Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Center (KTERC) is the First Organic Certified Tea Garden in Nepal, which was established in 1984. The 95 hectors garden is nestled at the foothils of Mt. Kanchanjungha, at an altitude from 800 to 2300 meters above sea level.

KTERC is also WFTO certified tea company in Nepal that goes well beyong the fair-trade principles to create a sustainable tea farming society; KTERC empowers the farmers by making them not just employees, but owners through a co-operative model.

We produce wide variety of high-mountain premium organic teas specializing in various flushes/grades of Black and Green Teas. Due to high elevation, pollution free environment and pristine weather makes our variety of teas one of the best in the world.

We are constantly raising the living standard of the farmers, fighting against discrimination, educating children and creating sustainable villages. We employ more than 150 farmers directly and about 400 indirectly. We are active advocates of women empowerment and our workforce is comprised of more than 70% women.

We also facilitate our farmers with free housing together with all the basic facilities, and provide subsidies on food suplies. Furthermore, we run a co-operative agriculture finance along with the farmers for their savings and loan needs. KTERC is not just your typical tea factory but a social enterprise also.

Some of our most popular organic tea products are:

• Black Tea
• Green Tea
• White Tea
• Silver Tips
• Oolong Tea
• Golden Tips
• Ruby
• Pearls
• Black Gold
• Varities of Flavor Teas

Similarly, we also produce and specialize in organic herbs and spices. Namely:

• Ginger
• Turmeric
• Lemongrass
• Cardamom
• Orange Peel
• Rosemary
• Cinnamon
• Sichuan Pepper
• Wild Nettle
• Black Pepper
• Chilly
• Hibiscus
• Rose Petals

The idea of a tea plantation came to my mind on my way to Sikkim at the age of 15. I had stopped at Phupsiring Tea Garden in Darjeeling with a tea worker’s family. Although the worker had no idea where the owner lived, the living standard of the workers was comparatively better than that of my community in Nepal. I thought if all the uncultivated land of the villagers were pooled together, we could establish an even bigger tea garden. We could be the owner as well as workers of our own plantation. The idea was put into action only after a decade and a half when we were able to establish KTE. Late King Birendra fortunately liked this idea and gave the instruction to grant a loan for it. I really felt happy when my party leader, Mr. Girija Prashad Koirala (the Then Prime Minister) handed over the responsibility to me to duplicate the model of KTE throughout the nation and to commercialize agriculture by formulating cooperative act in the country.. KTE is the result of the continued hard work of my fellow farmers as well as well-wishers - locally and globally.

My joy felt no bounds when a French friend of mine translated a report from a French student, Ms. Fanny from PURPAN University, mentioning what a female worker - Ms. Tara, a destitute - had to say about this plantation: “I would have been begging in the street if there was no KTE”. Another worker, Swastika, is on KTE’s packaging staff. She was sheltered in a church before she joined KTE.I felt really happy and proud when I saw her daughter in a boarding school uniform. I was really satisfied when a Nepali friend informed me that KTE’s product was placed in Harrods, the renowned establishment in the UK.

It is my strong belief that sustainable development of rural communities in Nepal is possible only by creating more jobs in one’s own village rather than outsourcing villagers for employment. This is possible through agricultural development and an example of it is the planting of large fields of tea, herbs and spices.

KTE has emerged as the “perfect business model” for community development and proven concept of poverty reduction at grass root level. KTE has crossed its 26th year with many important accomplishments and significant achievements. KTE initiated the concept of organic farming in tea-plantation and is the first organic certified tea garden in the country. At KTE, we always believe in doing the same thing in a different and better way for social as well as overall change and that is what makes KTE different from other tea industries in the country. Accepting new challenges and initiating new ideas was KTE’s most outstanding feature which led to KTE producing its first “Nepal Organic Green Tea'', the first such “Organic” and “Green” tea to be produced in Nepal.

I personally feel, among my 9 children, KTE is the oldest one. For me, it is more than my family as I have devoted my whole life, time, money and myself to the development of this new model of “Co-operative Garden” and there are other 100 farmers like me who have done the same. KTE will always follow “The Co-operative Model- where the employees are the owners”, no matter how successful it may be. Therefore, we are excited about the future and believe that KTE will serve as a unique and innovative role for the development of the nation in the days ahead.

Finally, I would like to extend my hearty gratitude to Mr. DIlli Baskota, who has been the instrumental leader in implementing “Organic Farming” methodology in our garden and the quality control. I have great regards and respect to the Board of Directors and to all the small farmers, who have shown faith and trust in my vision and I’ll continue to seek their trust and cooperation in the future as well. I will never forget the unconditional support in creating a new market for KTE from the promoters of SAW, Ms. Doma Lama, the dynamic lady Chairperson, Mr. Lobsang Lama, the Managing Director and Mr, Sonam Lama as well. I would also like to thank each and every staff of KTE as well as Sangrila Agro World (SAW) who have and are working continuously with motivated efforts for the successful operation of KTE. Last but not the least, I would like to thank all of the importers, retailers and consumers for their support and would appreciate your feedback from time to time.

Deepak Prakash Baskota
Chairman

Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Centre was established with the objective of improving the living standard of the farmers in the remote villages, by increasing income without exploiting or disturbing nature. The aim will be further supported by selling the tea in international niche markets. In addition, KTE will also play a key role in encouraging the area’s small farmers to grow tea, spices and herbs organically in their uncultivated land and to:

• Protect land erosion and soil degradation and carbon sequestration through massive cultivation.
• Practice Organic Agriculture using locally available farmyard manure, green manure and Ayurvedic practices.
• Provide social support to workers/ farmers involved in the venture.
• Supply residue-free products to consumers through specialty tea markets, Organic dealers and Fair Trade Organizations.

Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Centre, the rightful owners of which are the tillers of the soil themselves, was founded by Mr. Deepak Prakash Banskota in 1984. Situated in the extreme Eastern part of Nepal, KTE is located at the foothills of Phidim.

 The righteous idea of establishing KTE struck Mr. Baskota during his first visit to Darjeeling at the age of 15. Delighted by the serene beauty of the tea gardens and surprised by the high standard of living of the tea laborers, Mr. Baskota was forced to think about the way people led their lives in his village. They lacked even the basic requisites of life. He returned to his village not empty handed but with an idea to uplift the living condition of the people of his village through the establishment of a tea factory.  Even a single individual in his village did not support his view, thinking it to be impractical.

 Despite the lack of support from his villagers and a number of unavoidable causes, he started implementing his thoughts into action. He thought of using the barren land, owned by the villagers, for tea plantation and the first step he had to carry out was to test the soil’s fertility. Carrying two sacks of soil, he planned a trip to one of the labs near Biratnagar. With no transportation facility at all, he made the trip on foot for 3 days facing great difficulties on his way. Nevertheless, the soil test report came out to be positive and that his idea of using the barren land for tea plantation had finally found its way.

 For Mr. Baskota, tea was just a morning beverage and apart from this, he knew nothing about tea. Seeking help from the tea specialists in Darjeeling he learned much about orthodox tea. Mr. Baskota, who believes in creating things of his own, brought tea seeds and clones to plant through a new technique of farming known as ‘Organic Farming’. He again sought help from the villagers to provide him their land for plantation but he had to face the same negative response. Without feeling dejected, he started an organic plantation in his own land. After three years, the villagers finally noticed the prospects of the tea plantation and offered him their land for the same. 

 Finally, he succeeded in establishing a tea factory despite various inflexibilities and difficulties. This new groundwork of development was an attempt to modernize the living standard of the lowly villagers without destroying their way of life. The Tea Estate runs along the lines of Co-operative. A group of about 100 farmers pooled their marginal land holdings and created this unique 95 hectares tea estate, which has been a valuable contribution to their meager existence.

KTE, lying at an altitude of about 1300 to 1800 meters borders the famous tea growing areas of Darjeeling. The North facing tea estate constantly receives fresh air from the snow-capped Himalayas, which give this tea a unique aroma and flavor.

Read OUR HISTORY for more information.

• The first certified organic tea garden of Nepal.
• First organic green tea producer.
• Functions along the lines of co-operative.
• Produces quality products through new and innovative Ayurvedic/Organic farming technology.
• Sole marketing Unit: Shangrila Agro World (Kathmandu, Birtamode, Phidim).
• Founding/Present Chairman: Deepak Prakash Baskota.
• Total area: 95 hector.
• Total tea garden including extension areas: 87.50 hector.
• Total tea bushes: 6,00,000 (approximately).
• Total production: Approximately 100,000 kgs per year (according to the demand of green and black tea).
• Total employment with small farmers: 600 (almost 75% of which are women).
• Certifications: Ceres, JAS, USDA, ISO-22,000.
• Products: Tea, Coffee, Natural Spices, Herbs and Juice.
• Countries exported: Japan, Germany, Canada, Australia, Korea, Ukraine, U.S.A., Poland, Netherlands, Finland, China, and India.
• Advocates Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through Eco-house project, Scholarship Programs and Cow Bank Project.

Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Centre is considered to be the pioneer of organic farming in Nepal and is also the first certified organic tea garden of the country. KTE is the only agro based industry in Panchthar.

• The roadway from the factory to the garden and extension areas has been completed. KTE is planning to black-top the 8 km road for easy transportation.
• Construction of Eco-houses is under progress. These houses have been proposed to be built in every collection center for two major purposes. Firstly, the eco-houses will be so designed that they will offer a better storage facility for the raw tea leaves and secondly each eco-house will host four families. For more information please read the CSR section of the website.
• The supply of continuous electricity has been provisioned in the living quarters of the farmers.
• The factory building is being extended with the addition of two more rooms to ensure better quality control methods.
• Research and Innovation:
• The area of the tea garden is inspected every year by the NASAA inspector to ensure its organic soil. The fertility of the soil is maintained by the innovative and regular advice of the research team.
• Pest management is done through an innovative Ayurvedic Principle which focuses on preventive measures rather than curative ones. For more information, visit the Pest management section of the website.

With continuous effort, Kanchanjangha Tea Estate has been able to:

• Complete the road network from its garden to the factory.
• Complete the certification process for its own 95 hector garden.
• Purchase two vehicles to carry green leaf from the farmers’ collection center to the factory.
• Develop a post harvest system of spices which will give quick return to the farmers.
• Establish Nepal Organic Tea brand in the market with proven quality.
• Establish a professional marketing Office in Kathmandu, Birtamode and Phidim.
• Develop skilled manpower for organic agriculture.

Today, Kanchanjangha Tea Estate is not only a tea producing company, but a center for education too. Every year a number of students from various countries including France, Germany, Korea, Japan intern for months and contribute a helping hand while they acquaint themselves with the knowledge of Organic Agriculture and Cooperative approach to a company.

KTE has served as the perfect model for community development to reduce poverty in Panchthar District from its establishment and will continue to do so in the future.

Shangrila Agro World (SAW) was established as the marketing wing of KTE to allow KTE to concentrate on quality production. It has been duly certified as the sole marketing division for KTE's product by NASAA. Shangrila consists of a team of committed and enthusiastic entrepreneurs with decades of experience behind them. The aim of this marketing team is to promote the sales of organic tea and other organic agro products produced by small farmers in the remote areas of Nepal.

Simply, SAW strives to bring the pure plants of the inaccessible remote villages of Nepal to the rest of the world, thereby giving the developed world a second chance to experience truly organic products from the pristine, virgin soils of Nepal. This is a business with a difference, a venture that ties its success with the upliftment of the poor and needy.Shangrila strives to help these rural farmers to compete in the global market and helps them to be self-employed in their own fields, thereby benefiting these people without depriving them of their self respect and dignity.

With the rise in KTE’s production and the aim to increase its customer range, Shangrila Agro World has recently opened two other branch offices in Birtamod and Phidim.

About SAW

Establishing a market brand worldwide is what Shangrila strives for on behalf of KTE. With the creation of successful markets in Japan, North Korea, Germany, Australia, India etc. Shangrila has been exploring niche markets for KTE’s eco-friendly products, especially for the health and environmentally conscious customers in the EU,USA, Canada, China and South Korea. Members of the World Fair Trade Organization, chain stores that specialize in tea and bio-products with our brand are given top priority.

Research, experimentation, and innovation is where KTE sets it’s ground rules in production and food purity, whereas Shangrila ensures customer satisfaction in marketing. It is this coordination that has helped us to create a variety of unique blends of teas. Not just hearsay, but Shangrila truly places customers as their top priority. Be it a new blend of tea never experimented before or, packet designed in a completely different language, SAW has not failed to meet the requirements and demands of its customers. SAW usually accepts a minimum order of 100 kgs which is delivered by air cargo. However, larger quantities (i.e. 4000 kg and above or a container) are usually supplied via Kolkata port.

The unique character of KTE’s tea comes from its comparatively low content of caffeine and significantly higher composition of Linalool Methyllsalcylate (flavoring compounds). Tea experts believe that such character exists due to its unique geographical location and virginity of soil. Due to its unique character, KTE tea has also found its way into Harrods, the renowned establishment in the United Kingdom. Since the original taste of KTE’s tea is in its freshness, hence the necessity to store the tea in airtight containers.

Packaging Unit

Shangrila Agro World, KTE’s marketing office in Kathmandu, is the final packaging center before export or otherwise. The factory-packed Nepal Organic Tea is transported to Shangrila Agro World at regular intervals from KTE and the final packing is done here in the head office. Well facilitated stores serve to maintain the quality of the product until distribution. The packing unit consists of mostly women headed by a packaging supervisor.

Along with the packaging unit, Shangrila Agro World also owns a tea bagging unit supervised by highly talented and experienced operators. The tea bagging unit produces around 1,50,000 tea bags a day and 5000 enveloped tea bags.

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) plan and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are strictly followed at the packaging facilities and the tea bagging unit for Quality Control and Food Safety Measures. Apron, mask, mobcap and special slippers are a must for the workers in the packaging unit.

KTE has been socially responsible from its initial establishment. Though a business venture, KTE strongly believes and works in cooperative model. With the growing need of environmental protection and socio-economic development, KTE has not failed to honour the triple bottom line of a business – people, planet and profit.

KTE FOUNDATION

With the rise in the social initiatives, KTE felt a need to establish a separate sister concern for the proper management of its Corporate Social Responsibility and involvement in various other national and international projects. Hence, KTE Foundation was established in the year 2010.

Today, KTE Foundation functions as the hand behind KTE ’s social initiatives. From generation of funds to the successful execution of the projects, everything is managed and handled by the KTE Foundation.

How has the KTE Foundation been socially responsible?

Cow bank project:

It is a fact that the Gross National Product (GNP) rate of developing countries like ours is extremely low and that the economic condition and the living status of the farmers are very weak. To support and empower the farmers economically, to allow them to generate extra income, KTE Foundation introduced the Cow Bank Project in 2005.

Initially, the cow bank distributed 36 high yielding cows and a bull to the farmers of the village with the ratio of one cow per house. Similarly, in the second phase, 66 more cows were distributed to the small farmers. The farmers are able to sell their cow’s milk in the local market which earns them extra rupee. Furthermore, it is so arranged that they can sell the cow dung to KTE (KTE uses the cow dung as an organic manure for its tea farming).

However, the farmers have to make an agreement to give away the calves to the KTE Foundation in case of reproduction. These calves will then further be distributed to the other farmers.

KTE Foundation expresses its heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Piet Joosten, the Rotary Foundation in USA and the rotary clubs of the Netherlands and Kathmandu for supporting the program in every manner.

Scholarship Program:

According to the census of 2021, the population of Nepal is almost 30 million and only about 39% of the total population is literate. There is also a wide variation among the literacy rates of the male and that of the females.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the literacy rate of females is only about 25% while it is about 54% for the male population. Realizing the fact and the need for proper education in the society for the overall development of the nation, KTE Foundation initiated a Scholarship program in the year 2002 to all the children of the small farmers of Panchthar District.

Scholarships are provided to all children of the farmers to study in the local English Boarding School and the Community School. Nepali Bazaro, a fair trade organization in Japan, has been supporting KTE Foundation not only to popularize its product but also to promote its social activities – scholarship program with the support from the ‘One Coin Concert Staff’ of Kanagawa Sogou High School, Yokohoma, Japan.

Currently 176 children are benefited from the project. With the support from Nepali Bazaro, KTE Foundation is also providing scholarships for higher education to four girls and one boy.

Kalika School Rebuild Project:

Kalila Primary School is located in Ranitar VDC ward no. 1, Nanglapa in Panchthar. The school is positioned at the center of the village and almost 80 percent of the students come from families of members and workers of Kanchanjangha Tea Estate.

Although there are 187 students attending the school, the premises and infrastructure was not strong enough to cater to them. The school building itself was very old. The buildings trembled and shook even under the mere effects of walking through it.

The limited numbers of rooms were barely sufficient for housing all the classrooms and due to the insufficient space, the school had no staff/ teacher’s room, administrative room and a library was out of question. There was no proper electric facility, and as the rooms were not properly lit and often submerged in darkness, the students had to study in candle lights. Even the furniture was very old and had worn out over time but due to lack of funding, had never been repaired.

To make matters worse, the school was situated at the top of the hill and there was no provision of drinking water. Adding to all the problems, the lack of a playground made it impossible for the children from playing games during recess.

In spite of inadequate facilities, degrading infrastructure and unhealthy conditions, the students were still bound to attend the school as there are no other schools nearby. Being the only affordable school in the district, Kalika Primary School is the one and only option for the deprived families to educate their children.

With an extremely low literacy rate among the villagers, the existence of the school is even more vital in order to increase the literacy rate of the area. The need of rebuilding the school for the betterment of the underprivileged and needy people who are unable to pay high school fees became an essential priority.

The local community and KTE Foundation firmly believe that better education is one of the keys to social development. Realizing this fact, the community through KTE Foundation requested the support of Beautiful store to construct the school building so that the students can be educated in a healthy and fully equipped environment. Hence, a MOU was signed on 21st Nov, 2009 between Beautiful Store, KTE Foundation and Kalika School Management Committee represented by Mr. Shin Choong Seop, Ms. Tara Baskota and Mr. Ram Bahadur Nembang respectively.

With generous funding amounting to Rs. 3,031,841.20 (USD 40,956.80) from the Beautiful store, the school was rebuilt with all the facilities that lacked before. The 9 month project was fruitful owing to the new and highly renovated pillar system building, a new library with a wide range of reading materials along with a computer, improved furniture, solar installation for lightning and so on.

For the provision of electricity, a feasibility study of a mini- hydro power plant reveals that it can generate NRs 9000 to 11,000 per month if around Rs 9,60,000 is invested. Around 100 families and the whole village is bound to benefit from the project.

Farmers Co-op Shop:

KTE Foundation is managing a food subsidy program for the farmers in the field and the processing units. Major foods - rice, cooking oil, salt and washing soap - are the major items. Over time, clothes and other necessary items will also be arranged at subsidized rates. It is so arranged that the co-op shop is run by the staff/workers themselves and KTE Foundation just provides them with the necessary resources. The future plans in this field include the establishment and management of a processing unit at Panchthar. The organic rice farms are to provide their finest crops and the production would take place at our very own processing unit. It actually benefits KTE too, since the waste products would then be utilized by KTE in its tea garden as organic manure.

Road Building

KTE Foundation is actively involved in the building and maintenance of an 8kms motorable road between Phidim-Ranitar / Lungrupa. The road has since been the best way of transportation and traveling in the district for daily use. It was involved in bridge-building activities at the Namdu River. The premium received from Transfair International, Germany and a donation coordinated by Dr. Martin Kunz (Transfair) was used for this purpose. Sinass Tea Handels, Germany provided support to maintain the ‘green road’ that links the highway to the factory.

Other programs:

KTE Foundation has been organizing awareness programs related to health and sanitation. Girl’s toilet have been made in different schools of remote villages in Panchthar district with the support from Nepali Bazaro.

Beside the medical facilities to the farmers, special economic support is also provided to the women farmers during the maternity period. Financial support is also provided for ritual functions - births and deaths in a farmer’s family and for other local functions which have great social significance.

KTE not only cares about the environment by going Organic but also about its people. KTE, from its establishment, has taken responsibility to improve the living standards of the villagers. KTE remains committed to its promise of maintaining the high quality of life of its people by providing various facilities to its workers and the villagers.

KTE facilitates its workers with eco-house with all the basic facilities of sustaining a life. This has proved highly beneficial to the number of homeless workers at KTE The provision of free education to the children of the workers at the factory has served as an example of a typical business venture committed to its people.  It even provides a set of clothes to the poor farmers and their children once every year.

KTE even provides the daily food requirements to the workers at a subsidized rate which prevents them from buying the basic necessities at a higher price. Commodities such as rice, oil, salt etc are available to the workers at a cheap rate through KTE co-op shop.

Moreover, the provision of clean and safe drinking water, electricity and smokeless ovens has highly benefited the workers and the villagers. In addition, the benefits from the cow bank project, Scholarship programs and other schemes have made the workers and the villagers happy and dedicated towards their commitment towards KTE, development of organic farming and sustainability of their village itself.

How to reach our Tea Estate?

• 35 minutes flight from Kathamandu to Birathnagar. Seven hours drive from Birathnagar to Phidim Bazar crossing the borders of Birtamod and Illam districts on the way. 
• 45 minutes flight from Kathamandu to Bhadrapur. Five hours drive from Bhadrapur to Phidim Bazar crossing the border of Illam district on the way. 
• 2 days drive from Kathmandu to Phidim Bazar. Public transportation is also available from Kathmandu.
• A walk of about 20 minutes should take one from Phidim Bazar to the KTE factory. A factory vehicle may be available at the Phidim Bazar if arranged beforehand.

Contact Details:

Nepal Contact

Factory/ Head Office:

Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Center
Phidim- 1, Panchthar, Province No. 1, Nepal
Tel: +977-24-520169
Email: info@organickte.com
Website: www.organickte.com

Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Center Garden:

Phidim - 7, Ranitar, Panchthar
Tel: +977-24-520169
Email: kterc1984@gmail.com

Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Center:

Lagankhel - 5, Lalitpur, Nepal
Tel: +977-1-5536693

Branch Office:

Old Baneshwor-9, Shree Ram Marg
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977-1-4489009
Mobile: +977-9851082828
Email: sagro@wlink.com.np
Website: www.organickte.com

USA Contact

303 Grand St., Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: +1-8482198946
Email: info@nepalteallc.com