O R I G I N S & H I S T O R Y
Tea and Spice Supplier: Da Zhang Shan
Origin: China / Jiangxi - Zhejiang
The Da Zhang Shan cooperative is the fi rst Chinese
cooperative to have been certifi ed in organic farming
(1996) and in Fairtrade (2001).
A precursor in organic tea production, the
cooperative, whose headquarters are located in
Wuyuan, gathers 3000 farmers from around 50 local
branches.
In the heart of the Golden Triangle of green tea, on
the Da Zhang Shan mountains in Jiangxi province,
the tea gardens have been famous for more than 1200
years. Tea from this region was the favorite beverage of
emperors during the Tang, Ming and Qing dynasties.
Tea and Spice Supplier: Van Chan
Origin: Vietnam / Yen Bai
The Van Chan cooperative, founded in 2000, provides
Vietnamese tea from the villages of Suoi Bu, Ta
Nanh and Lien Son, in the province of Yen Bai in the
Northwest of Vietnam. The climate and soil type are
almost the same as in Yunnan, China.
The project was started by the late Jaap Brands who
spent nearly 30 years in Vietnam after the war to help
the country to recover. Cha Dô got involved in 2004
and after a couple of trials they succeeded in developing
production standards for black as well as green
tea. Sustainable prices and the Fairtrade premiums
have enabled the villages to build community houses,
schools, cretches and bring electricity to the houses of
their people. Van Chan teas are harvested from wild
growing tea trees in the Rainforests. No cultivation is
involved in the growing.
The harvested leaves are directly processed by hand
and then transported to the manufacturing plants.
The production of tea as well as spices (cinnamon,
ginger, fl owers) allows the villages to make a living
without growing Poppy Flowers.