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KIA ETHNIC TEA STORY - Founder’s Letter
We had our humble beginnings in the tea business, trading teas in Calcutta, India. We truly believed that tea with all its inherent benefits could change the world.
We started Kia Teas, upon arrival in the US; we saw success supplying private label teas to major grocery chains in the country but noticed a gap in the market. The majority of teas available in the US were grown and blended to suit the needs of iced tea but there was nothing that fit the unique taste of blends which the Ethnic market required. Seeing an untapped market for premium quality tea, we created Kia Teas. We wanted to capture the true quality, taste and experience of Ethnic Teas in our product.
We have a complete Ethnic range of products, as we cater to all needs of all communities, ranging from Assam Barooti and Assam Kalami to Kadak Chai, from Earl Grey Tea to Saffron Tea. We also have all formats from Loose Tea, Tea Bags to Instant Chais.
History of Tea
Tea was discovered in China and for hundreds of years, remained a Chinese beverage. Tea grew in popularity in Asia and made its way to Europe and England in the 16th century. In the 1830s, the British East India Company became concerned about the Chinese monopoly on tea, which constituted most of its trade and supported the enormous consumption of tea in Great Britain. The British colonists discovered tea growing wild in Assam and in the 1850s started cultivating tea plantations locally.
Historically Indians viewed tea as an herbal medicine rather than as a recreational beverage so consumption of black tea within India remained low until the promotional campaign by the British in the early 20th century, which encouraged factories, mines, and textile mills to provide tea breaks for their workers. Since then, tea has become a big part of the Indian culture.