Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/763665
20 STiR coffee and tea / Issue 6, 2016 (December/January) Ramechhap District where all the buildings of approximately 100 house- holds were destroyed by the quake. Since 2015, all the surviving inhabit- ants have been living outdoors under plastic tarpaulin and, with no help offered by the Nepal government, Jenny and her sister Joanne Carrigan decided to set up the Trust to raise money to provide emergency relief (rice, oil, blankets, and temporary shelter), to construct new 'earthbag' houses, and to rebuild other essential buildings. A tea tasting event in London in October alone raised $925 (£750) from ticket sales, an auction, and sales of packets of the green and black teas from the main tea region of Ilam in the east of Nepal. Three days later Jenny and Joanne set off to Nepal to start work on rebuilding the village school. Earth- quake-proof earthbag buildings are made by filling polypropylene grain or mesh bags with soil and tamping them solid. The bags are then used to construct the walls of houses, etc. The trust has plans for further tea related events to raise more funds. Learn more: www.facebook. com/himalayanhomestrust0415 million tea seedlings will be planted on an area of over 100 hectares, while farmers with older tea gardens will receive new seedlings to replace some of their older, less productive bushes. Said director of Kitabi Tea Factory, Jean H. Mutabazi, "We avail many activities to tea farmers. The first is to increase seeds facilitating them to extend arable land, the next is to avail safe water and provide cows to breed for their progress and realize the importance of planting tea," he said. Farmers have been given 50 cows, and the new calves will be distributed to other poor families. Ian Brabbin, head of tea at Taylor's of Harrogate, assured continued partner- ship especially in promoting farmers. "Kitabi is a remarkable region for us; its tea has a unique aroma and taste and is among world's most popular tea. Our collaboration has to go beyond tea and extend to partnership in promoting farmers development like providing water facilities among others." port base of garments, tea, rubber, gemstones, and tourism. The economy cannot experience growth based on such limited exports." He said that the difficulties faced in the tea and rubber industry will be reviewed and the government will restructure the plantations sector to invite new capital and eliminate inefficiency. RWANDA Kitabe Supports Local Community Kitabe tea factory, located in Kintobo village, Nyamagabe District of Rwanda, has received praise from the manage- ment of the district for its work in enhancing the life of residents. In October 2016, the factory used its own earnings and funds raised in collabora- tion with its tea partners, including UK tea company Taylors of Harrogate, to inaugurate safe water facilities that will meet the demands of 350 families (about 1,000 people), and to hand out free tea seedlings to local farmers. A total of 1.3 Kitabe tea factory safe water source Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wicamasinghe SRI LANKA PM focuses on future growth Sri Lanka's prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a statement to the Sri Lankan parliament on the state of the country's economy, said that it is time to focus on the future and on the nation's ability "to compete successfully in a dynamic global market place and carve out our niche among the prosperous nations of the world." With a decrease in tea prices, the value of agricultural exports has declined over the past few years said Wickremesinghe. He expressed concern that some tea estates are not being run as well as they should be. "Our export base has remained the same for more than 30 years and is dependent on a narrow ex- UK F&M install Steampunk The latest tea house to install the Alpha Dominche Steampunk tea brewer at its counter is London's Fortnum & Mason, the famous food store on Piccadilly. The store opened its doors in 1707 as a grocery store focused on supplying high quality products and has since grown into an iconic destination that also houses several restaurants and a celebrated tea salon where visitors can enjoy traditional British afternoon tea. It is a legendary tea destination and in October, it installed Alpha Dominche's Steampunk MOD3 on the tea brewing counter. The Steampunk MOD3 brews three different kinds of tea at the same time and its unique glass brewing chambers give guests a one-of- a-kind, theatrical tea brewing experience. The clean, contemporary design complements Fortnum & Mason's classic loose leaf tea tins and adds an extra appeal to a location that is already popular with tea lovers. "Tea brewing is on a constant path of evolution, and we've had the honor of being a part of some truly innovative tea concepts these past few years, said Alpha Dominche c.e.o. Thomas Perez. "When a 300 year old retailer embraces new technology with our Steam- punk brewer it is a great testament to our machines and a truly humbling experience," he said. Learn more: www. alphadominche.com Steampunk Brewer at Fortnum & Mason