In a recent email we found out that there’s an exciting new chapter ahead for Nepali Tea Traders! Boston-based entrepreneurs Sunita and Rabin Joshi, who were born and raised in Nepal, have joined the ownership team. They are working alongside original team members, including Founder Maggie Le Beau, to advance the mission of building a sustainable tea industry in Nepal .
The official press release is below…
NEPALI TEA TRADERS ANNOUNCES EXPANSION PLANS AND NEW OWNERSHIP Nepalese Team to Advance Company’s Mission to Build Sustainable Tea Industry Boston, Mass. and Denver, Colo. – September 12, 2017 – Nepali Tea Traders, which has successfully introduced Nepali artisan teas to North America, is welcoming two Boston-based entrepreneurs—both born and raised in Nepal—onto its ownership team. Sunita and Rabin Joshi will help advance the company’s mission: to build a sustainable tea industry in Nepal by expanding Nepali Tea Traders’ geographic markets and customer base. “After the earthquake hit Nepal in 2015, Rabin and I felt the immediate urge to do something meaningful for our country,” said Sunita Joshi. “It became clear that we needed to use our business experience to give back to our homeland. We evaluated different ideas and landed on importing tea. We were fortunate to meet Nepali Tea Traders’ founder Maggie Le Beau and were impressed with her business, brand, extraordinary teas and commitment to Nepal.
We are so excited to help her advance the mission and expand the business.” The five-year old company has just moved its center of operations from Denver, Colorado, to the Boston, Massachusetts area. Le Beau and other current team members will remain actively involved. The Joshis are both from Kathmandu and have lived for 13 years in the U.S., where they completed their university degrees. Rabin served as district manager for Dunkin Donuts, with responsibility for its coffee brand across the Boston metropolitan area. Sunita, an entrepreneur, joined solar company PanelClaw as an early team member and drove its concept to tens of millions of dollars, running the entire North America operation as the company grew. The Joshis will focus on marketing the high quality of teas that are produced in Nepal, expanding the company’s geographical focus both within the U.S. and in Europe and South America. The company will continue to source teas from Sandakphu Tea Processors, Nepali Tea Traders’ primary supplier. The Sandakphu teas recently received the USDA and DAkks (German) organic certificates. The teas have also earned three recent awards in the Global Tea Championships, including first place in 2015 for its Himalayan Golden Black Tea.
“Nepal produces some of the world’s best teas, and we intend to focus on expanding awareness and distribution,” said Rabin Joshi. Immediate plans for growth include expanding sales in Boston and the Northeast corridor, marketing the teas outside of North America and exploring new distribution options, including restaurants, hotels and specialty retail. “We have an excellent supply of both spring and summer flush teas, and look forward to introducing more people to these amazing teas.”
Le Beau looks forward to working with the Joshis. “I am delighted to introduce Sunita and Rabin to our customers and the business,” she said. “They are high-energy, talented entrepreneurs, who share our passion for our artisan teas and our commitment to building a sustainable tea economy in Nepal.”
About Nepali Tea Traders… Nepali Tea Traders is the first company in the United States to offer premium teas exclusively from small farms in the Ilam region of Nepal. The company sells a variety of natural and organic tea grown at ideal altitudes of 4,000 to 8,000 feet to tea shops and specialty grocery stores. Its full line of teas is also available for purchase at www.NepaliTeaTraders.com. Four of the company’s teas have earned North American Tea Championship honors. In 2015, Himalayan Golden was named the world’s best black tea. The company’s mission is to help to build a sustainable tea economy in Nepal, providing Nepal’s tea farmers fair prices and their fair share of the profit.
