WHO'S WHO IN THE Association

Pratik is a third-generation tea producer and co-founder of Nepal Tea Collective, a Public Benefit Corporation building a transparent and traceable supply chain connecting Nepali tea farmers to North American and European markets while driving social change at origin. Growing up in a family with 44 years in the tea industry, he never imagined joining it. Despite resisting at first, he pursued a corporate career after earning his finance degree,  but in 2020, the allure of the tea world proved irresistible and he joined as co-founder.

Over the past six years, Pratik has built direct relationships with 1,500+ farmers and implemented a 1% revenue share model contributing to a 33% increase in producer wages alongside fair compensation practices. In 2023, the company reached a landmark milestone, becoming the largest importer of Nepali teas in North America. He is now working toward replicating this direct-producer model across other agricultural products in Nepal, with a long-term goal of breaking cycles of generational poverty for smallholder farmers.

My journey to the world of tea started in 2002 when I joined our family business, a Greek tea company established in 1993.

With 33 years of dedicated service in the specialty tea industry, our tea company and I, transformed Greece's tea landscape through unwavering commitment and innovation.

As CEO of Mlesna Hellas - To Tsai since 2015, I have built upon our 33-year partnership with Sri Lanka's Mlesna Teas, where my hands-on experience spans from tea plucking to final packaging. Additional suppliers and good business relationships have helped us establish a solid tea company in Greece.

Our achievements include establishing Athens' first specialty teahouse, offering over 250 tea varieties to introduce Greek consumers to quality tea culture. We were instrumental in bringing matcha to the Greek market in 2008, including innovative matcha lattes and cakes. Investing in tea machines for customized packaging, innovative tea packages and an online store that sells globally are few of the additions, I offered to our tea company, over the years.

As a Certified Tea Specialist from the World Tea Academy, I combine deep technical knowledge with practical market development expertise.

Operating in a traditionally non-tea drinking nation has required creative strategies, cultural sensitivity, and persistent education—skills directly applicable to ESTA's mission across diverse European markets.

I can offer ESTA foundational expertise in building specialty tea appreciation from the ground up. My experience developing consumer education programs, introducing new tea concepts, and establishing quality standards in challenging markets positions me to contribute meaningfully to ESTA's goal of advancing European specialty tea culture.

As the sole Greek tea company of ESTA we can offer optics and perspective from a country that is developing fast in the tea industry but still has a long way to go.

For me, "TEA is Path" is more than a professional motto; it is the trajectory of my career, bridging  rigorous botanical science with the immersive aesthetics of speciality tea.

This path began with my six-year parttime volunteer at the TAI Herbarium (National Taiwan University). Those   scientific training taught me to observe tea through the lens of plant taxonomy and ecological balance. I bring this rigorous, science-based discipline to the world of speciality tea, transforming it from a simple beverage into a profound cultural experience.

As the owner of Alishan high-mountain tea gardens and three distinct tea brands, I practice the "Way of Subtraction"—prioritizing biodiversity and ecological integrity over mass production. My deep, practical understanding of the challenges facing producers today allows me to advocate for sustainable agricultural practices and fair-trade models aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

With a multi-disciplinary background spanning pharmaceuticals, international trade, and botany, my vision for ESTA is to cultivate a more inclusive, science-based, and strategically positioned market in Europe and beyond. I am honored to bring my expertise in vertical integration—from root to cup—to help lead ESTA toward global harmony and excellence.

Kurush Bharucha (former 'Global Tea Expertise Director, Unilever/Lipton') has spent 40 years of his professional life in Tea, with Unilever/Lipton. He is a specialist tea taster and judge, buyer and blender, trainer and educator, product innovator and developer, sommelier and storyteller - an untiring 'Tevangelist' of our Industry.   

He started his career in 1985 in India, working in all 6 of its Tea auction centres. Often tasting 1000 cups of tea EACH DAY (!), he recalls his mentor's advice - 'Practice makes perfect, so perfect your practice !').  After 20 years in India (in Buying, Blending, Factory roles), Unilever moved him overseas - 8 years in Dubai and 12 in the UK.  This widened his skill-set - going beyond Supply Chain and into R&D, driving blend design across brands like PG Tips, Pukka, Tazo & T2.   As Unilever's 'Chief Tea Quality Custodian', he always 'aspired to inspire' - generously sharing his multi-origin knowledge, instilling belief, and helping strengthen the Company's Tea Culture.  In his last role at Lipton, he oversaw the specialist Tea 'cupping' capability, calibration and certification of a global team of 80 tasters ! 

Kurush is now back home in Mumbai where he has started his own Consultancy - 'BharuCHA Global Tea Advisory LLP')

As Judge - At Speciality Tea Quality Competitions eg 'The Leafies' and 'The Great Taste Awards' in London ; AVPA in Paris ; 'TGLIA' in India        

As Tutor - As a UK Tea Academy/UKTA 'Expert', he teaches 2 specialist online modules - 'Teas of India' & 'Teas of Africa')

As Speaker - Presents at Global Tea Forums (egs WTE Las Vegas, IITC Kochi, Brussels Tea Festival, Dubai Global Tea Forum, CII India Tea Forum)   

Kurush is extensively travelled from Bush-to-Brand, and is a lifelong Tea advocate.  

I am a co-founder of the European Speciality Tea Association and have served as a Board Director and President since 2016.  I am truly proud of ESTA’s growth and rapid development into an influential part of the international tea scene, whilst retaining its appeal to broad-based lovers of high-quality teas. 

As a founder-director I believe my re-election provides some essential continuity for the governance of ESTA and that, with my 43 years’ practical working experience in the tea industry, I am well placed to guide and encourage our future growth.

Nishchal Banskota is a 2nd generation tea producer and the founder of Nepal Tea Collective which directly brings certified organic teas from Nepal to the American market. His vision is to create a tech-enabled transparent tea trade that bridges the gap between the primary producers and consumers. He serves on the Board of Directors of the European Specialty Tea Association (ESTA). His innovative work has been featured in major publications the New York Times and Forbes and he has been a regular speaker at various tea festivals. He is a young leader for the European Union Development Days, a Global Good Fund fellow and an active advocate for the UN Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.

Oscar is a co-founder of SUKI TEA and has spent 21 years working in tea, including 16 years training baristas. Along the way, he has gained qualifications from international tea organisations and has served on the board of the European Speciality Tea Association for the past five years. Regular trips to tea origins have helped shape his knowledge of tea types, terroir, and sourcing. As a tea blender and taster, he plays a key role in developing SUKI’s exciting blends, and with a background in marketing and design, he also brings a strong creative eye to how those teas are shared with the world.

I have spent my life among tea trees older than memory — trees that have weathered dynasties, mist, and silence. This is not a background I carry lightly. It is the foundation from which I hope to contribute something meaningful to the European Special Tea Association. Europe has built remarkable structures around tea — distribution, education, community. What I can offer is depth of origin. Not theory, but lived knowledge: of harvest cycles, of regional terroir, of the relationship between producer and leaf that no textbook can fully translate.

My aspiration, as a board member, is to be a genuine bridge. To bring the perspective of the producer into rooms where decisions are made — so that European standards, sourcing conversations, and quality frameworks are shaped with a fuller understanding of where tea actually comes from.  I believe this association grows stronger when those at the table have walked the gardens, not only visited them. I am committed to the Association's growth, its independence, and its responsibility toward both its members and the broader tea world. It is an honour to serve, and I look forward to contributing with diligence and purpose.