Five leading tea businesses from East Africa are headed to the World Tea Conference + Expo, June 28-30, 2021. The five tea businesses include: Chebango Tea Company, Spring Primavera, Melvins Tea, Kazi Yetu and Zahra Food Industries.
‘Excited to Provide Market Linkages’
Each of the East African companies will exhibit and showcase their teas and/or related products during the three-day conference and exhibition, which will attract leading tea companies and professionals from around the globe, in addition to buyers from various vertical markets in North America.
Tahira Nizari, co-founder of Kazi Yetu, said, “As a growing tea business from Tanzania, this is our first opportunity to participate in the World Tea Conference + Expo. Building on our social enterprise model, in which we value social and environmental impact as much as our economic growth, we are excited to provide market linkages for farmers in tea, herbs and spices from farms around Tanzania.”
Nizari added that Kazi Yetu promotes full traceability of its teas, so that the buyer can see the tea’s journey from farm to cup. “We look forward to gathering feedback from visitors of the expo and hopefully find partners to help increase these market linkages and impact for farmers,” explained Nizari. “Our teas are specialty, unique blends of orthodox black and green teas, herbs and spices, and we are looking forward to meeting other tea lovers and potential partners to learn about industry trends.”
‘The Versatility of Tea as a Beverage Is Like No Other’
Quresh Fidahusein, founder of Zahra Food Industries Ltd in Kampala, Uganda – one of the companies exhibiting – noted, “The versatility of tea as a beverage is like no other, as they come in infinite flavors, arouses multiple senses and typically offers many health benefits. With the right focus, there is an opportunity to increase consumption of herbal infusions and teas, especially in the Northern and Western hemispheres. We are thrilled to be participating at the World Tea Conference + Expo in Vegas and look forward to showcasing our range of Eostre healing teas, vanilla and moringa powder as tea ingredients, and the Blossomz snack range, which is a great companion to all tea occasions.”
Ferozhusein Fidahusein, director at Zahra Food Industries Ltd, shared that their team is excited about the upcoming event. “We eagerly await to be at the World Tea Conference + Expo this year and look forward to learning, exploring new trends and connecting with influencers in the industry. We are particularly excited that our Eostre healing teas – with roots in springtime and Easter, symbolizing renewal and rejuvenation – will finally get a global platform at the tea expo in Vegas.”
Raja Al-Kaber, shareholder of Zahra Food Industries, explained, “It is important for the company to be present at the World Tea Conference + Expo to promote its range of products and also to get feedback, as it is critical that we keep learning and optimizing for continuous improvement. In addition to the Eostre healing teas that will be the showstopper on our display, we very much look forward to introducing the company’s breakthrough innovation of dried young jackfruit as a meat substitute. Jackfruit meatballs and samosas are vegan friendly and promises to liven up any tea party.”
Charles Chirchir, CEO of Chebango EPZ Tea Company, a tea-producing and export company based in Bomet, Kenya, with offices in Nairobi, said this will be their second time participating in the World Tea Conference + Expo. "We’re looking forward to showcasing our award-winning black tea, connecting with the industry, exploring new trends, learning new concepts, and networking across the tea industry. We are confident that the expo will open new markets and channels for our products.”
‘We Look Forward to a Successful, Packed Program’
This will be the first time that Spring Primavera – a women-owned specialty tea export company, based in Nairobi and with offices in New York – will be participating at World Tea. Ann Wanjohi, managing director and founder of the company, said that purple tea is unique to Kenya and is grown organically in the rich volcanic highlands. She explained that purple tea has potential for growth in the U.S. market, due to its superior health benefits compared to green or black tea.
“World Tea Conference + Expo 2021 will be a unique forum that brings together experts, business leaders and entrepreneurs throughout the tea industry,” Wanjohi declared. “The event will be a good platform for companies to explore innovative ways to use purple tea, to add value to their products such as cocktails and anti-ageing beauty products. We look forward to a successful, packed program with tea business and buyers.”
Flora Mutahi, CEO and founder of Melvin Marsh International (Melvins Tea), said she’s also excited about participating in the World Tea Conference + Expo. She noted that she believes that the world deserves to know the flavors that Melvins is known for – the first being Ginger Tea, which was the first flavored tea in Kenya. “It was quickly followed by other fantastic flavors such as, Masala Tea, Cinnamon Tea and Lemon Vanilla Tea, amongst others that all are 100 percent natural. With 25 years of experience, Melvin’s is already a multi-award winner.”
Support Through USAID
The five East African companies participating in the 2021 World Tea Conference + Expo are supported through the United States Agency for International Development’s Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub (USAID TradeHub). The six-year project aims to increase global trade competitiveness, boost intraregional trade and improve food security.
The USAID TradeHub also works to increase exports to the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), while also boosting capital and technology flows and providing targeted trade facilitation support.
Through its East Africa Trade Promotion and AGOA Activity, the USAID TradeHub focuses on boosting two-way trade and investment between the United States and five East African countries – Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda – under the U.S. Government’s Prosper Africa Initiative.
To learn more about Chebango, Spring Primavera, Melvins Tea, Kazi Yetu and Zahrafi, visit the companies at the World Tea Conference + Expo, June 28-30, 2021. See WorldTeaExpo.com to learn more about the upcoming event.