The iconic Makaibari Tea estate owned by the Luxmi Group will now partner with the small tea growers (STGs) across Darjeeling to build a new brand segment, Makaibari Collective, under which 10,000 kg of leaves will be purchased from the small growers annually.
“This new initiative is designed to strengthen the livelihoods of small tea growers producing organically grown tea across Darjeeling and build a more resilient future for the region’s tea economy. The collective will bring together organically grown tea produced by small farmer cooperatives across Darjeeling under the Makaibari name. Importantly, these growers will not have to build a market from scratch. Makaibari will consolidate its established Apoorva and Green Valley tea ranges — together representing a market of more than ₹10 crore — into the new Collective,” said the MD of Luxmi Group, Rudra Chatterjee.
The group set a goal to purchase 25% of its requirements from small growers and blend them with its own production. These small growers are supposed to get an equal proportion of the total profit, while the Luxmi Group is confident to achieve a 20% boost annually with this new initiative.
The new brand will be launched during Diwali with a fresh packaging on which a QR code will also be attached with the details of the small growers and their stories.
“Makaibari will work with participating cooperatives engaged in organic farming to establish stringent quality standards and provide training to help growers consistently meet premium and international benchmarks. The quality and the price of tea supplied to the Collective will be independently evaluated by J. Thomas & Company,” said Mr. Chatterjee.
Darjeeling produced about 5.6 million kilos of tea in 2025. There are about 2,500 small growers producing between 40,000 and 45,000 kg of tea a year. Currently, the total production of Makaibari tea is around one lakh kgs. Japan, Germany, the U.K. and U.S. are the major export markets for it.
Founded in 1859, Makaibari is Darjeeling’s oldest continuously operating tea estate and a globally recognised producer of premium, organically cultivated Darjeeling teas. The estate combines its historic cultivation traditions with contemporary approaches to sustainability and continues to serve tea connoisseurs and premium markets around the world.
Published – September 02, 2026 12:05 pm IST
