Brewing a Cultural Revolution: The Woman Redefining India’s Tea Narrative
By [Stronic Publication] Date: 12-June-2025
In a nation where chai is a daily ritual, tea has long been taken for granted. Though India has produced tea for over two centuries, it remains largely known globally as a supplier of bulk tea and lower-cost CTC, with only Darjeeling — and occasionally Assam — recognized on the specialty stage. Susmita Das Gupta wants to change that. Her vision is to put Indian Specialty Tea firmly on the global fine tea map and build strong top-of-mind recall for India when it comes to the world’s finest whole-leaf teas that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of China, Japan, and Taiwan.
Breaking the Mould: Who is Susmita Das Gupta?
Susmita, who calls herself a Tea Artist, stands out as a rare combination of influencer, storyteller, entrepreneur, and marketing strategist. With over 12 years of hands-on experience, she has introduced thousands to India’s fine whole-leaf teas through experiential tea appreciation workshops — blending sensory learning, cultural storytelling, food pairing, and modern etiquette.
Her work has broken new ground since she founded India’s first Tea Club, It’s Our Cuppa Tea, in 2013, followed by India’s first consumer-facing Tea Festival at JW Marriott, Bengaluru in 2016. She has represented India on global platforms such as AVPA (France), Nomad Tea Festival, and the Nepal Tea Championship, and made history as the first Indian tea professional to be invited to conduct a lecture on the History of Indian Tea for students at Jeju Provincial University, South Korea, in March 2025.
With a certification in Sensory Tea Appreciation & Blending (Paris), an MBA in Marketing & Finance (Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai), as well as specialized certifications from IIM-Kozhikode and Yale University, Susmita is uniquely equipped to combine deep product knowledge and expertise with strong marketing and branding filters, enabling her to understand consumer sentiments and their latent needs — both now and in the future. As a result, every offering she creates is designed to stay relevant — continuously adapting to shifts in consumer preferences, market trends, and emerging lifestyle choices.
The Birth of Indian School of Tea
While countries like China, Japan, and Korea have fully developed tea academies and universities offering multi-faceted tea programs to a global audience, India lacked an institution that could train, inspire, and develop new-age tea professionals. To bridge this gap, Susmita launched the Indian School of Tea (IST) in 2024..
IST is India’s first global tea education platform dedicated entirely to Indian Specialty Tea — focusing on whole-leaf teas that can compete on the world stage. Its mission is simple yet bold: to make Indian tea aspirational for the next generation and to equip young Indians with the knowledge, skill, and global perspective to build diversified careers in tea.
One Year, Many Milestones
In just one year, IST has already made a significant impact:
- Certified more than 100 young tea professionals through its flagship training programs.
- Launched “Brew The Future”, a national campaign engaging India’s youth with tea as a modern lifestyle and career.
- Partnered with hospitality institutes like IIHM & Grape Xpectations
- Helped create over 12 young Teapreneurs, guiding them from training to business setup.
The Road Ahead: A Larger Vision for India’s Tea Industry
The momentum IST has built is only the beginning. Over the next few years, Susmita and her team plan to:
- Launch city-based Tea Clubs to engage Gen Z through interactive, community-driven, interactive learning.
- Develop a cutting-edge Tea Education App for bite-sized, mobile-first learning experiences.
- Create an ecosystem of 100 young Tea Entrepreneurs by 2028, directly contributing to India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
- Forge collaborations with corporates, hospitality chains, wellness platforms, and educational institutions to integrate tea into mainstream lifestyle conversations.
More Than a Beverage: A Cultural Movement
At its heart, Susmita’s work is not just about promoting tea—it’s about creating a cultural shift. In her own words:
“India doesn’t need another marketing campaign for tea. We need a generational movement that makes Indian tea part of our identity, wellness, lifestyle, and economy. The opportunity is vast, and the time is now.”
Collaboration & Contact
The Indian School of Tea is open for collaborations with government bodies, educational institutions, corporates, wellness platforms, and global tea organizations who share the vision of placing Indian tea where it rightfully belongs — at the center of global tea culture.
For media inquiries, partnerships, or more information, please contact:
Indian School of Tea
Email: itsourcuppatea@gmail.com / indianschooloftea@gmail.com
Phone: +91 9945560612
Website: www.indianschooloftea.com
Instagram: @indianschooloftea
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susmitadasgupta/
