“Bienvenido” – Welcome – is written on the colorful sign that awaits Eduardo at his arrival at Jun Chiyabari. During his three-day stay, his hosts will decorate it with fresh flowers each morning.
It is no wonder Eduardo’s eyes light up when he talks about his visit to the gardens. His travel report paints a picture of Himalayan hospitality, spicy food, and friendship across language barriers. For the past eight years, Eduardo has been in contact with the owners of Jun Chiyabari, but had never made the journey to the mountains of Hile. Until recently: With Eduard/Himalaya, he finally had the perfect excuse to go.
Nepali tea culture: Built by many hands
In the late 1800s, tea first made its way from Darjeeling to Nepal. For a long time, production stuck mostly to the methods that were adopted along with the plant. But without the grand colonial estates that shaped Indian agriculture, Nepal’s tea culture evolved around smallholders and family-run businesses. Over the past three decades, a young generation of farmers and artisans has been pushing their craftsmanship to new horizons.
In the same vein, Jun Chiyabari, meaning “Moon Tea Garden” in Nepali, was founded by brothers Bachan and Lochan Gyawali in 2001. Although they had no formal background in tea production, both had grown up surrounded by tea gardens during their boarding school years in Darjeeling. Those early memories stayed with them and inspired their vision of building a world class tea garden in Nepal that embodies a fresh and modern attitude.
A new generation of tea
Jun Chiyabari’s teas are synonymous with perfectionism and expertise. A range of cultivars grows on four fields with slightly different conditions and microclimates, allowing for subtle variety and depth of expression in the flavor of each tea. After the harvest, leaves undergo a 14-hour wilting process on sheets as long as the factory hall.
With her keen eyes and nose, the production leader examines the crop. She knows exactly what she’s looking for: “If it smells a bit like chili, we will turn it into Imperial Black”. Around 25 different teas are produced with the same commitment to detail and zero compromise on quality. If a harvest fails the test, waste is avoided by composting the leaves and returning them to the fields as fertilizer. Since 2012, Jun Chiyabari teas have been certified organic.
Even beyond the gardens, the founders show a conscientious approach to their surroundings. Most of its 200+ workers are women from nearby villages, and the estate supports educational initiatives, local schools, and aid for the elderly. Jun Chiyabari is an ecosystem that knows to treat each of its members with care and respect.
If you'd like to discover the flavours of Jun Chiyabari yourself, you can order our limited Nepal Selection, which includes both the Himalaya Spring and the Himalaya Imperial Black teas.
