In February of this year, the Kenyan High Court made a pivotal ruling allowing tea estates to implement mechanized tea picking in their operations, and the union's attempt to block it was declared a failure. Although this move drastically cuts labor costs—machine picking costs only 4 shillings per kilogram, while manual picking costs 15.50 shillings—the union warns it could lead to 50,000 job losses. Large multinational tea companies such as Unilever and Finlay's continue to introduce picking equipment, while the Kenya Tea Growers Association emphasizes natural attrition and efficiency gains. Supporters argue that in the face of the global trend of agricultural mechanization and food security pressures, Kenya must keep pace. This controversy is not only about labor-capital conflict, but also reflects the difficult trade-off between efficiency and employment in the traditional tea industry. For coffee lovers, understanding the changes in tea-producing regions also helps to compare the logic behind raw material supply chain choices of brands such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]

As a major global tea exporter, India's production dynamics tug at the market's nerves. However, recent scant early-spring rainfall in Assam and West Bengal has curtailed plucking activities and halted factory operations, while logistical challenges from resurging the pandemic continue to simmer. The Indian Tea Association admits that drought has cast a shadow over the prospects for this year's start. Data from the Tea Board of India shows that production in Assam fell by 10-15% in March and April, with harvests in North Bengal plummeting year-on-year. Despite firm demand, prices have not soared as they did last year. This article will outline the distribution of India's tea-growing regions, climate impacts, and major brands, along with related recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Jiahe Foods delivered a rather unimpressive performance in the first half of 2024: revenue of 1.073 billion yuan, down 19.12% year-on-year; net profit of 69.4439 million yuan, nearly halved year-on-year. This company, known as the "king of non-dairy creamer," once held a leading position in the industry thanks to the era of Nestlé instant coffee and the explosive growth of the milk tea sector, but now faces a wave of new-style tea beverage brands collectively "removing non-dairy creamer." Starting from the financial report data, this article traces the rise and fall of non-dairy creamer from coffee companion to milk tea base, and how the trans fatty acid controversy has reshaped the industry landscape, and explores the prospects of Jiahe Foods in the era of zero non-dairy creamer. [more…]