Young Mountain Tea

Young Mountain Tea operates as a socially-conscious, direct-to-consumer and wholesale business, focused on revitalizing the tea industry in the Kumaon region of the Indian Himalayas. Founded in 2013 by Raj Vable, the company was born from a promise made during his Fulbright fellowship: if Himalayan farmers grew tea, he would establish a US-based company to sell it. Vable, who holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Environmental Studies, was inspired to tackle the interconnected issues of urban migration, land degradation, and lack of economic opportunity in the region. The company's core mission is to create a more equitable and sustainable tea industry by shifting from the traditional estate model to one where farmers are owners.

The business model centers on creating a transparent and vertically integrated supply chain. Young Mountain Tea works directly with over 1,500 farmers in India and Nepal—90% of whom are women—to produce high-quality, organic, single-origin teas. By improving the quality of the tea, farmers can command higher prices, leading to better livelihoods. A pivotal milestone was the 2022 launch of a farmer-owned specialty tea processing facility in Champawat, India, co-owned by the farmers themselves. This initiative, supported by funding from organizations like USAID, Acumen, and Frontier Co-op, allows farmers to capture more value from their crops, as processing is the most profitable stage in the tea value chain. For its US operations, the company has raised capital through seed rounds, convertible notes, and debt financing to grow its market presence.

Young Mountain Tea's product line includes a variety of loose-leaf organic teas, such as white, green, and black teas from regions like Kumaon, Darjeeling, Assam, and Nepal. The company also offers compostable pyramid tea bags. Revenue is generated through multiple channels, including direct online sales to consumers, a presence on Amazon, and wholesale distribution to retailers, including a partnership with Frontier Co-op. The company differentiates itself by providing detailed information about the tea's origin, processing techniques, and the farmers behind it, appealing to specialty tea drinkers who value transparency and ethical sourcing. By focusing on regenerative agriculture and reviving fallow lands, the business also addresses environmental concerns, sequestering carbon and preventing soil erosion.

Keywords: ethical sourcing, direct trade tea, farmer-owned cooperative, specialty tea, single-origin tea, Indian tea, Nepali tea, Himalayan tea, social enterprise, sustainable agriculture, regenerative farming, Kumaon tea, Raj Vable, impact investing, organic tea, loose-leaf tea, wholesale tea supplier, e-commerce, food and beverage, supply chain innovation