Makaibari to tie up with small tea growers in Darjeeling

In a landmark move, the renowned Makaibari Tea estate, owned by the Luxmi Group, has announced a partnership with small tea growers in Darjeeling. This new venture, called the Makaibari Collective, aims to supply 10,000 kg of leaves annually, strengthening the livelihoods of small organic growers across the region. The initiative seeks to build a more resilient tea economy in Darjeeling by bringing together organically produced tea from small farmer cooperatives under the Makaibari banner.

The Luxury Group aims to source 25% of its requirements from small growers, blending them with its existing Apoorva and Green Valley tea ranges, which together hold a market value of over ₹10 crore. Makaibari Group CEO Rudra Chatterjee expressed optimism about achieving a 20% annual boost in sales with this venture. Upon launch during Diwali, the new brand will feature a QR code on its packaging, detailing the story of the participating small growers.

Makaibari will collaborate with participating cooperatives to set stringent quality standards and provide necessary training. Independent evaluation of quality and price will be carried out by J. Thomas & Company. Darjeeling produced approximately 5.6 million kilos of tea in 2025, with around 2,500 small growers contributing between 40,000 and 45,000 kg each year.

At present, Makaibari's tea production stands at around one lakh kg. The estate, established in 1859, is Darjeeling's oldest continuously operating tea estate and a globally recognized producer of premium, organically cultivated Darjeeling teas.