Why Nepal Hills Tea? The Story Behind the Company

If you do a deeper market study of tea in Canada, there are around 2,200 tea sellers ranging from small to large. In a country of 40 million people, that number seems reasonable — which means the question is fair: why start another company to sell tea?

To understand the reason behind Nepal Hills Tea, you need to understand the current situation of the Nepali tea industry.

The Story of Nepali Tea

Nepal's tea industry started around the same time as tea in Darjeeling and Assam in India. For a long period, it was not promoted internationally. Around 75 years ago, commercial tea production began — mostly CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) for bulk blending. In the mid-1970s, there was a shift toward orthodox (loose leaf) production, and those with access to funds and international buyers built estates.

In the late 1980s, small farmers turned to tea farming when their traditional cash crops — ginger and black cardamom — became unstable. Thousands of them ventured into tea cultivation. This created a massive boost in production, but a new problem emerged: who would buy their teas?

Some farmers exported raw leaves to India on horseback. Others sold to larger factories at thin margins. By the early 2000s, production surpassed processing capacity — there were days when farmers plucked tea and threw it away.

Today, there are around 120 orthodox tea-producing factories in Nepal, most supported by small farmers. Yet without proper buyers, a commodity has no value. Most of these small artisans still don't have sufficient buyers for their teas.

The Problem Nepal Hills Tea Exists to Solve

Most of the small and mid-scale Nepali factories produce between 3,000 and 30,000 kg of tea per year. Say 10 tea companies each buy 50 kg from a factory — the factory sells 500 kg. The rest — up to 29,500 kg — still goes to India via brokers, where it gets blended with Darjeeling teas and sold as "Darjeeling." Meanwhile, the consumer pays 15–20 times what the farmer received.

At Nepal Hills Tea, we want to eliminate both sides of that problem: small artisans selling to brokers at low prices, and consumers paying exorbitant markups for teas with no real connection to their source.

What Makes Nepal Hills Tea Different

We source directly from four farm partners in Ilam and Taplejung — Nepal's two premier tea regions, grown at 5,000–7,000 ft above sea level. The high altitude, cool mountain air, and hand processing mean our teas have no bitterness and complex, distinctive flavour profiles you won't find in blended commercial teas.

5% of our revenue goes directly back to our farming partners. We pay fair prices — not token gestures. We offer free returns. And we believe you shouldn't have to pay boutique prices to drink genuinely excellent Nepali tea.

Our Teas Today

We currently carry 16 products from 4 farms — 4 types of tea (black, green, white, oolong), sold individually or in curated bundles:

• Muscatel Black Tea — Honey-grape, apricot, silky. From Norling Speciality Tea, Ilam.
• Ruby Black Tea — Dark cherry, cocoa, full-bodied.
• Gold Black Tea — Malt, caramel, honey. Grown on certified organic farmland (Farmers Tea Co, Ilam).
• Special Black Tea — Dark chocolate, plum, pine resin. Taplejung, 6,000 ft. Nepal's rarest tea.
• Floral Green Tea — Jasmine-adjacent florals, light sweetness. Farmers Tea Co, Ilam.
• Organic Light Green Tea — Smooth, light, low caffeine. Certified organic farmland, Farmers Tea Co, Ilam.
• Floral White Tea — Spring blossom, peach fuzz, velvety. Farmers Tea Co, Ilam.
• Fresh White Tea — Wildflower, morning dew, cucumber. Farmers Tea Co, Ilam.
• Floral Oolong Tea — Honey blossom, orchid, soft peach.
• Dark Oolong Tea — Stone fruit, roasted honey, bright acidity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nepal Hills Tea?

Nepal Hills Tea Inc. is a Canadian specialty tea company that sources single-origin loose leaf teas directly from small farm partners in Ilam and Taplejung, Nepal. Our teas are grown at 5,000–7,000 ft above sea level and are traceable to specific estates and harvests. We currently carry 16 products from 4 farms across 4 tea types: black, green, white, and oolong.

Where does Nepal Hills Tea come from?

All Nepal Hills Tea comes from two sourcing regions: Ilam and Taplejung in eastern Nepal. Ilam is Nepal's most established tea growing region; Taplejung is higher altitude and produces Nepal's rarest teas. Both are at 5,000–7,000 ft above sea level. We partner with four farms: Farmers Tea Co, Pathibhara Tea Estate, Sandakphu Tea Estate, and Norling Speciality Tea.

Why is Nepal Hills Tea different from other tea companies?

We source directly from small farm partners, pay fair prices, and give 5% of revenue back to farmers. We don't charge boutique prices — a 25g bag starts at $10. Our teas are single-origin and traceable, grown at high altitude where cool temperatures produce natural sweetness with no bitterness. We also offer free returns on every order.

Are Nepal Hills teas organic?

Three of our four farm partners — Farmers Tea Co, Pathibhara Tea Estate, and Sandakphu Tea Estate — are certified organic farms. Norling Speciality Tea is currently transitioning to organic certification. Our packaging certification for organic labelling is in progress. All teas from our certified farm partners are grown without synthetic pesticides or inputs.

Related Reading

• Which Nepali Tea to Buy: A Complete Guide
• Nepal Tea: The Himalayan Hidden Gem
• What Is Ilam Tea? Nepal's Most Celebrated Growing Region
• What Is Taplejung Tea?
• Nepali Tea vs Darjeeling: What's the Difference?
• Single Origin Tea: What It Means and Why It Matters

Authored by Bhaskar Dahal, 2nd Generation Tea Entrepreneur, Founder & CEO, Nepal Hills Tea Inc.