Your shopping cart is empty!
Transforming the Tea Industry: A Story of Technology, Sustainability, and Empowerment
TeaOrb's journey began in 2012 when Bahniman Kakati noticed major IT companies utilizing digital marketing, igniting an idea to introduce the freshest teas online. Armed with meticulous research on global tea consumption and India's market share, TeaOrb's founders set out to created a plan to offer an additional mode of sale to the centuries-old industry and promote tea on the lines of fine wines. They wanted to brand Assam as a tea destination and promote tourism in Northeast India, where tourists visit and stay in Heritage Bungalows in Tea Gardens.
Their concept paper garnered support from key figures in
the industry, affirming its potential. However, their journey took a poignant
turn during research when they encountered an article in The Guardian dated
March 1st, 2014, shedding light on the plight of Assam's tea pickers, who were
reportedly sold into slavery. The relevant authorities response to
The Guardian's article as propaganda reflects a nuanced perspective rooted in
historical context and national pride. India's history with Britain, marred by
centuries of colonial rule, has left enduring scars on its social, economic,
and political landscape, with unresolved issues like exploitation and the lack
of reparations still resonating in public discourse.
From the authorities's standpoint, there may be a
degree of skepticism or a defensive stance towards narratives from former
colonial powers such as Britain. This skepticism can be attributed to a desire
to safeguard India's sovereignty and preserve its national narrative,
particularly concerning sensitive topics like exploitation and slavery, which
were historically wielded as instruments of dominance.
However, it's crucial to recognize that while
the authorities in India may question certain narratives as
propaganda, it doesn't diminish the significance of the underlying challenges.
Poverty, exploitation, and human trafficking remain pressing issues confronting
vulnerable communities globally, including within India's tea industry.
TeaOrb's innovative approach acknowledges these realities, striving to address
them by creating avenues that benefit producers, workers, and consumers alike.
The industry's struggle to provide better wages to tea workers due to the
limited profitability of teas in the current market underscores the
vulnerability of tea pickers to promises of improved wages from human
traffickers, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable solutions.
To tackle this issue, TeaOrb has created a Food &
Beverage hybrid e-commerce marketplace for producers from Northeast India,
allowing them to collectively deliver their finest and freshest produce
directly to consumers worldwide and fetch a better price. TeaOrb uses
technology as an enabler to minimize roles affecting the payment capacity of
producers for a better wage to tea workers and access to programs and services
to tackle climate change and offer tea tourism. TeaOrb also has a consulting
wing to provide guidance to producers in scientific agricultural practice in
tea cultivation, modern manufacturing processes in the factory, marketing of
the produce, matters related to the Food Safety Standards Act 2006, and Tea
Board of India's directives on Plant Protection Code (PPC).
At TeaOrb, they believe that everyone should be able to enjoy
the finest teas available, and they work hard to ensure that their teas are not
only of the highest quality but are ethically and sustainably produced.
Mr. Jayanta Kakati is the co-founder of TEAORB and serves as the Chief Tea Officer. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Science (Agriculture), with a specialization in Tea Husbandry & Technology from Assam Agricultural University, in 1974, and has a total work experience of over 40 years in the tea industry. Mr. Kakati is the former Secretary of the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, where he successfully managed the affairs of the center for over 30 years, requiring coordinated action amongst a thousand members comprising Tea Producers, Tea Buyers, Tea Brokers, and Tea Warehouses and building a rapport with the Tea Board of India and Assam Government officials. He was deeply engaged during the turbulent decade (1987-1997) at a time when the tea trade and industry were greatly affected. He was also actively involved in the reforms brought about by the Tea Board of India in the introduction of e-auction and settlement banking to the age-old tea auction system. He has experience in handling the sale of up to 170 million kilograms in a year. In addition to his role as Chief Tea Officer, Mr. Kakati also serves as the Hospitality Manager and Tea Sommelier Coordinator, where he arranges interaction with tea sommeliers, ensuring that TEAORB's guests have an unforgettable experience.
BAHNIMAN
Supply
Chain and Sales Director
Bahniman Kakati is the co-founder of TEAORB and oversees the supply chain, sales, and sustainability aspects of the business. With an Associate Degree with Diploma in Computers and Digital Marketing, and a fair understanding of Lean Six Sigma concepts, he has work experience of over 17 years, primarily in the financial and IT sector. His passion for tea led him to join the family business and bring his expertise in managing the supply chain, ensuring quality control, and optimizing logistics. He is responsible for managing the sales team, creating and executing sales strategies, and identifying new markets for TEAORB's products. In addition, he is committed to promoting sustainability practices throughout the company's operations and ensuring that TEAORB's environmental impact is minimized. With his extensive experience in the financial sector, Bahniman brings a data-driven approach to managing the company's operations and supply chain. He uses his expertise in digital marketing to create and execute effective marketing campaigns and promote TEAORB's products to a wider audience.
Tea Tour Partner
Amy is an American entrepreneur and tea enthusiast who has played an instrumental role in popularizing Indian tea in the United States. With a B.A. in Film and experience as a video editor at a New York ad agency, she has leveraged her diverse marketing and branding skills to successfully start the first Indian tea shop in New York. Despite the challenges posed by the recession in 2008, Amy's business continued to grow until she made her second visit to Assam in 2015, where she discovered a passion for tea tourism. Since then, she has collaborated with TEAORB to offer tea tours that allow tourists to experience the toil and sweat that goes into producing the perfect cup of tea. Amy's expertise in marketing and branding has been invaluable to TEAORB, as she has helped to promote Indian tea and establish it as a premium product in the US market. Her association with the company has been instrumental in expanding TEAORB's reach and promoting tea tourism in India.
Official Tea Taster and
Blender
With a Post Graduate Degree in Botany
from Guwahati University, in 1971, he has a total work experience of over 40
years in the tea industry. Mr. Sarma started his career as a trainee tea taster
with Lipton and retired as Head – Tea tasting and buying of Hindustan Unilever,
Guwahati, which incidentally was the largest tea buying office in India with a
total volume of 67 million kilos per annum. Having spent three decades with
Unilever, Deepak is an expert taster, blender and a passionate tea man. He was
the president of the Guwahati Tea Auction Buyers Association for twelve years
and also a member of the Tea Tasting panel of TRA (Tocklai Research
Association) for five years.
