Nepal

The small kingdom in the Himalayan mountains lies in between Tibet (China) in the North and India in the South, East and West. The country belongs to the Terei (flatland with tropical temperatures), the medium mountain range (up to 4,200 metres) and the high-alpine zone with the highest peaks of the earth. As diversified and versatile as the country side is also the ethical diversity of one of the youngest tea cultivation countries, even though the first plantations were already founded approximately 140 years ago. In 1863 Mr. Gajaraj Singh Thapa, the brother-in-law of the Prime Minister and administrator of the Province Ilam, received the first seeds from China as a gift. The tea garden Ilam (50 hectares) was founded by him. A first tea factory was built in the year 1873. However, only in the 1950s did the UNO start supporting professional tea cultivation as a development project in on of the poorest countires of the world. They succeeded in building up a successful tea industry. The tea cultivation in Nepal is carried out by many small farmer cooperatives. They sell their harvests to the local, state tea factories.


The tea cultivation areas lie all in the East of the country at medium altitudes, neighbouring Darjeeling.

Towards the end of the 1960s, and with international help, the "Nepal-Fikkal-Ilam small Tea Producers Co. Ltd." was founded which processes the harvests of the small farmers and tries to sell this on the international market. The competition from the neighbouring Darjeeling is fierce. The kingdom of Nepal undertakes immense efforts in order to compete with its famous neighbour. The HOTPA (Himalayan Orthodox Tea Producers Association), a cooperation of small tea plantations, - growers and -fabrics, also represents the interests of the people East of the Himalaya who depend on cultivating tea.
Nepal does not have a coastline - the closest harbour is Calcutta, 600 km away.

Nepals highland teas distinguish themselves by their extremely fine, nutty taste and a slight nutmeg aroma. Today, self-bred clones of China hybrids from Darjeeling are the only plants used. During the last couple of years, some very experienced managers from Darjeeling could be headhunted. The result are fine teas which do not have to fear a direct comparision with their famous neighbour. The majority of the teas are produced orthodoxically and with consideration for the most modern ecological standards. Hence, almost no pesticides are used but mainly Nim-tree extracts and lemon grass to fight varmints. Organic fertilizers are used almost exclusively. Meanwhile, Nepal can also achieve remarcable prices on international tea exchanges. 


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