s TeaGrantham’s English Breakfast TeaLady Cora’s Evening Tea
Dan: TV audiences monitor every detail on series like Downton Abbey and Bridgerton, and Tea enthusiasts like to chat about what Lady Mary or Violet Crawley are drinking or the beautiful silver service polished in the kitchen.
The Republic of Tea brought fantasy to life with a Downton Abbey line that includes eight teas, gift sets, a recipe journal, seven Bridgerton teas, and the Official Bridgerton Guide to Entertaining.
Kristina: Well, let me go back even further than that…
It started with Memoirs of a Geisha, our first collaboration in 2005. We know people like to enjoy tea when they’re reading or watching a series like Downton Abbey or Bridgerton, so that’s where the connection begins.
We had success with Memoirs of a Geisha, but these partnerships really blossomed with the movie Eat, Pray, Love in 2010. That was really fun. We used black tea inspired by the Hari Mandir Ashram in Pataudi, Haryana, where the Indian scenes were filmed, cinnamon from Indonesia, and blood orange from Italy. These origins and their distinctive flavors are integrated with the story, and the idea of creating blends matched to characters started to come together.
The blends are collaborative. So, we’re working with the respective Netflix, Disney, or BBC creatives. We all taste teas together and talk about the characters and what they would drink or what symbolizes that character, and it blossoms from there. They’re so much fun to work on, and these blends really connect with the citizens.
We still see great sales of the Downton Abbey collection and Bridgerton. I don’t think we’ll ever be able to let those go.
Pumpkin Pie Chai and Pumpkin Spice Chai
Dan: You regularly introduce seasonal favorites and limited-time offers as well.
Kristina: Yes, we are in tea-drinking season, and the fall flavors are just a thrill. We have our iconic hot apple cider, our top seller year in and year out for our fall teas. We also have a new Pumpkin Pie Chai that we launched this year. It’s made with interesting ingredients. We’ve got cinnamon, ginger, pumpkin, and nutmeg, all standards, of course, but there’s also roasted dandelion root in here, which makes this blend so well-rounded. It has a sister, Apple Pie Chai.
Dan: Many young people now drink tea and infusions. A study by GlobalData highlighted that tea consumption trends among younger generations, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are reshaping the market. Around 87% of Millennials report regular tea consumption, which has been integrated into daily life for many in Gen Z. Are you focused on a specific demographic? Which generations are more likely to become citizens (regular consumers)?
Kristina: We appeal to multiple demographics across all ages, but we continue to see the awareness of different taste profiles from a younger demographic. Millennials, Gen Z, are certainly looking for The Republic of Tea to bring that innovation, that one thing that they might be looking for, whether it’s an ingredient, the new functional herb, or just the creative combinations that we come up with.
Some of our blends have quite a few different ingredients. And that kind of creativity, that surprise, delight various demographics. I often hear people say, Oh, my mom drank The Republic of Tea, and that’s how I found it. So, I think we’re seeing part of it within families. We often hear how special our fall and holiday flavors are this time of the year because people have traditions like sipping our Comfort and Joy blend when wrapping Christmas presents. Others mention certain teas they drink as a family when watching movies. So we hear a lot of that, where we’re spanning multiple generations.
Holiday selection with Tablespoon Peppermint Bark tea concentrate
Dan: How about the beautifying botanicals category or the super herbs? Are these popular with women?
Kristina: Yes. We find that the vast majority of people who are drinking beautifying botanicals are women in the 30, 40, and 50-year range. Okay, but it’s certainly not exclusive to that group. In some of our research, we have found that we over-index relative to other tea brands with male tea drinkers.
Dan: Which teas are most popular with men?
Kristina: We see it with our black teas but also with our functional herbs.
Dan: Research indicates that young people begin showing a preference for tea during adolescence, although exact ages can vary based on cultural and regional influences. At what age do you notice consumers becoming fans of the brand?
Kristina: We have high school students who are avid citizens of The Republic of Tea, creating tea clubs at their schools. Also, college students get together and pick our tea for their club. We’ve always aspired to be something for every man, woman, and child, to find something in the assortment.
Comfort and Joy black tea with spicesCollagen promoting blue butterfly pea flower teaDouble Green Matcha Tea
Dan: Three hundred fifty teas is a wide range. I’m going to guess 10% to 20% are traditional teas; almost everything else is blended.
Kristina: You’re right about that.
Dan: So blends dominate, which means changing preferences, trending flavors, and availability of ingredients make it likely many will come and go, often in a short period of time. Will you name two or three all-time best sellers that have become iconic and associated with the company’s history and tradition?
Kristina: The most iconic at The Republic of Tea is our Ginger Peach Black Tea. But iconic is more than just flavors. Our tin packaging is truly significant, so it starts there. Our Ginger Peach black tea is one of the originals. Other iconic blends from the very beginning, from 1992, would be Blackberry Sage Black tea and Chamomile Lemon, another of the first blends.
I need to mention our organic Double Green Matcha. It’s really innovative. We blend matcha powder and green tea leaves together and put them into our signature round bleached paper tea bag. That tea has been a top seller since we launched Double Green Matcha in 2007.
Ginger Peach Black Tea
Those three have been in the marketplace for well over 32 years and are still great sellers.
So those are just a few of the best-known blends that we offer, but I can go on and on.
Dan: Go on! This is good. I wanted to help our overseas listeners visualize non-traditional products. You mentioned packaging, and the introduction of simple, tagless round tea bags remains the standard. Your tins are recyclable, tea bags are biodegradable and compostable, and you use recycled PET if needed.
Kristina: Innovation is a core value at The Republic of Tea in any way we can define it. We’re constantly reminding ourselves to be innovative in our approach when it comes to our tea blends and packaging. At the core is this unbleached paper tea bag. It started with full-leaf tea first and then migrated into the tea bag. The company wanted something without the unnecessary strings tag staples; try to avoid single use if possible, and then something that can be easily compostable or just biodegradable. That value is at the very core of The Republic of Tea. But we also want to be sure that our teas and herbs are kept fresh, so they are made with recyclable steel and are really great to reuse; plus, they’re beautiful, and they look so lovely on people’s kitchen countertops.
Dan: I also noticed a statement on upcycling waste, the appealing example of your Root to Petal blends that use roots and husks to create teas, and the idea of end-of-life and end-of-product-life planning for packaging.
Kristina: We are conscious of what happens after the tea is enjoyed. So we advocate that after you enjoy your cup of tea or herbs, you compost it, put it in your flower bed, and find a way to let it live on, if possible, but also make sure that you’re not contributing to something not having an end of life. Give it a chance to erode or biodegrade or compost in some way.
Dan: The brand is best known in the US and Canada. Do you foresee expansion into overseas markets?
Kristina: Right now, it is the United States, for the most part, but we are always entertaining exploration into different markets abroad. As you know, there are challenges when trying to export tea, especially exporting tea and herbs to certain countries. So, it can be challenging, but it’s always an option; whenever we can make it work, where it’s seamless, and there are good partnerships to help escort The Republic of Tea into new markets, we are always open to that. But there are business challenges that come with exporting internationally, especially with some of the ingredients that we blend with. Certainly, in the future, I can see that exporting will continue to grow, especially as more people are looking for discovery. They want something that they’ve never seen before. They want teas that will thrill them, delight them, that they’ll enjoy. And some of those countries you mentioned, Dan, do have sophisticated palettes. They want to explore more culinary options. They also enjoy this sort of packaging, so we travel to origin and bring tins to show there; it’s always just as appreciated as it is here in the US. So I’d say, to answer your question, in the long term, we are always looking for new ways to bring more citizens to The Republic of Tea worldwide.
Dan: Your continuity with the company is impressive. Messaging certainly changes over 20 years, becoming more perceptive, insightful, and effective, but core values are timeless. I’ve seen lifestyle brands wax and wane, with many companies spending promotional budgets to raise awareness for a good cause. But when the person championing that cause is replaced, it becomes clear that the company isn’t committed at a deeper level. Companies that do not embrace fearless innovation and a commitment to values in their DNA can drift back to social, environmental, and business practices that are not sustainable.
That will be the death of companies going forward.
Kristina: I agree. That is something distinct about The Republic of Tea. Its bones were built with those values and continue to be at our core; our ethos is built around that.
Regarding your question about the future and looking forward to it, it’s absolutely necessary that we all come together as an industry and work towards resolving all of the issues that different countries are battling at the origin.
As tea companies look to the future and how we can help the livelihood of all in the trade, that holistic, intrinsic need to do good for each other is what’s going to make our beautiful industry thrive.
Proposed: A Global Alliance to Creatively Constrain Tea Production | Luxmi Tea Acquires Rwanda’s Sorwathe Tea Estate | TikTok Sensation Inspires Sprite+Tea | PLUS Brazil is a vast beverage market with a well-established tradition of tea and herbal infusions now valued at $14 billion. Growth is powered by evolving health and wellness trends that favor diverse and distant teas and blends. Editor Aravinda Anantharaman interviews veteran importer and retailer Elizeth van der Vorst. Her business, Amigos do Chá (Friends of Tea), is located near São Paulo, the hub of specialty tea, a market she has served for 30 years. Read more…
Proposed: A Global Alliance to Creatively Constrain Tea Production
By Dan Bolton
Africa’s tea stakeholders believe that actions, more than words, are needed to address the global challenges facing the tea industry.
East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) Managing Director George Omuga said those attending the 6th African Tea Convention understand the need to reduce production to improve quality and raise profitability, which is essential to financing climate resilience and achieving sustainable cultivation at origins worldwide.
He said a key takeaway from the gathering is the need to establish a global alliance of tea-producing countries to enforce creative constraints on production.
Continued…
Omuga cited India’s decision to close factories nationwide for three months beginning November 30 as an example that other producing countries should adopt. He said that growers in the main tea-producing countries of Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda should lower volumes by reducing their pruning cycle to three years from the current practice of four years.
He said attendees stressed the importance of government and tea board collaboration in establishing quality standards for producing quality teas. “Value addition is critical,” he said.
Omuga explained that Africa has a huge potential for increased domestic consumption. Producers should pursue market diversification strategies, including leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to promote intra-African tea trade.
He said he hopes to persuade tea producers to give the East Africa Tea Trade Association the marketing mandate to create new markets, expand emerging markets, and protect existing markets.
Attendees discussed the negative impact of synthetic fertilizers on soil ecosystems and the importance of reducing reliance on wood for fuel. To promote sustainability, Africa’s 18 tea-producing nations should increase the participation of women in decision-making positions, he said.
The Rwanda Tea Association (RTA), the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), and EATTA organized this year’s conference in Kigali. The group last convened in Rwanda in 2013.
BIZ INSIGHT—After returning to Mombasa from the conference, EATTA’s George Omuga spoke in depth with Tea Biz on achieving a balanced definition of sustainability based on renewable energy, low-carbon production, and organic inputs. The interview posts Friday, Oct. 25.
Sorwathe Tea Estate and nearby tea factories sold
Luxmi Tea Acquires Rwanda’s Sorwathe Tea Estate
US-based Tea Importers Inc. has sold its majority interest in the Sorwathé Tea Estate in Rwanda to an affiliate of Luxmi Estates of India.
Principal Andrew Wertheim, who announced the sale, writes that Sorwathé supports over 6,000 smallholder tea farmers and employs nearly 2,500 workers in the factory, fields, and forests.
He said this strategic move will positively impact the community, adding that the sale will bring synergies for Luxmi customers buying Sorwathe teas produced at Gisovu, Pfunda, and Rugabano.
Rudra Chatterjee, Managing Director, Luxmi Group, commented: “We hope to build on the work the Wertheim family has done to enhance Sorwathé’s quality and improve realizations for smallholder farmers.
“In Gisovu, Pfunda, and Rugabano, farmer incomes have increased due to better price realizations,” writes Chatterjee, who also chairs the Silverback Tea Company – a joint venture between The Wood Foundation Africa and Luxmi Estates.
In 1972, the Government of Rwanda invited Andrew’s father, Joseph Wertheim, to build a tea factory in Kinihira in Rwanda’s Northern Province. A joint venture agreement was signed in 1975, with US investors owning 51% and the Government of Rwanda 49%. The first stage of the factory was completed in the fall of 1978, and the first tea was sold at a London auction in February 1979.
Sorwathe now produces organic, orthodox, and green teas in addition to CTC teas and is the largest single-producing tea factory in Rwanda. The estate and factories are internationally recognized leaders in Corporate Social Responsibility, having received numerous awards.
“We believe Luxmi Tea Company will carry on our commitment to improving lives through tea while making the needed investments to expand Sorwathe’s production capacity to the next level as the crop increases,” writes Wertheim.
In a letter announcing the sale to customers, Wertheim writes, “It has been almost 50 years since we started in Rwanda, and the decision to leave was not easy. Sorwathe has been a big part of our family. It was our father’s passion as well as ours. We hope you all will continue to support Sorwathe under the leadership of Luxmi Tea Company.”
The sale price was not disclosed. Luxmi, which owns 25 estates, generates more than Rs 1500 crore (an estimated $20 million annually) in sales, approximately half of which comes from domestic sales and half from exports.
TikTok Sensation Inspires Sprite+Tea
Coca-Cola will launch TikTok-inspired Sprite + Tea next spring.
The drink originated as a lemon-lime fusion of Lipton Tea steeped in a bottle of soda that generated 19 million views and thousands of favorable comments. The simple recipe involves jamming two black tea bags into the mouth of a bottle of Sprite. Then, close the lid and refrigerate for three hours while the tea cold brews a palatable variation of the well-known blend of half lemonade and half tea.
New Sprite+Tea and Sprite+Tea Zero Sugar
The short how-to video that Malaysian beverage innovator Hisham Raus posted in July 2023 went viral, accumulating over 125 million impressions in the past year.
Brand owners Coca-Cola took the hint and initiated multiple rounds of consumer research, confirming the combination of citrus offers a “satisfying, Sprite-forward experience with distinct tea flavors.”
Coca-Cola Co. introduced Sprite+Tea at the 2024 National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show and announced a zero-calorie, sweetened version.
Delish.com associate editor Gabby Romero writes that many other people who have already DIY-ed this combination reacted positively to the news.
“We’re in the golden age of soda-based concoctions. With chains like Swig gaining notoriety on reality TV shows and dirty/fluffy recipes going viral online, it’s clear that sweet soft drinks are infinitely customizable,” she wrote.
BIZ INSIGHT—Case volume continues to slide at Coca-Cola. According to the company’s latest financial report, price increases totaling 11% assured quarterly revenue grew by 9% to $11.9 billion. However, sales of soft drinks were flat except for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, with declines in water (down 6%), sports drinks (down 3%), and coffee (down 6%).
FEATURE
Elizeth van der Vorst tasting teas
Q|A Amigos do Chá Founder Elizeth van der Vorst
By Aravinda Anantharaman
Elizeth van der Vorst has been a Brazilian tea importer since 1994. Her company, Amigos do Chá, embodies her love of tea and its power to bring people together. Elizeth has been our friend at Tea Journey for several years. Among other things, she feels a deep love for India, particularly Darjeeling. In 2022, Elizeth and her husband Gerard made their maiden trip to India, which was years in the planning. She has returned yearly and plans to lead a tour group from Brazil, South America, and Europe to India in 2025. Here, Elizeth speaks about her love for India and why she can’t wait to bring tea lovers here.Read more
Proposed: A Global Alliance to Creatively Constrain Tea Production | Luxmi Tea Acquires Rwanda’s Sorwathe Tea Estate | TikTok Sensation Inspires Sprite+Tea | PLUS Brazil is a vast beverage market with a well-established tradition of tea and herbal infusions now valued at $14 billion. Growth is powered by evolving health and wellness trends that favor diverse and distant teas and blends. Editor Aravinda Anantharaman interviews veteran importer and retailer Elizeth van der Vorst. Her business, Amigos do Chá (Friends of Tea), is located near São Paulo, the hub of specialty tea, a market she has served for 30 years. | Episode 190 | 18 October 2024
Fifty years ago, three industrious Turkish brothers in Havza, near Türkiye’s tea-growing region along the Black Sea, fabricated a modern chromium steel version of the traditional samovar. These storied vessels, fired by wood or coal, brew tea while keeping large volumes of hot water on tap.
The Sözen brothers were skilled copper, bronze, aluminum, and steel metalworkers. Their compact, easily disassembled design for Sözenler Semavers (the Turkish word for tea-urn) is now the nation’s most popular brand.
Years ago, my wife, Susan, presented me with a four-liter Sözenler samovar, ideally suited for enjoying the setting sun. We set it up under the flagpole at our family cottage on Lake of the Woods, a deep and clear 300-mile-long lake in Western Ontario.
In September, as the summer days shorten and the sun begins to fade, our grandchildren stuffed kindling and split pine branches to stuff into the samovar’s gated furnace. We toasted marshmallows before I placed the reservoir over the fire. Next, I extend the chimney. The young boys stoke the furnace with hardwood hickory chips until it burns red hot. Then, I scoop a fine Ceylon tea into a metal teapot that sits neatly in flue amid a steady stream of steam from the boiling reservoir.
Once the tea is brewed into a potent concentrate, we pour it into tin cups and add hot water, sugar, jam, honey, and cream. Unlike an English teapot, everyone can dilute the tea to their taste. Strong or light, creamy or clear, the tea tastes lovely as we sit back in our Adirondack and bid farewell to the sun.
Steam in flue heats teapotRed copper teapotCopper teapot
Ornate Russian samovars, whose name is derived from “camo” samo, meaning “self,” and “varit,” meaning “to boil’,” are better known, but samovars were invented in Central Asia. The utilitarian, easily disassembled version originated in Bukhara, Türkiye. Caravans carried samovars to the Caucasus, where different styles evolved in Russia, Iran, East and Far East Asia, and Anatolia. Turkish samovars are seen at weddings, family picnics, public ceremonies, and outdoor social gatherings in sizes up to 50 liters, with flues supporting four large teapots.
Co-founder Azmi Sözen writing on the company website, describes Sözenlar samovars as “especially for picnics, evening chats, hosting guests specific to Turks, village houses, weddings, associations, and coffee houses. Samovar tea is very famous, and it is drunk in palaces, mansions, hunting parties, and special ceremonies.”
The first documented Russian samovars appeared in the mid-18th century. By 1778, the craftsmen in Tula, located about 200 kilometers south of Moscow, were famous for producing heavy urns of ornate sterling silver, bronze, and distinctive copper teapots. Symbols of Russian hospitality and domesticity, Samovars were family heirlooms.
Co-founder Azmi Sözen
In paintings, copper and bronze samovars with a capacity of 5 to 15 liters appear at the foot of the table, spread with cakes, sugar tongs, and jam, with young and old in conversation over tea.
Persian samovars can be seen in chaikhanas (chaykanas – tea houses) in Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan. “Samovar is an indispensable pleasure of Islamic society during Ramadan and long winter nights,” writes Azmi.
Azem, Adem, and Azmi Sözen began making samovars in a small workshop in 1974 and have since expanded to a 6,000-square-meter factory with a public showroom and warehouse. “Our company, which accepts quality as a way of life, has established its power, discipline, self-sacrificing, and reliable trained masters and employees,” according to Sözenler.
“Market expansion did not occur spontaneously,” writes Azmi, but growth continues worldwide. Our mission is to popularize the samovar culture inherited from our ancestors and to pass it on to future generations,” writes Sözenler
“Tea is not just a drink of pleasure but also a culture. Poems, folk songs, and odes were sung in samovar tea ceremonies, which gave people peace and preserved their place in memories.”
Our company, which set out with this understanding, is primarily aware that it is a part of this culture and has increased its production every day to carry the cultural and historical heritage to future generations over time.
Sözenler Semaver showroom and factory, Havza, Türkiye
