Startup connects tea drinkers and growers
Tealet, a startup based in Hawaii, puts a new spin on the tea business by connecting tea farmers and tea drinkers via an online platform. Teas are sourced directly from growers in China, Japan, India and other countries across Asia. They are sold by the ounce or based on a subscription model, where customers may purchase a bimonthly supply of different varieties. The idea is to enable growers to sell directly to consumers in order maximize value for both by circumventing the traditional distribution network of various middlemen. Tealet also encourages interaction between growers and drinkers, and allows farmers to share their stories about how each variety is made.