Tea Biz

Episode 230 | Week 52 | Ending December 31, 2025Tea markets closed the final trading days of 2025 on a steady-to-firm note, with thin holiday volumes masking structurally supportive fundamentals. Across origins, disciplined seller offerings, year-end inventory positioning, and persistently elevated input costs reinforced price floors. Buyers remained selective by grade and origin, but resistance to sharp declines was evident, particularly for cleaner, well-made teas aligned with established blending programs.Colombo closed the year firmly, with limited year-end offerings of bright high-grown teas continuing to attract interest from Middle Eastern packers covering January shipment requirements.South India CTC markets held steady through the year-end period as domestic blenders focused on near-term coverage and deferred discretionary buying until early Q1.Mombasa remained stable, with BP1 and PF grades clearing within narrow bands as reduced catalogues and cautious buyer participation limited volatility.Indonesia traded steadily, with most export volumes moving via direct sales contracts rather than open auction channels. | Now the outlook:Market tone exits 2025 on a firmer footing than it entered the year. Early Q1 restocking interest is expected to emerge gradually as buyers reassess inventory positions, though sensitivity to price and quality dispersion is likely to remain pronounced. Absent a material demand shock, downside risk appears limited by cost structures and disciplined supply management.| This week’s Tea Price Report is sponsored by the East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA), owners of the Mombasa Tea Auction since 1956. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tea has long been associated with health, calm, and comfort—but how much of that reputation is backed by science, and how much by lifestyle? In this SPOTLIGHT conversation, Michael Cramer explains how consumer perceptions of tea and wellness have evolved since the pandemic, why ritual matters as much as ingredients, and how personalization is shaping the future of tea. From loose-leaf adoption to herbals, mindfulness, and blending, this discussion reframes tea not as medicine but as a lifelong companion to healthier living. BIO | Michael Cramer is Founder and CEO of Adagio Teas, one of the most influential specialty tea retailers in the United States. He launched Adagio in 1999 with the goal of making high-quality loose-leaf tea more accessible while preserving the cultural, sensory, and ritual dimensions of tea drinking. Under his leadership, Adagio pioneered direct-to-consumer sourcing, online education, and customer-driven tea blending—allowing consumers to create and share their own formulations long before personalization became a retail buzzword.Cramer has been a consistent voice cautioning against overstated health claims, instead positioning tea as a lifestyle practice rooted in pleasure, habit, and social connection. His perspective reflects a deep understanding of consumer behavior, product design, and the long arc of tea culture across markets. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and an MBA from INSEAD (Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires). His analytical background continues to inform Adagio’s data-driven and customer-centric approach to tea.Signup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

India’s Food Safety Regulators Clarify Camellia sinensis Standard | Global Tea Industry Forecast Now Live | Asia Siyaka Warehousing is the World’s First ZeroCarbon Logistics FacilitySignup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

India’s Food Safety Regulators Clarify Camellia sinensis Standard | Global Tea Industry Forecast Now Live | Asia Siyaka Warehousing is the World’s First ZeroCarbon Logistics FacilityGUEST – Michael Cramer, Founder, CEO Adagio TeasPLUS | Tea, Wellness, and the Power of Ritual: Why Health Isn’t the Whole Story | January is Hot Tea month, and this year tens of millions are experiencing influenza or flu-like illness, gravitating toward warm soothing beverages associated with comfort, hydration, and routine rather than clinical treatment. Post-pandemic research consistently shows that health and wellness motivations increasingly overlap with behavioral benefits, such as stress reduction, relaxation, and daily rituals, rather than with explicit disease-prevention claims. Adagio Teas founder Michael Cramer joins us today to explain why tea’s greatest benefits lie not in miracle claims, but in habit, ritual, and personalization.Signup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Here are Tea Biz price trends from the world’s major black-tea markets for Week 50 ending December 12.In Colombo, the market remained firm.The weekly average held near recent highs, supported by tight availability of bright, high-grown teas and steady buying from the Middle East.Quality offerings were limited, which helped keep prices supported despite selective bidding.In South India, CTC prices were mainly steady.Kerala and Nilgiris auctions saw consistent interest from blenders, with medium- and good-liquoring teas finding ready demand as packers covered near-term requirements ahead of year-end.At Mombasa, the auction showed mixed results.Top BP1 grades were selectively dearer, while secondary teas met more resistance.Buyers remain cautious, but warehouse stocks are still below last year’s levels, limiting downside pressure.Looking at market conditions, production remains uneven across origins.Sri Lanka continues to report lower leaf intake in some high-grown areas.Kenya’s crop is improving seasonally, though fertiliser and fuel costs remain elevated.In India, higher electricity and labour costs are reinforcing price floors.On the demand side, year-end restocking continues in the Gulf and parts of Europe, while some buyers are already looking ahead to coverage in the first quarter of 2026.Now the outlook.The overall tone is steady to firm.Colombo prices are expected to remain supported through December.South India CTC is likely to trade within a narrow range.Mombasa may continue to fluctuate week to week, but limited stocks should help prevent any sharp decline.That’s the Tea Biz Tea Price Report for Week 50 ending December 12th, 2025 | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Eduard/Teas is a Berlin-based online tea company founded by tea sommelier Eduardo Molina that launched on Dec. 17. Selections are limited-edition seasonal teas curated by terroir. Collections are introduced quarterly, and loose-leaf teas are sold individually in 20g and 40g pouches, or as a set of five. The initial collection is Eduard/Himalaya, sourced from Nepal, Darjeeling, and Sikkim. Selections are guided by sensory evaluation, stylistic balance, and how individual teas work together as a collection. Molina explains that success for Eduard/Teas is defined by the growth of a knowledgeable and engaged community, the ability to educate and inspire through storytelling, and establishing transparency as an industry standard. The first teas will ship in January. Distribution is limited to Germany, but will expand in the new year.BIO: Eduardo Molina grew up in Chile, where tea is popular. He worked for several years in hospitality at major hotels in Santiago and with Crystal South America Cruises. He attended Chinese Culture University in Taiwan and holds a degree in Asian Studies from Humboldt University, Berlin. Work in tea includes founding the first tea school in Chile in 2013 and co-founding the Chilean Tea Academy in 2016. Eduardo joined Paper & Tea in 2018 and worked there for five years as head of tea experience.Signup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Shabnam Weber to Preside Over Both US and Canada Tea Associations | African Tea Convention to Celebrate the 70th Mombasa Auction Anniversary in September | 30,000 Senna Leaf Herbal Teabags RecalledSignup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Shabnam Weber to Preside Over Both US and Canada Tea Associations | African Tea Convention to Celebrate the 70th Mombasa Auction Anniversary in September | 30,000 Senna Leaf Herbal Teabags RecalledNEWSMAKER – Eduardo Molina, Founder of Eduard/ TeasPLUS | Terroir Curated Tea | Eduard/ Teas is a Berlin-based online tea company founded by tea sommelier Eduardo Molina that launched on Dec. 17. Selections are limited-edition seasonal teas curated by terroir. Collections are introduced quarterly, and loose-leaf teas are sold individually in 20g and 40g pouches, or as a set of five. The initial collection is Eduard/Himalaya, sourced from Nepal, Darjeeling, and Sikkim. Selections are guided by sensory evaluation, stylistic balance, and how individual teas work together as a collection. Molina explains that success for Eduard/Teas is defined by the growth of a knowledgeable and engaged community, the ability to educate and inspire through storytelling, and establishing transparency as an industry standard. The first teas will ship in January. Distribution is limited to Germany, but will expand in the new year.Signup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Here are this week’s tea prices from the world’s major black-tea auctions.In Colombo, prices moved higher again.The weekly average reached two dollars and eleven cents per kilo, supported by strong interest in bright, high-grown teas.Limited offerings kept the market firm, and Middle Eastern buyers remained active.In South India, CTC teas held firm.The weekly average was one hundred eighty-three rupees per kilo, with steady blender demand across Kerala and the Nilgiris.Leaf conditions improved, and packers continued seasonal restocking.At Mombasa, prices softened slightly.BP1 grades averaged one dollar and eighty-seven cents per kilo, down two cents from last week.Higher withdrawals signaled resistance at the top of the market, though warehouse stocks remain below last year’s levels.Across origins, input costs continue to shape pricing.Sri Lanka’s weak currency, higher fertiliser and diesel costs in Kenya, and rising electricity charges in India are all reinforcing firm price floors.Looking ahead, the tone is mixed but stable.Colombo and South India are expected to stay firm into mid-December, while Kenya may fluctuate slightly as Rift Valley output recovers.Year-end packer demand in the Gulf and Europe should help support overall pricing.That’s your Tea Price Report for Episode 228 of the Tea Biz Podcast, Week 48 ending November 28.For expanded coverage, visit www.teajourney.pub and select the Tea Biz Tea Price Report (https://teajourney.pub/tea-price-report/).Signup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The legendary resilience of Sri Lanka’s tea industry is once again evident this week as the Emerald Isle of the Indian Ocean recovers from Cyclone Ditwah. The cyclone formed in unusually warm waters (28-30 degrees Celsius) southeast of Sri Lanka. The slow-moving storm, with sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, released 19 to 21 inches (490 to 540 mm) of rain over 72 hours, causing landslides in parts of the central highlands and severe flooding across a wide area of the 150-mile-wide island where rainfall exceeded 300 mm (12 inches).Joining us today to discuss the storm’s impact is Anil Cooke, CEO of Asia Siyaka Commodities and former chair of the Colombo Brokers’ Association. He is a former member of the Sri Lanka Tea Board.Signup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sri Lanka Survives Catastrophic Cyclone | Assam Pivots to Innovation to Secure Global Tea Leadership | AVPA Awards 161 Medals Recognizing Tea Excellence WorldwideSignup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sri Lanka Survives Catastrophic Cyclone | Assam Pivots to Innovation to Secure Global Tea Leadership | AVPA Awards 161 Medals Recognizing Tea Excellence WorldwideNEWSMAKER – Anil Cooke, CEO Asia Siyaka, Sri LankaPLUS | Ditwah Deluge | The legendary resilience of Sri Lanka’s tea industry is once again evident this week as the Emerald Isle of the Indian Ocean recovers from Cyclone Ditwah. The cyclone formed in unusually warm waters (28-30 degrees Celsius) southeast of Sri Lanka. The slow-moving storm, with sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, released 19 to 21 inches (490 to 540 mm) of rain over 72 hours, causing landslides in parts of the central highlands and severe flooding across a wide area of the 150-mile-wide island where rainfall exceeded 300 mm (12 inches).Joining us today to discuss the storm’s impact is Anil Cooke, CEO of Asia Siyaka Commodities and former chair of the Colombo Brokers’ Association. He is a former member of the Sri Lanka Tea Board.Signup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Prices at the world’s major auctions gained modestly last week, reflecting tightening supply and higher production costs.In Colombo, the auction average rose to 2.50 per kilo, supported by strong interest in bright, high-grown liquoring teas and limited fresh offerings.In South India, the CTC market strengthened to 182 rupees per kilo, driven by active blenders in Kerala and the Nilgiris and by continued seasonal demand from packers. |In Mombasa, Kenya, BP1 grades rose to one dollar and eighty-nine cents per kilo, a six-cent weekly increase, as buyers from Pakistan and Egypt met lighter Rift Valley production and tighter warehouse stocks.Worldwide, cost pressures persist. The Sri Lankan rupee remains near record lows; Indian estates face rising electricity, fuel, and labour costs; and Kenyan fertiliser prices are up sharply year over year.Looking ahead, the tone is firm. Colombo is expected to trade in the US$2.05–2.15/kg range; South India CTC is likely to hold around INR 180–185/kg; and Mombasa may inch toward US$1.90–1.94/kg if lower Kenyan output continues.https://teajourney.pub/tea-price-report/Signup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

CuppaTrade is a next-generation sourcing platform explicitly designed for the global tea and coffee trade. What sets CuppaTrade apart is its architecture: it is the first AI-driven, blockchain-enabled, climate-aligned B2B marketplace built for bulk buyers, specialty importers, private-label brands, roasters, trading houses, and retail chains.The platform connects verified producers across India, Nepal, and Vietnam with global buyers who need transparent pricing, reliable quality data, and direct access to origin. CuppaTrade offers AI-powered product discovery, digital quality cards, sample management, and full blockchain traceability, giving buyers confidence in authenticity and compliance with origin requirements. It also integrates logistics partners, warehousing, and—soon—digital finance solutions to support seamless procurement.For producers, CuppaTrade reduces intermediaries and opens new international channels. For buyers, it brings a more efficient, data-rich, climate-smart way to source tea and coffee at scale.CuppaTrade is led by three principals whose combined expertise has shaped the platform into one of the most advanced sourcing systems in the tea and coffee trade.Joining us today are newsmakers Mihir Gandhi, Rakhee Biswas, and Satrajit Bannerjee, founders of CuppaTrade Marketplace Joining us today are newsmakers Mihir Gandhi, Rakhee Biswas, and Satrajit Bannerjee, founders of CuppaTrade MarketplaceSignup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tariffs Ease, Prices Don’t: Relief for Most Origins but Inflation Pressures Persist | Growing European Tea Market Shuns Sugary Drinks for Herbal Infusions | Sri Lanka’s SereneTea Benefits from UK Trade Partnership ProgramSignup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tariffs Ease, Prices Don’t: Relief for Most Origins but Inflation Pressures Persist | Growing European Tea Market Shuns Sugary Drinks for Herbal Infusions | Sri Lanka’s SereneTea Benefits from UK Trade Partnership ProgramNEWSMAKERS-Mihir Gandhi, Rakhee Biswas, Satrajit Bannerjee, founders CuppaTrade MarketplacePLUS | CuppaTrade Launches a B2B Marketplace | CuppaTrade is a next-generation sourcing platform explicitly designed for the global tea and coffee trade. What sets CuppaTrade apart is its architecture: it is the first AI-driven, blockchain-enabled, climate-aligned B2B marketplace built for bulk buyers, specialty importers, private-label brands, roasters, trading houses, and retail chains.Signup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tea Trade Takeaways |• East Africa: PF1 prices strengthened at Mombasa as buyers favored clean teas; plain leaf discounted.• India: North Indian CTC auctions firm; retail inflation stable at 2.1%.• Sri Lanka: Uva and Western High Growns held premiums amid limited offerings.• Indonesia: Orthodox steady to dearer; Java plains easier on light demand.For expanded coverage, visit www.teajourney.pub→ Tea Biz → Tea Price Report (https://teajourney.pub/tea-price-report/).Signup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

How Does One Choose What Tea to Drink? The answer is both simple and profound. 101 Teas to Steep Before You Die is far more than a bucket list compiled by four respected tea experts with impeccable credentials. In 256 pages, the book distills a millennium of tea heritage into 101 unforgettable cups. It is both a love letter to Camellia sinensis and a practical guide to brewing and enjoying every style of tea. Each profiled tea is chosen for its flavor, story, and cultural significance. The authors invite us as trusted companions to rediscover familiar favorites, explore rare treasures, and understand how tea connects culture, science, ethics, and pleasure in a single cup.Preorder: https://a.co/d/16LOkDR Release date: Nov. 25BIO: Authors Nigel Melican, James Norwood Pratt, Maria Uspenski, and Shabnam Weber are among the world’s foremost tea authorities. Melican is a global tea scientist and innovator living in Ireland; Pratt, who authored the Tea Lover’s Treasury in 1982, is the beloved tea historian and “America’s Tea Sage”; Maria Uspenski, founder of The Tea Spot in Denver, Colo., is the author of Cancer Hates Tea; and Shabnam Weber, President of the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada, headquartered in Toronto, is an accomplished retailer and tea educator who created the Tea Sommelier® program.Signup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

US Holiday Retail Outlook Dims Ahead of the 2025 Season | Asian Tea Origins Negotiate Trade Treaties with the US| Nanoplastic Research Likely Overstates Concentrations of Particles in TeaSignup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

US Holiday Retail Outlook Dims Ahead of the 2025 Season | Asian Tea Origins Negotiate Trade Treaties with the US| Nanoplastic Research Likely Overstates Concentrations of Particles in TeaNEWSMAKERS - Nigel Melican, Maria Uspenski, James Norwood Pratt, and Shabnam WeberPLUS | How Does One Choose What Tea to Drink? The answer is both simple and profound. 101 Teas to Steep Before You Die is far more than a bucket list compiled by four respected tea experts with impeccable credentials. In 256 pages, the book distills a millennium of tea heritage into 101 unforgettable cups. It is both a love letter to Camellia sinensis and a practical guide to brewing and enjoying every style of tea. Each profiled tea is chosen for its flavor, story, and cultural significance. The authors invite us as trusted companions to rediscover familiar favorites, explore rare treasures, and understand how tea connects culture, science, ethics, and pleasure in a single cup.Preorder: https://a.co/d/16LOkDR Release date: Nov. 25Signup www.tea-biz.com | https://teajourney.pub/newsletter-preferences/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tea-biz/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy