Let’s explore how Deroi Tea is revolutionizing the production of Assam Tea with a carbon-free tea-drying process aiming to retain the original essence and beneficial polyphenols in Assam Tea.
Bhaswati Kalita
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Assam tea has completed 200 glorious years as a global product best known for its rich aroma and taste. But still the industry is dependent on conventional manufacturing methods that are not sustainable in the modern scenario.
Over the years, the production process has seen minimal upgradation, adhering to the modern manufacturing processes. To solve this problem, Deroi Tea comes into the picture.
Let’s find out how Deroi Tea is redefining Assam’s tea industry with its commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation.
Outline of the Story
A New Dawn for Assam Tea
In the lush tea gardens of Assam, Deroi Tea is setting a new benchmark in tea production. Founded by Sudarshan Deka and Surjya Prakash Borthakur, two visionary engineers, the company has disrupted the traditional tea industry with its carbon-free, eco-friendly, and high-quality tea production methods.
The founders passion for retaining the original essence of Assam tea while ensuring sustainability has led to the creation of a revolutionary tea brand that stands out as one of a kind in the market.
The Founders and Background Story
The idea behind Deroi Tea was initiated in 2017 as an innovation project by two school friends—
- Sudarshan Deka, a mechanical engineer from Girijananda Chowdhury Institute of Management & Technology, Guwahati.
- Surjya Prakash Borthakur, an electronics and telecommunication engineer from IIIT Guwahati.
As said, engineering is a skill to identify problems and a permanent solution for the problem. Being engineers and childhood friends, Sudarshan and Surjya used to share thoughts on real problems.
In 2017, there were a few news reports surfacing that the export of Assam tea has decreased due to overuse of pesticides and poor blending techniques. Sudarshan and Surjya took the problem seriously and started to think about it.
After brainstorming and pivoting, they devised a unique, environmentally friendly tea processing method that eliminates contaminants and retains the original flavor and taste of tea.
They pitched the idea in the NRL (Numaligarh Refinery Limited) ideathon, and their innovation earned them ₹6.8 lakhs as an idea to POC (Prrof of Concept) Grant.
Further, Deroi Tea has been a proud recipient of other grants from central and state-funded programs like the NRL-Ideation Scale-Up Grant, NIDHI-Prayas, NIDHI-EIR, NEC-Ignite, RKVY-Raftaar, and MASI Grant, propelling their journey forward. They have also been mentored under various organizations like NRL Ideation, Assam Startup, IIMCIP, AAGL, IITG BioNest, Guwahati Biotech Park, and CSS NIAM.
Innovative Technology: The Backbone of Deroi Tea
Unlike conventional tea manufacturers, Deroi Tea employs a patented technology for tea processing known as “Gentle Drying,” which ensures:
- Zero carbon emissions
- No surface residue contamination
- Retains polyphenol content naturally found in tea (lab verified)
There are several stages of tea processing; one is tea-drying. Other manufacturers use conventional carbon-fuel-based combustion to dry the tea leaves, which causes carbon emissions, and due to excessive heat, tea loses the natural polyphenol, which denatures and has a risk of contamination.
Deroi Tea replaced the conventional drying process with a self-developed, patent-granted, low-temperature electric dryer, which eliminates carbon emissions so the tea remains naturally healthier with authentic natural flavors.
These innovation allow Deroi Tea to offer premium quality products while ensuring sustainability, making it a game-changer in the tea industry.
Deroi Tea’s Premium Offerings
Deroi Tea specializes in three distinct varieties of high-quality Assam tea:
- Assam Lush Black Tea – A rich, full-bodied tea with malty notes.
- Assam Heritage Black Tea – A traditional blend with deep flavors and high antioxidants.
- Golden Sunset Oolong Tea – A delicate and fragrant tea with a smooth finish.
Each tea variant is produced using their patented drying process, ensuring that consumers get a clean and healthy tea experience without any artificial blending.
Sustainability and Quality are the Main Focus
Deroi Tea is focused on manufacturing Assam tea with sustainable farming and production practices. Their focus is on
- Process tea with no use of LPG or fossil fuels.
- Zero direct emissions from their Greenfield factory in Moran, Assam.
- Partnering with small tea growers and better prices as well as agronomy support.
- Upskilling local youth by working with modern production processes.
By prioritizing sustainability and quality, Deroi Tea is looking forward to coming up with more innovative processing methods in the future so that people around the world can get the authentic taste of Assam tea.
Expanding Horizons: Global Reach
Deroi Tea operates from two key locations:
- A manufacturing unit in Moran, where their innovative technology is implemented.
- A corporate office in Guwahati, managing sales, marketing, and logistics.
Their reach extends beyond India, with exports to global markets like:
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
With plans to expand further, Deroi Tea aims to make Assam’s finest healthy teas accessible worldwide.
Achievements and Future Plans
Since its inception, Deroi Tea has witnessed remarkable growth:
- Revenue Growth: ₹12 L+ in two years, starting as an innovation project to produce their own tea and establishing a unique brand.
- Environmental Impact: 8 Metric Ton CO2 release prevented.
- Market Expansion: Establishing a strong foothold in premium tea markets globally.
Looking ahead, Deroi Tea plans to:
- Scale up production to meet future demands.
- Develop new tea blends and secondary products.
- Innovate and develop more towards the modernization of tea production.
Why Choose Deroi Tea?
Deroi Tea offers a unique combination of quality, sustainability, and innovation. Here’s why tea lovers should make the switch:
- 100% Pure Assam Tea – No artificial blending, only authentic flavors.
- Eco-Friendly Production – Zero carbon emissions and sustainable farming.
- Superior Health Benefits – High in antioxidants and natural goodness.
- Innovative Technology – Patented process ensuring unmatched quality.
Also read: 7 Assam tea benefits you should leverage as a tea lover
Endnotes
With a vision for sustainability, innovation, and quality, Deroi Tea is redefining the tea industry. From their patented carbon-free drying process to their premium Assam tea varieties, they have positioned themselves as a global leader in clean, high-quality tea production.
For tea lovers looking for pure, unblended, and environmentally conscious choices, Deroi Tea is the perfect option.
Bhaswati Kalita is a business analyst and storyteller with years of experience in business operations, management, and marketing. She is an engineering graduate and started her professional career as an operations manager in a tech company. To follow her passion as a storyteller, she loves to write business articles and stories. Reach her at bhaswati@diversityassam.com.
