Latest news with #WoolahTea
The Hindu
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Assam's Woolah Tea secures patent for India's first bagless tea
Assam's first bagless tea brand, Woolah Tea, has been granted a 20-year patent (No. 567895) for its innovative 'compressed true whole leaf tea dips and method thereof' (patent name). Founded by Upamanyu Borkotoky and Ansuman Bharali from Sibsagar district in Assam, Woolah is a start-up rooted in Assam's tea heritage. Woolah's tea is made from a compressed bundle of eti koli duti paat (one bud and two leaves), bound by a natural string —eliminating the need for conventional tea bags. The founders filed for the patent in 2020. 'Initially, we experimented with fibres like banana and bamboo to replace typical tea bags,' says Upamanyu. 'But the leaves didn't unfurl properly. Our focus was to eliminate microplastics that leach into tea from standard bags.' 'The bagless concept was entirely new — it took us over a year and 167 trials to get it right,' says Upamanyu. 'Initially, we compressed the tea by hand and dried it over a tea dryer. We filed for the patent even before launching the product.' Neither Upamanyu nor co-founder Ansuman had prior experience in the tea industry. A chance encounter with a farmer selling hand-rolled organic tea during a visit home sparked their interest. 'I used to think green tea couldn't taste good, but that changed,' says Upamanyu. They eventually quit their corporate jobs and began working with organic tea farmers in Assam, particularly in Sibsagar, Kaxhopothar and Dibrugarh. Woolah was featured on Shark Tank India Season 4 and was the only tea brand to receive offers from all the sharks. The brand is now preparing to export to the US, UK, UAE, Australia, and New Zealand. Woolah is also representing Assam in celebration of 200 years of Assam Tea at The Summer Fancy Food show at New York.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
200 years of Assam Tea: India Pavilion unveiled at Summer Fancy Food Show 2025 in New York
New York [US], June 30 (ANI): The India Pavilion at the Summer Fancy Food Show 2025 was inaugurated on Sunday at the Jacob K Javits Center in New York, by Ravi Kota, the Chief Secretary to the government of Assam, and Ambassador Binaya S Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York, reads an official press release. The event marked a momentous occasion celebrating 200 years of Assam Tea - a global symbol of strength, flavour, and heritage that has shaped livelihoods, cultures, and economies since its discovery in 1823 along the banks of Brahmaputra River. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Assam Chief Secretary highlighted how the idea for the 200 years celebration of Assam Tea was brewed during a conversation between Ambassador Pradhan and the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, earlier this year. 'As we celebrate 200 years of Assam Tea, we do so not only with pride in our legacy but with a clear vision for the future,' Kota remarked. 'For Assam, this Pavilion at the Summer Fancy Food Show 2025, here at the Jacob K. Javits Center, serves as both a celebratory and strategic platform. And Assam Tea stands as a bridge between tradition and innovation. I say innovation because India is buzzing with youngsters brimming with energy and ideas, and so is Assam. Four start-ups that we wanted to bring to this event - Aromica Tea, Woolah Tea, Dorei Tea, and Earth Tea are only a flavour of tea startups brewing innovation in Assam. They are innovating new blends of exotic tea, and I am confident that these innovations will gain global visibility from this event,' he added. Kota also underscored the vital role of Assam's small tea growers, who contribute 40 per cent of the state's production, and highlighted the transformative impact of bought-leaf factories in the ecosystem. Reflecting on the journey of Assam Tea, the Chief Secretary traced its origins to the discovery of wild tea bushes by early explorers. Today, Assam is globally renowned for its bold, malty brews and deep amber liquor. As a mark of authenticity, Assam Tea anchors breakfast blends, afternoon cups, and premium specialty collections. Kota added that a key enabler of this thriving industry is the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, the largest in India by volume. Trading over 250 million kilograms annually, it provides buyers worldwide with access to a diverse array of Assam teas through a digital, transparent, and highly regulated platform. In 2024-25, more than 100 million kilograms of Assam tea were shipped to over 90 countries, generating nearly $285 million in exports. Major destinations include the United Kingdom, Russia, the UAE, Germany, Iraq, and China, underscoring Assam's position as a trusted supplier to both traditional and emerging tea markets. The Government of Assam is committed to deepening India-US relations through strategic initiatives involving AI, blockchain, and specialised summits. It also plans to host the 'Heritage to Wellness' Tea Showcase across the US and sign MoUs with American universities, retailers, and innovation platforms to enhance traceability and promote sustainable partnerships. Leading tea companies from Assam, including Unilever, Tata, Goodricke, and Luxmi, stand united in advancing this shared vision. Kota concluded by extending heartfelt gratitude to the Consulate General of India, the Tea Board of India, ITPO, industry leaders, startups, and US trade partners for their support in making this celebration extraordinary. (ANI)
The Print
3 days ago
- Business
- The Print
India pavilion inaugurated in New York to celebrate 200 Years of Assam Tea
'As we celebrate 200 years of Assam Tea, we do so not only with pride in our legacy but with a clear vision for the future,' he said during the inauguration on Sunday. Assam Tea is a global symbol of strength, flavour, and heritage that has shaped livelihoods, cultures, and economies since its discovery in 1823 along the banks of the Brahmaputra River, the chief secretary was quoted as saying in an official statement. Guwahati, Jun 30 (PTI) Assam's Chief Secretary Ravi Kota has inaugurated an India pavilion at the Summer Fancy Food Show 2025 in New York to celebrate 200 years of Assam Tea. For Assam, the pavilion serves as both a celebratory and strategic platform as Assam Tea stands as a bridge between tradition and innovation, Kota said. He pointed out four startups — Aromica Tea, Woolah Tea, Dorei Tea, and Earth Tea – 'provide a flavour of tea startups brewing innovation in Assam and so we wanted to bring these brands here'. 'They are innovating new blends of exotic tea, and I am confident that these innovations will gain global visibility from this event,' he added. He also highlighted the vital role played by Assam's small tea growers, who contribute to 40 per cent of the state's production, and also pointed out the transformative impact of bought-leaf factories in the ecosystem. Kota said that a key enabler of this thriving industry is the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, the largest in India by volume. Trading over 250 million kg annually, it provides buyers worldwide with access to a diverse array of Assam teas through a digital, transparent, and highly regulated platform. In 2024-25, more than 100 million kg of Assam tea were shipped to over 90 countries, generating nearly USD 285 million in exports. Major destinations include the United Kingdom, Russia, the UAE, Germany, Iraq, and China, underscoring Assam's position as a trusted supplier to both traditional and emerging tea markets. 'The Assam government is committed to deepening India-US relations through strategic initiatives involving AI, blockchain, and specialised summits,' Kota said. 'We are also planning to host the 'Heritage to Wellness' Tea Showcase across the US and sign MoUs with American universities, retailers, and innovation platforms to enhance traceability and promote sustainable partnerships,' he added. Consul General of India in New York Binaya S Pradhan was also present on the occasion. PTI DG DG ACD This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
