July 24th, Rocky Mountain News:
"In northern Bangladesh, between the Himalayas and the Ganges, there is a tea garden that is far beyond the ordinary.
"There's no unnatural irrigation, pesticides or even metal machinery in the garden," said Linda Appel Lipsius, general manager of Tetulia. "It's the only tea garden in Bangladesh that's USDA- certified organic, but what they've done is completely beyond organic. The whole enterprise is really as natural as it can be."
In a region that previously had no history of tea-growing and was facing severe poverty, Tetulia's ethics have made a difference.
"There's species in the region that haven't been seen for 10 or 20 years that are coming back now," Lipsius said. "They're regenerating the area."
In addition, Tetulia genuinely focuses on helping the local people by paying fair wages, providing education and sanitation programs, and alleviating poverty through cattle- rearing.
"It has dramatically improved the quality of life in this formerly very poor part of a very poor country," Lipsius said.
The tea itself comes in eight flavors, including white, green, Ayurvedic and Tetulia's signature black.
"It has a very full, bold and satisfying flavor, but the beautiful thing is that there's no bitterness or astringency that you usually have with black tea." Lipsius said.
For more information: tetulia.com"
