Every other household in India starts its day with smelling freshly made tea or coffee. The number of eco conscious consumers in every sector is increasing, whether it is switching from plastic straws to rice straws or using organic skincare, so starting your day with a healthier choice would be great, for you as well as the soil.
According to the research by Newcastle University in UK, organic food products are filled with 18-69% more antioxidants than non-organic food. They are linked to a reduced risk of cancer. People are aware of the good effects of any tea or coffee, but when it comes to organic ones, they are just better. Although these organic beverages have been around for a couple of decades, not many people are seen drinking them. These products are unadulterated, without harmful additives, nurtured with eco-friendly pest and disease control measures. They are good for the environment, the consumer, and the farmers who cultivate them.
Handmade tea
Partha Saikia, a former NITian, started something out of love and passion for tea and independence in 2020. In the midst of a raging pandemic, Assam Keteki Tea was born. The brand sells Organic Green Tea, with no powder or dust in it, and more importantly, sold without a tea bag- which contains plastic. “Consumers have become more conscious of their health now, so I want to deliver what they want – organic and healthy food and drinks,” says Partha when talking about bringing organic green tea to the market.
Organic Green Tea helps in maintaining a balance of good bacteria in your digestive system and boosts your antioxidant level. It helps with good metabolism and in diabetes. It is a stress-reliever, helps with detoxifying your body, and boosting your immunity.
Assam Keteki handmade Organic Tea leaves can be brewed two to three times, giving the drinker an enhanced taste with each boil. The tea is rolled using hands, as the tea manufacturing process has little to no machine involvement. The leaves are procured from small producers.
To bring their organic teas directly to consumers, without the involvement of a retailer, Assam Keteki Tea has an outlet on the banks of the Brahmaputra river in Guwahati. Chaipho, a tea shop on wheels, makes different kinds of teas and home-made healthy snacks in the evenings. There is a bond created between Keteki Tea and the ones drinking it whenever one visits Chaipho to be enriched with the goodness of organic tea.
The perks of organic beverages
- Organic teas and coffees are grown without putting any chemicals in the soil. There are no pesticides or fertilisers used in its cultivation.
- Organic teas and coffees are grown in small batches, unlike the non-organic ones that are currently sitting on your kitchen shelf. Sent out from big estates with mono-cropped tea plants, the leaves are never washed before landing in your cup. When they are grown organically in a limited quantity, the best quality and hygiene is ensured.
- Organic coffee beans, ready to be brewed, are cultivated by local farmers in a holistic agricultural production management system.
- According to a report by Kerala Agricultural University, majority coffee holdings are dominated by small tribal growers that follow traditional farming practices such as cattle manure, manual weeding, and recycling of organic wastes. These practices are ideally suited for conversion to organic farming from conventional farming, also decreasing farmers’ exposure to toxic chemicals.
- Organic coffee, just like organic tea, helps in strengthening the immune system and making a good mood. Decaffeinated organic coffees can limit your caffeine intake while making sure the right amount of stimulant is getting into your diet.
Where can you grab yours?
- Two Brothers, working for organic products since 2012, creates instant coffee grown in the Araku Valley. Their coffees are custom roasted with no preservatives or fillers at all. Their coffee is grown in multiple micro-terrains, coupled with other inter-crops, contributing to its intense aroma and flavour.
- Teabox sends its delicious organic Green Tea flavoured with Hibiscus, Jasmine and many more in a plastic-free packaging, going an extra mile to be environmentally intelligent. It is all hand-blended and handpacked, delivering to you in any part of the world.
- Pure and Sure sources all its coffee from certified organic farmers in different parts of India. Its customers sure love the rich and smooth cuppa it gives. It is made from fine Arabica beans grown in shade.
- Assam Keteki Tea offers a variety of flavours. Its Chamomile tea is often out of stock and the Lemongrass, Ginger, and Tulsi tea are worth every penny you spend. These spices are sourced from different Indian states and combined with the world-famous Assamese Tea.
