Story of a Cup of Tea

By Shri Ratneswar Borah

In every cup of tea, there lives a story — not of leaves alone, but of people, earth, and time. Mine began in the quiet fields of Titabar, Assam, many years ago, long before the words “small tea grower” had meaning in the policies of our land.

In 1977, a group of us — farmers, dreamers, and believers — gathered courage to do what few had dared: we petitioned the Assam Agriculture Minister for the right of farmers to grow tea on their own soil. Back then, tea belonged only to the estates; it was not something a small farmer could dream of. But dreams, when shared, become movements. And in the year 1978, our voices reached the corridors of power. Change began.

From a small patch of land, I planted the first tea saplings — not with certainty, but with hope. The first few harvests were modest. Yet when I plucked those tender leaves at dawn, I could already smell something larger — a new beginning for hundreds of farmers like me. Those leaves, rolled and dried in my humble mini green and orthodox factory, carried the fragrance of rebellion and renewal.

But no journey is ever walked alone. My wife stood beside me through every uncertain dawn and every long night of work. When doubts rose like morning fog, her faith cleared the way. She helped me build not just a garden, but a home — nurturing our children and our tea plants with the same gentle care. Together, we raised both: our family and our garden, side by side, season after season. Her support was my strength; her quiet determination gave me courage when I had little left. For that, I remain deeply thankful.

Years passed. The rhythm of the seasons became the rhythm of our days. I learned that tea is not grown; it is raised. It listens to your patience, your care, and even your silences. Assam’s misty mornings and golden afternoons did the rest. Slowly, a simple dream became a legacy — Borah Mini Green & Orthodox Tea Factory, and later, our family brand: Optimus Life Elixir Orthodox Tea.

When you pour a cup of our tea today, you are not just tasting a beverage — you are sipping history. Every golden drop tells of the farmers who refused to give up, of hands that still pluck each leaf carefully, of soil that still remembers the struggle and the rain that blessed it.

Our tea is not mass-produced. It is naturally grown, hand plucked and limited by intention — because quality is not an accident. It is born of devotion.

So, the next time you sit with a cup of Assam tea — close your eyes for a moment. You may just hear the whisper of the leaves, telling their story. It began in a small village called Titabar, with a dream, a family, and a promise — that every sip will carry the soul of Assam.