In the quiet corners of Tepania under Udaipur subdivision in Tripura, a group of determined women is brewing something extraordinary, not just a fragrant cup of tea, but a story of hope, enterprise, and empowerment.
These women, members of the Star Mahila Dal Self-Help Group (SHG), have crafted a homegrown success story by producing organic herbal “blue tea” made from the delicate Butterfly Pea flower, locally known as Neel Kantha. What began as a simple idea rooted in local resources is now turning into a promising livelihood movement for rural Tripura.
A Flower That Became a Future
The Butterfly Pea flower, known for its vivid blue colour and medicinal properties, grows abundantly across Tripura’s rural landscape. Traditionally used in home remedies and herbal medicine, the flower was never seen as a commercial product- until this women’s group decided to give it new life.
Led by Madhabi Saha, the group began experimenting with processing and drying the flowers to produce herbal tea. The result was a visually striking, caffeine-free beverage rich in antioxidants and known to improve eyesight, reduce stress, and support skin and hair health.
By September this year, their blue tea was ready for small-scale sale. The initial batches received an enthusiastic local response, encouraging the group to scale up production. Packaging and branding are now underway, with the women planning to launch the tea in both offline stores and online marketplaces soon.
A Model for Rural Innovation
This story isn’t just about a product – it’s about transformation. The initiative reflects how rural women are adding value to natural resources, breaking barriers of dependency, and becoming entrepreneurs in their own right.
Tripura’s Blue Tea Project has quickly become a symbol of how local abundance can translate into economic opportunity. The SHG model empowers women by pooling savings, sharing labour, and jointly marketing their produce. What sets this venture apart is its sustainability, the raw materials are locally available, the production process is eco-friendly, and the profits go directly to the women who make it.
For many of these women, this is their first experience of financial independence. It’s also a chance to inspire others, showing that entrepreneurship doesn’t always begin in cities or factories, but sometimes in a small kitchen surrounded by blossoms and laughter.
The Wellness Wave
In a time when the world is turning toward organic, plant-based, and wellness-driven lifestyles, the timing of this product couldn’t be better. Blue tea- with its vibrant colour and unique health benefits, has already gained global popularity, often marketed as a “super drink.”
What makes the Tripura version distinct is its authenticity: grown organically, handpicked by women, and processed using traditional methods. Each packet tells a story, of rural women reclaiming control over their economic future through nature’s gifts.
The tea’s success could open doors for Tripura’s entry into India’s booming herbal and wellness market, estimated to be worth thousands of crores. With strategic branding and e-commerce support, the SHG’s product could soon reach health stores and tea lovers across India, perhaps even abroad.
More Than Just a Cup of Tea
This initiative is a reminder that empowerment doesn’t always need grand policies or foreign aid, sometimes, it starts with a handful of petals and a shared dream. By transforming the humble Butterfly Pea flower into a product of pride, these women are brewing more than tea, they’re brewing confidence, courage, and community.
As Tripura’s organic blue tea prepares for its grand market debut, it carries with it the aroma of self-reliance, the colour of hope, and the taste of a brighter, more inclusive future. In every sip of Tripura’s blue tea lies the strength of rural women, turning nature’s beauty into economic independence, one cup at a time.
