The story of Indian splendor teas is a little like that of tea itself, with a romance all of its own.
Tea, an exotic Indian chai, a ceremonial Japanese drink, or a quintessential British beverage, has had an incredible and complex journey, from its mystical origins to becoming the most consumed beverage around the world, second only to water.
Tales of its origins are a mix of myth, fact, folklore, spirituality and philosophy.
Ostensibly, tea was discovered by an Asian Emperor, when he came across the Camellia Sinensis plant by accident, a couple of thousand years ago; a few leaves from the plant fell into a pot of boiling water, as his troops took refuge, giving the world its first taste of tea.
Travelling merchants took the tea to various places beyond, but commercial exploitation of this endearing beverage, worldwide, came about much later.
The story of Indian splendor too begins in Asia, with an endearing Indian-Kazakh joint venture. Unknown to most until recently, the Kazakh people have always had a very discerning palate for fine tea, especially high grade Indian teas. It became known only after their independence in 1991 that Kazakhstan had the highest per capita consumption of premium Indian teas in the world, at that time.
Ireland and the United Kingdom would take second and third place, respectively.
The joint venture is set in the ecologically pristine outskirts of Almaty city, alongside the Alatau range of the majestic Tien Shan mountains, where it operates a tea blending and packaging plant run almost entirely by women.
The regions of Darjeeling, Dooars and Nilgiri, each with their own unique and special terroir, soon followed and began producing exceptionally good, pleasant and distinctive teas, the likes of which are incomparable and not to be found anywhere else.
Following a discussion with the Chairman, Tea Board of India during an Indian tea delegation’s visit to Almaty, the plan for developing a unique and prestigious collection of the finest Indian teas, with packaging to match, began to unfold.
The brand name Indian splendor was chosen essentially to define what we wanted to bring to the consumer – the finest splendors of India, in tea. Each of the Indian splendor tea blends was created with a passion and selected to match the essence of the brand name, while representing the very best from the different tea growing regions of India.
Though, in some exquisite, exhilarating and wholesome malty brews, we did not shy away from putting together handpicked teas of different leaf types and even from different regions, in select proportions, to bring out a combination of the very best and exclusive character of each.
Numerous private and public tea tasting sessions were held, along with participation of some of the world’s most experienced tea tasters and master blenders.
The Indian splendor collection is representative of a wide spectrum of the richness and splendor of high grade Indian teas, ensuring that the character and bouquet of each of the fine teas is unique and distinct in itself.
The array of Classic and Handicraft packaging’s were also designed and created with élan and a traditional ethos.
We started out with Designer Metal Caddies and Pyramid Tea Bag Boxes.
The individual products of the Indian splendor collection are also branded with an essence of the splendors of India.
The Indian splendor Classic Collection was launched in 2010 by the Ambassador of India, at the India Food Expo in Almaty. The teas were highly appreciated not only by local tea enthusiasts but also by a large segment of the elite International community present at the occasion.
With a view to further study and confirm the appeal of Indian splendor teas to discerning palates, internationally, in 2015 Indian splendor exhibited, for the first time, at the World Tea Expo for Premium Teas, in Long Beach, California.
The Collection received an overwhelming response from over 300 tea aficionado’s and members of a host of Tea Associations, who actually tasted the entire collection of teas.
Then, with a view to reaching out to world markets, optimally, the joint venture extended itself back to the source and, in 2017, also began operations from Kolkata and New Delhi, India.
Today, the Indian splendor collection of teas can be delivered fresh, economically and swiftly, worldwide.
In 2017 Indian splendor participated at The Palate, New Delhi, where several hundred people tasted, appreciated and bought the teas, and then again at the World Food India Expo 2019, and at various tea tasting sessions.
Indian splendor teas are now a leader in the Super Premium segment in Almaty city, where they are pitted against all the top international brands, and are extending their presence well beyond even into the neighboring Russian hinterland.
Back home in India too, Indian splendor teas were doing well at Duty Free shops, Five Star Hotel Boutiques, Central Cottage Emporiums and other select and bespoke outlets, where they had been introduced before the interruption of the Pandemic.
Nevertheless, we continue upon our journey of spreading the splendor, with the feeling that this is just the beginning, ‘… and we have miles to go before we sleep….’
Tea:
(n.) a hug in a cup
A Cup of tea makes everything better!
