Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Center

What Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Center does

Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Center (KTERC) is a Nepal-based, vertically integrated organic tea producer founded in 1984 by Deepak Prakash Baskota. The company operates Nepal's first certified organic tea garden on approximately 95 hectares (including 87.5 hectares of tea garden) at the foothills of Mt. Kanchanjunga in Phidim, Panchthar, at 800–2,300m altitude, with processing at 1,300–1,800m. It runs an unusual cooperative ownership model in which more than 100 farmer families are co-owners rather than employees, alongside roughly 600 total workers (150 direct, ~400 indirect), of whom approximately 75% are women.

KTERC's product line includes orthodox black teas (Kaalo Special Black, Black Premium, Black Pearl, Black Ruby, Nepali Breakfast), green teas (Green Premium, Green Pearl), white tea (Silver Tips), oolong, specialty blends (Citrus Groove, Rose, Mint, Kathmandu Cosmos), and an organic herbs and spices range (ginger, turmeric, black cardamom, cinnamon, lemongrass, Sichuan pepper, hibiscus, tulsi), plus roasted coffee. Production runs through an 11-step orthodox processing flow anchored by Ayurvedic pest management, HACCP food-safety protocols, and ISO-22000 quality systems. Annual production capacity is approximately 100,000 kg, supported by in-house tea-bagging capacity of 150,000 tea bags per day and 5,000 enveloped tea bags at the Shangrila Agro World packaging unit in Kathmandu.

Revenue is generated through a multi-channel model spanning direct-to-consumer e-commerce (organickte.com), two company-owned BG Tea Bar retail locations in Kathmandu (Old Baneshwor and Chhaya Center, Thamel), tea tourism and tasting events, and wholesale/export channels managed by the wholly-owned subsidiary Shangrila Agro World across 12+ countries (Japan, Germany, Canada, Australia, Korea, USA, Poland, Netherlands, Finland, Ukraine, China, India) — with Harrods (UK) cited as a notable premium placement. Export logistics use 100 kg minimum air-cargo orders and 4,000+ kg container shipments via Kolkata port. Certifications underpinning premium positioning include EU Organic, USDA Organic, JAS, NASAA, CERES, ISO-22000, HACCP, and WFTO Fair Trade, making KTERC the only Fair Trade Certified tea company in Nepal. Corporate Social Responsibility is channeled through a separate KTE Foundation (est. 2010). No external venture or private equity funding is recorded; the company is bootstrapped through its cooperative structure and reinvested earnings.

Name

Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Center

Legal name

Kanchanjangha Tea Estate & Research Center Pvt. Ltd.

Website

https://organickte.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Center (KTERC), founded 1984 in Nepal, is a cooperative-owned producer of high-altitude certified organic teas, herbs, and spices. It serves domestic consumers via two tea bars and e-commerce, and exports to 12+ countries including a Harrods UK placement, supported by EU Organic, USDA, JAS, WFTO, and HACCP certifications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Organic Tea

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAFADAJ

Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing

Agriculture & Food Production/Beverage Production/Coffee & Tea Processing (Roasting, Blending, RTD)

SECONDARYCRADAHAE

Tea (Leaf, Bagged, Instant, Concentrates)

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/Non-Alcoholic Beverages (Coffee, Tea, Soft Drinks, Water)

SECONDARYCRAHAGAI

Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories)

Consumer Products & Retail/Grocery & Food Retail/Specialty Food Stores (Deli, Cheese, Gourmet, Bakery)

SECONDARYTHAFAKAD

Specialty Tea Shops (Loose-Leaf, Tea Bars)

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Beverage Shops (Juice, Smoothie, Tea, Non-Alcoholic Specialty)

Keywords

• Organic tea production
• Specialty tea
• Fair trade agriculture
• Herbal infusions
• Cooperative farming

Headquarters

HQ city

Phidim

HQ country

Nepal

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Organic Tea and Agricultural Product Sales: Primary revenue from selling processed organic tea (black, green, white, oolong, silver tips, etc.) and organic herbs/spices (ginger, turmeric, lemongrass, cardamom, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, rose petals, hibiscus, tulsi, wild nettle, black pepper, chilly). Sold through direct e-commerce, tea bars, wholesale to specialty retailers, and export to international markets. Cooperative model where farmer-employees are also owners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Center cultivates, processes, and sells premium organic teas and herbs/spices from a 95-hectare high-altitude Himalayan tea garden in Nepal, operating on a cooperative farmer-owner model. The product range includes black, green, white, oolong, and specialty blend teas, plus organic herbs, spices, and roasted coffee, distributed through its own e-commerce, two BG Tea Bar retail locations, wholesale, and export to 12+ countries. Auxiliary services include tea tourism, tea tasting events, and a tea club membership program.

Product overview

Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Center (KTERC) is Nepal's first certified organic tea garden, established in 1984, operating a cooperative model where farmers are owners. The company produces high-mountain premium organic teas including Black Tea (Kaalo Special Black, Black Premium, Black Pearl, Black Ruby, Nepali Breakfast), Green Tea (Green Premium, Green Pearl), White Tea (Silver Tips), and Oolong Tea, along with specialty blends like Citrus Groove and Kathmandu Cosmos. Additionally, KTERC offers organic herbs and spices (Ginger, Turmeric, Black Cardamom, Cinnamon, Lemongrass, Sichuan Pepper, Hibiscus, Tulsi) and roasted coffee. The company operates two BG Tea Bar retail locations in Kathmandu serving over 20 tea varieties. Products are exported to Japan, Germany, Canada, Australia, Korea, USA, and other countries, with distribution through their own WooCommerce platform and Nepal Tea Collective marketplace.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shangrila Agro World: Marketing wing of KTE focusing on export, processing and packaging of teas and agro products
• BG Tea Bar
• KTE Foundation
• Nepal Organic Tea

Products and services

• Organic Black Tea (Kaalo Special, Black Premium, Black Pearl, Black Ruby, Nepali Breakfast) Premium organic black tea varieties including the flagship Kaalo Special Black Tea with large gilded leaves, floral notes, rose, honey, and caramelized sweetness; Black Premium, Black Pearl, Black Ruby, and Nepali Breakfast loose-leaf varieties. Grown at 1,300–1,800m altitude in Himalayan foothills.
• Organic Green Tea (Green Premium, Green Pearl) Premium organic green tea from high-elevation Himalayan foothills, including Green Premium loose leaf and hand-rolled Green Pearl tea. KTE was the first organic green tea producer in Nepal.
• Organic White Tea (Silver Tips) Premium organic white tea with silver tips, noted for lower caffeine and subtle, flavorful profile suitable for evening drinking.
• Organic Oolong Tea Loose leaf organic oolong tea processed through KTE's 11-step orthodox tea production flow.
• Specialty Tea Blends (Rose Tea, Citrus Groove, Mint Tea, Kathmandu Cosmos) Specialty organic tea blends including Rose Tea (organic tea infused with rose), Citrus Groove (black tea blended with lemongrass and orange, lemon, lime peels), Mint Tea (organic mint infusion), and Kathmandu Cosmos specialty blend.
• Organic Herbs & Spices (Ginger, Turmeric, Black Cardamom, Cinnamon, Lemongrass, Sichuan Pepper, Hibiscus, Tulsi) Organic herbs and spices from Nepal including Ginger Slices, Broken Turmeric, Turmeric Slices, Black Cardamom, Cinnamon Leaves, Lemongrass, Sichuan Pepper, Hibiscus, and Tulsi (holy basil). Sold for culinary and tea infusion use.
• Roasted Coffee Beans Roasted organic coffee beans from Nepal, complementing KTE's tea and spice product range.
• BG Tea Bar (Chhaya Center, Thamel and Old Baneshwor locations) Two physical tea bar locations in Kathmandu operated under the Baskota Group of Industries: BG Tea Bar at Chhaya Center (Thamel) and Old Baneshwor (Shree Ram Marga). Serves 20+ varieties of high-end orthodox teas with trained brewing staff; offers a retail and experiential consumption channel for KTE products.
• Tea Tourism Program Immersive tea tourism experience at the KTE garden in Phidim, Panchthar, Eastern Nepal, where visitors participate in tea farming, learn about history and culture, and take home privately labeled tea.
• Tea Tasting Events Regular tea tasting events hosted at BG Tea Bar locations in Kathmandu, covering tea production methods, brewing techniques, history, ecology, and growing of tea. Open to consumers, buyers, and trade visitors.
• Tea Club Membership Membership program for tea enthusiasts to engage with KTE's community, receive updates, and access tea-related content and events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Low caffeine content and high Linalool and Methylsalcylate (flavoring compounds) compared to other teas
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Lama PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShangrila Agro World was established with Lama Partners for expanding the market, establishing exports, and setting up the first Fair Trade Certified packing unit.
• Nepali BazarominorGTM or Marketing PartnerFair trade organization in Japan that supports KTE Foundation's scholarship program and social activities, including support from 'One Coin Concert Staff' of Kanagawa Sogou High School, Yokohama, Japan.
• Japanese Partners (via Nepali Bazaro)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn collaboration with Japanese partners, KTERC distributed school books and stationery to children of farmers and buyers.
• Transfair International (Germany)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFair trade organization based in Germany that provided premiums used for bridge-building activities and road maintenance at KTE.
• Sinass Tea Handels (Germany)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman tea trading company that provided support to maintain the 'green road' linking the highway to the KTE factory.
• Nepal Tea CollectiveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational partner through which KTE products are sold (e.g., Kaalo Special Black Tea sold via nepalteacollective.com). Also coordinates the tea tourism program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mariage Frères: French premium tea house offering single-origin and blended orthodox teas through its own tea salons and specialty retail. Highly comparable to KTE in single-origin positioning and tea-bar/salon retail format (similar to KTE's BG Tea Bars).
• Harney & Sons: Family-owned U.S. specialty tea company known for single-origin and blended premium orthodox teas with strong specialty retail presence and international wholesale. Comparable in product category, premium positioning, and channel mix (DTC, specialty retail, wholesale).
• Republic of Tea: U.S. specialty tea brand offering premium loose-leaf, bagged, and herbal teas through DTC e-commerce and specialty retail. Comparable in packaged specialty tea products, DTC/wholesale channel mix, and certified/organic positioning.
• Jun Chiyabari: Another premium Nepali single-origin high-altitude tea garden operating in eastern Nepal with similar single-estate orthodox processing, export-led distribution, and premium positioning. The closest direct comparable in terms of geography, scale, and product category.
• Davidson's Organic Teas: U.S. specialty tea company focused on organic, fair trade, and single-origin loose-leaf and bagged teas. Closely comparable to KTE in organic/Fair Trade positioning, product range, and DTC plus wholesale specialty channel mix.
• Himalayan Tea Producers Cooperative: Nepal-based cooperative tea producer organized around smallholder farmer members with export and Fair Trade orientation—directly comparable to KTE's cooperative ownership and international specialty distribution model.
• Gorkha Tea Estate: Nepali single-origin orthodox tea producer with export focus to international specialty buyers, comparable to KTE in estate-based production, organic/quality positioning, and Himalayan-origin story.

Broad incumbents

• Celestial Seasonings (Hain Celestial): Large North American packaged tea brand offering herbal, green, and black teas in mass retail. Comparable product lines (tea bags, herbals) but at vastly larger scale and distributed primarily through mainstream grocery rather than specialty channels.
• Twinings: Global incumbent tea brand with deep retail presence across grocery, foodservice, and specialty channels. Overlaps with KTE on black/green tea categories but at far broader scale and with much less emphasis on single-origin or cooperative sourcing.

Emerging players

• Nepal Tea Collective: Nepali-origin specialty tea brand and DTC retailer that resells KTE products (e.g., Kaalo Special Black Tea) and also curates other Nepal-sourced teas. A partner and adjacent player rather than a producer peer, but directly comparable in serving U.S. specialty tea consumers seeking Nepal-sourced single-origin tea.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bgteabar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kanchanjangha-tea-estate-and-research-center

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Center