Supporting our organic farmers
Our tea is carefully picked, pressed and packaged by our teams in Myanmar. We’re pleased to share some of the ways we look out for our organic community.
Behind the scenes
A lot goes into the making of our tea. In the past, it was a labour-intensive process beginning with wet tea. Green tea leaves were put into a plastic sack, then added to boiling water and pressed with a wooden block. The leaves were then placed on the floor and cooled, before being placed on a leaf rack. Finally, they were bagged and pressed by foot to thicken and seal.
A lot goes into the making of our tea. In the past, it was a labour-intensive process beginning with wet tea. Green tea leaves were put into a plastic sack, then added to boiling water and pressed with a wooden block. The leaves were then placed on the floor and cooled, before being placed on a leaf rack. Finally, they were bagged and pressed by foot to thicken and seal.
Today, thanks to technology, things are a lot simpler. Organic farmers now sell raw organic tea leaves to factories in the Myazedi and Alall Chaung villages, where the green tea leaves are steamed with modern methods. For our Paline products, this means using advanced machinery for hygienic processing. The blended green tea leaves are placed on racks and air-cooled, before being placed on rollers for an exact amount of time. The result? Perfectly rolled green tea leaves.
EMPLOYMENT
A sense of community
Our tea wouldn’t exist without the passion and dedication of our organic farmers, and we’re committed to increasing opportunities for women in particular. In Myanmar, it works like a community – groups of farmers sell tea to the organic factory in the local village, often run by their own family members. Teams are set up in each village to harvest the organic green tea, and as more family members gain access to employment opportunities, so our wonderful tea community grows. Organic tea farmer groups have now been set up in Mya Thein Tan, Allal Chaung, Mya Zay Ti and Mya Aye Ti villages in Ywangan Township, southern Shan State.
SUPPORT
Taking care of our staff
It used to be common for tea brokers to visit villages to buy their tea, but this all changed when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Luckily, the organic tea community buys tea from farmers throughout the year to make sure they continue to receive a steady income in difficult times. In addition, we provide training, GMP and HAACP certification funding, new equipment and annual health and education support for our farmers. For their own personal use, they also receive rice, oil and instant tea bags.
TRAINING
Experts in organic
Our farmers have access to the knowledge, skills and training to help them produce the very best organic tea leaves. New technology has also made things easier, and it means that our teams can make a better profit when selling the leaves. In the plantation villages, the use of chemicals has reduced as a whole, greatly benefitting the natural environment and health of the villagers.
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