These entrepreneurs are brewing a storm in a teacup for the right reasons, writes Sharmila Vaidyanathan.
As published in Deccan Herald on December 12, 2021.
When Elizabeth Yambem talks about her childhood years in Manipur’s capital city of Imphal, her narratives are filled with the wonders of the natural world. Verdant hills, the refreshing zing of Sumac berries after spending hours outside, and the comfort of Nong-mang-kha or Titaaphul leaves (Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis) to cure a bad cold; nature was right there at her doorstep. Years later, while working as a financial analyst in London and then Singapore, Yambem found herself longing for those familiar flavours. She found a way to reconnect with her childhood memories while reigniting an interest in the indigenous herbs and fruits of her homeland. All she had to do was brew the right cuppa!
A tea entrepreneur today, Yambem established her tea venture in 2016. “I wanted to get back to my roots. I felt that it was important to do something to preserve our indigenous products and highlight their traditional medicinal values. I found a way to do that by blending them with tea,” she says.
Sounds simple and straightforward, but Yambem’s journey has been anything but that. During her sojourn in London, she found herself experimenting with many flavours of tea, while her own idea steeped and simmered in her mind. Once she knew that she was on the right path, she packed her bags and moved back to India, spending about a year in Assam researching on tea before finally launching her brand in Imphal, Manipur. Her teas include a Fruity Roselle Olive tea, a Spiced Hog Plum and King Chilli tea and a Garcinia Green Tea, among other unique flavours.
Read the complete story here. –> To a tea.