The Luxmi Group's famed Makaibari tea estate is introducing the Makaibari Collective, bringing together organically grown tea from small farmer cooperatives across Darjeeling under a new business model. According to reports from Business Standard, the initiative will begin rolling out from Diwali 2026, offering teas under the Makaibari name with sourcing linked more directly to small growers and communities. The Collective will allow tea from small growers across Darjeeling to be included in blends, provided it meets standards established by auctioneer J Thomas & Co, including fair valuation. As reported by Kolkata News, this initiative represents the first of its kind where a Darjeeling estate has taken the mantle on its own to market small tea growers' produce.
The Luxmi Group will voluntarily disclose to the Tea Board the locations from which it sources tea, including Makaibari, to facilitate certification of the tea's Darjeeling origin. As reported by Business Standard, profits generated from sales of tea supplied to the Makaibari Collective will be returned to small tea growers and farmer cooperatives on a pro-rata basis, in proportion to the quantity supplied by each grower or cooperative. The Collective will also bring everyday tea brands Apoorva and Green Valley under the Collective umbrella. According to BusinessLine, small tea growers will receive a share of the profit equivalent to per kg that Makaibari is getting, ensuring farmers are at the same level-playing field as the estate. According to Kolkata News, the initiative will be promoted as everyday tea and not as speciality tea, with the target market being mostly domestic rather than export markets.
Rudra Chatterjee, managing director of Luxmi Group, stated that the goal for the Collective is to achieve 20 per cent year-on-year growth. According to Business Standard, Chatterjee noted that Makaibari is already growing at a rate higher than 20 per cent, making that the minimum criterion. He emphasized that the initiative brings together tea from small growers across Darjeeling to create a single brand, describing it as exciting for the market. The new initiative will help small tea growers in Darjeeling get a fair price, as reported by BusinessLine, with the target market being mostly domestic rather than export markets.
The Makaibari Collective will launch around Diwali this year with ambitious sourcing targets. As reported by Kolkata News, small tea growers will supply 25% of the brand's tea in the first year, with around 10,000 kgs of teas to be procured from STGs blended with around 30,000 kgs of Makaibari tea. Currently, total production of Makaibari tea is around one lakh kgs, with Japan, Germany, the UK and US being the major export markets. The total area under tea production for registered STGs is 380 hectares, with around 2,500 small tea growers in Darjeeling while around 900 to 1,000 of them are registered and produce around 45,000 kg of tea in a year. The "Makaibari Tea Treasure", which is the high-end first flush and second flush teas, will continue to be sold under the same brand, while the Collective ensures everyday Darjeeling tea is available at a comparatively lower price.
Kavi Seth, chairman and managing director of J Thomas & Co, described the initiative as a first-of-a-kind where a Darjeeling estate had taken the mantle on its own. As reported by Business Standard, Seth noted it will be a privilege for J Thomas & Co to be involved and play an important role in ensuring small growers receive sustainable and fair prices. The initiative is expected to be a big boost for small growers, giving them an opportunity to showcase their teas and be part of the Darjeeling platform. According to BusinessLine, the Collective makes Makaibari an open source brand where everyday Darjeeling tea is guaranteed by the Tea Board and tasted by the best tasters of J Thomas & Co, ensuring quality standards are maintained across all sourcing. Under the initiative, tea from Makaibari would be blended with STG tea by master blenders while tea auctioneers J Thomas will look after the quality appraisal, as reported by Kolkata News.
