April 26, Beijing – A taste-testing event featuring Nepali orthodox black tea based on the ‘Ek Suiro’ variety was successfully held in Lichuan city, Hubei province, China, through the initiative of the Nepalese Embassy. This event took place on March 24, 25, and 26 (Baishakh 11, 12, and 13) as part of the first Asia–Africa Black Tea Exchange Festival. During the festival’s opening session, over 200 national and international dignitaries participated in a special tasting of Nepali black tea.
The event showcased teas from five countries, including China, and participants praised the high quality of Nepali tea. The program was jointly organized by the China Tea Industry Committee Association, the Belt and Road Innovation Organization, and the Chinese government.
Nepal presented the “Ek Suiro” tea, produced in Ilam in 2024, characterized by golden-colored orthodox black tea made from buds without leaves. In the opening session, Economic Minister Pavarti Aryal from the Nepalese Embassy gave a detailed presentation on Nepal’s tea sector. She highlighted that tea is produced at altitudes ranging from 1,500 to 7,000 feet in Nepal under organic and orthodox standards. The high antioxidant content of Nepali tea is increasing its appeal in international markets. She expressed gratitude by noting that tea connoisseurs appreciate both the taste and health benefits of Nepali tea, as well as the respect for the Himalayan environment, biodiversity conservation, and the tea farmers and women involved.
Furthermore, Aryal spoke about the potential of developing and reviving the ‘Tea Horse Road’ concept, connecting Ilam to Lumbini, to promote internationally the relationship between tea and world peace. She emphasized that sustainable development requires tea production, industrialization, diversification, and the use of new technologies. She also suggested that Nepal-China relations can be strengthened further through traditional tea culture.
The event was led by Cai Hu Chule, Honorary Chairman of China’s Tea Committee Association for International Agricultural Assistance Promotion and former president of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The festival included site visits to tea gardens, processing industries, and tea tourism infrastructure in the Lichuan area. Various Chinese government officials at different levels, representatives from tea industry organizations, and international experts participated in the event.
During a panel discussion held on Baishakh 12, experts, professors, and researchers from China, Korea, and other countries expressed views emphasizing the promotion, branding, research, and international cooperation of black tea. Throughout the festival, various tea-based products such as cold drinks, bottled cold tea, tea-based wine, and tea tourism routes were also showcased and assessed.
