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About Nepali Tea Traders
About Nepali Tea Traders: Our Direct-Trade Story Since 2012
Nepali Tea Traders is a woman-owned, Boston-based importer dedicated to bringing the finest single-origin teas from Ilam, Nepal to American tea drinkers. Since 2012, we've built direct relationships with small-holder farmers in the Himalayan foothills—skipping commodity brokers entirely so every leaf you brew is traceable to its garden, cultivar, and harvest season.
Our flagship Himalayan Golden earned the Gold Award at The Leafies (International Tea Academy) and was named Best Black Tea at the North American Tea Championship. We don't just sell tea—we provide a bridge to the highest-quality orthodox leaves produced in the Himalayas today.
Every lot begins with the classic "two leaves and a bud" standard—hand-plucked in Ilam's high-altitude gardens. Slow growth in cool Himalayan air develops the clean, vibrant profile that has earned us global recognition.
Why Single-Origin Matters
- Superior Terroir: Cool nights and 4,000–8,000ft altitudes concentrate sweetness.
- Single-Origin Purity: Authentic Ilam—never mixed with anonymous commodity fillers.
- Award-Winning Profile: Honeyed malt, stone fruit, and florals with naturally low astringency.
- Expert Curation: We focus on "The Darjeeling of Nepal" for the most expressive cups.
Direct Sourcing from Ilam
- Direct Farmer Partnerships: Rewarding craftsmanship and fair wages at the source.
- USDA Organic Certified: Available for select lots to ensure purity and sustainability.
- Freshness Guaranteed: We skip the brokers, shipping fresh harvests directly to our Boston hub.
- Transparency: Every lot is traceable to its specific garden and harvest season.
Our Impact: Beyond the Cup
Empowering Farmers
By working directly with smallholders in Ilam, we support income stability and encourage the preservation of traditional orthodox tea-making methods.
Sustainable Sourcing
Many of our most-loved black, green, and oolong lots are USDA Organic. We invest in the land and the people who tend it.
Quality Over Volume
We prioritize smaller, fresher releases. This "lot-by-lot" approach ensures you receive tea at the peak of its flavor profile.
The Faces of Nepali Tea Traders
We founded Nepali Tea Traders to solve a problem: the lack of transparency in the tea industry. Our mission is to make it easy for U.S. tea drinkers to access real Ilam lots—single-origin teas with a clear story and consistent, world-class quality.
Sunita Karrma, Co-Owner
Sunita leads our mission to strengthen farmer partnerships and ensure every leaf we import meets our award-winning quality standards.
Rabin M Joshi, President
Raised with the tea rituals of Nepal, Rabin brings beverage-industry expertise to expand access to single-origin Ilam teas across the U.S.
Start with Our Top-Rated Teas
New here? These are the customer favorites—curated, award-winning, and the best place to taste what makes Ilam different.
Wholesale inquiries or media requests? Contact us—we are the U.S. experts on Ilam tea.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nepali Tea Traders a woman-owned company?
Yes. We are a woman-owned, Boston-based company. We focus exclusively on single-origin Nepali tea from the Ilam region, supporting local farmers and sustainable trade.
How does Nepali tea compare to Darjeeling?
While grown in similar Himalayan terroir, Nepali tea (specifically from Ilam) often has a cleaner finish with less of the "bite" or astringency found in mass-market Darjeeling. This makes it ideal for drinkers who enjoy complex, smooth floral and malty notes.
Where is your tea stored and shipped from?
All of our teas are imported directly from Nepal and shipped from our facility in the U.S. (Boston area). This ensures faster delivery and fresher tea than ordering from international collectives.
What awards has your tea won?
Our Himalayan Golden has earned a Gold Award at The Leafies and "Best Black Tea" at the North American Tea Championship. Our Spring White Buds has also been featured in The New York Times.
Are your teas USDA Organic?
Yes, select lots are USDA Organic certified. We list the certification clearly on each individual product page where applicable.
Do you offer wholesale for cafes or shops?
Yes, we partner with specialty retailers and cafes across the U.S. who want to offer their customers unique, single-origin Nepal tea. Please visit our Contact page for wholesale inquiries.