Bokeo wild tea in Laos brewing up consumer interest internationally

ORGANIC tea products from the Bokeo Wild Tea Cooperative in Laos are now generating considerable interest in overseas markets, especially France and Switzerland.

The cooperative, which was set up early last year with 40 members from Bokeo province’s Meung district, produces several types of organic tea products and gift baskets.

Their range includes tea from natural upland gardens and some plantations with green, black and red varieties along with hairy tips (with no machine processing), silver tips and mao-cha tea. Herbal teas also feature such as soursop lamina, black ginger, moringa flower, red kapok flower and orange tea.

The cooperative previously produced tea products for only the domestic market so their recognition was limited to local consumers.

“But this year we expect to be able to export tea to countries showing interest in buying our products, particularly France, Canada, Switzerland, China and Sri Lanka,” Cooperative Chief Director Vansy Senyavong told Vientiane Times.

“Last year, we delivered some samples of green tea products to customers in France and Switzerland and they said they would order more from us this year,” she said.

Additionally, customers from other countries, especially Canada, also expressed interest in buying organic tea but that requires the cooperative to send reference material about the products to them first.

“Last year, our members produced and exported 900kg of tea but we expect to produce and export well over that amount this year,” Vansy said.

“We have successfully registered for a domestic food product licence so we are confident we will be able to export a large number of products in future,” she added.

Besides Bokeo, the cooperative has Vientiane sales outlets such as Pinky Minimart and AgroAsie in Sangthong district and two others in Luang Prabang province.

The cooperative regularly takes part in One District One Product and other trade fairs around the country in a bid to promote its tea products to local and overseas markets.

Vansy said the cooperative has significantly contributed to reducing poverty among ethnic farmers in northern Laos and would continue to ensure tea products met the standards of international buyers. VIENTIANE TIMES/ASIA NEWS NETWORK