The German who helped take Ilam tea to Europe gets a fond farewell

When Nepal’s tea producers in the eastern hills began reaching out to international markets, they found an unlikely ally in a German tea professional. Though not Nepali, Thomas Holz developed a close relationship with the country’s tea growers, built on a shared belief in the potential of Nepali tea. Over the years, Holz played an important role in introducing tea from Ilam to European consumers, particularly in Germany.

What began as a commercial partnership grew into a personal bond with growers, cooperatives and the people behind the industry. On Tuesday, Gorkha Tea Estate in Sunderpani, ward 9 of Suryodaya Municipality, Ilam, organised a ceremonial farewell to honour his contribution to expanding the market for Nepali tea. Holz recently retired on reaching the age limit from his position at TeaGschwendner.

He had travelled to Nepal a few days earlier, giving the estate and local tea producers an opportunity to recognise his work.