Across the lush hills and valleys of Manipur, a quiet revolution is bubbling—and it tastes like childhood, memory, and the future, all in a single sip. In traditional kitchens, grandmothers once simmered wild herbs for their healing powers and flavors. Decades later, Manipur’s new generation of entrepreneurs is resurrecting those recipes with an innovative twist, giving rise to a “herbal rush” that’s enchanting not only local palates but also distant ones.
The Rise of Caffeine-Free Craft
At the heart of this movement are startups like Dwellers Teas and Nongmadol Beverage, led not by veteran industrialists, but by returning natives and bold women reconnecting with their roots. Their secret? Exotic, indigenous ingredients—sumac berries, tart gooseberries, zesty roselle, piquant banana peels—raw materials once relegated to backyard shrubbery or thrown away as kitchen scraps.
Dwellers Teas: Sipping on Childhood Memories
Elizabeth Yambem, founder of Dwellers Teas, swapped a cosmopolitan career for her hometown’s nostalgia. Born and raised in Imphal, Elizabeth grew up savoring the flavors of Manipur’s wild flora, lovingly brewed by the women in her family. Her yearning for those lost tastes—ripe sumac, wild gooseberry, the bittersweet medicinal nong-mang-kha—prompted her return.
Elizabeth recently told EastMojo, “I wanted to relive the childhood memories of sumac berries, gooseberries, the vibrant red roselle, and the bittersweet Nong-mang-kha traditional herbal tea, but in a form that could suit modern lifestyles.”
Since launching in 2017 and moving operations from Guwahati to Imphal, Dwellers Teas has flourished. The company employs 20 women at its Uripok manufacturing unit, partnering with local farmers in villages such as Phayeng and Ukhrul to source wildcrafted ingredients. Today, their 10+ tea blends—available both at Dwellers Cafés and online—include fruity Roselle Olive, invigorating Nong-mang-kha Ginger Green, and lemony Garcinia Green, each priced affordably and each rooted in tradition.
Nongmadol Beverage: Sustainability in Every Sip
Not far away in Imphal East, Selina Mutum’s Nongmadol Beverage offers a different twist on the same philosophy. Observing banana chip units discarding peels, Selina saw an opportunity to turn waste into wellness. Her brand, launched in 2024, transforms banana and pineapple peels—with a dash of handpicked spices—into delicious, caffeine-free drinks.
“With every packet we sell, we’re promoting a sustainable approach and a new flavor that’s purely herbal,” Selina told EastMojo. Her business, run by a six-woman team, is nothing short of revolutionary: blending sustainability, employment, and flavor innovation for a generation thirsty for change.
Despite periodic disruptions due to the region’s ethnic strife, both Dwellers Teas and Nongmadol Beverage produce around 500–700 boxes of herbal teas every month, sold at Rs50–200 per packet for markets both local and far afield.
Why Are These Startups Reshaping Manipur’s Economy?
- Women-Led & Empowering: These businesses are powered by women, from founders to teams, opening doors and shattering glass ceilings in a state often overlooked in India’s startup surge.
- Sustainable Innovation: From “upcycling” banana peels to reviving neglected botanicals, these startups build value chains that are environmentally conscious and socially responsible.
- Flavors of Nostalgia: Their brews offer more than health benefits—they revive memories, heal with tradition, and preserve flavors that risk fading away with each generation.
How They’re Doing: Tasting Success (Despite Hurdles)
- Volume and reach: Both herbal brands deliver 500–700 boxes monthly. Dwellers sells outside Manipur too.
- Workforce: Teams are entirely women-led—20 in Dwellers, six in Nongmadol, many part-time from nearby villages.
- Pricing: Affordable, ₹50–₹200 a packet.
- Sourcing: Ingredients come straight from local farmers in hill districts; producers partner with women growers in tribes and villages.
- Challenges: Packaging delays due to supply-chain fragility in a region plagued by conflict and poor logistics; limited capital post‑seed across the region; no local VC presence.
But they’re not alone. The Manipur Technology Innovation Hub (MTI‑HUB) is trying to fill the gaps—mentoring, incubating, pushing for seed to growth‑stage finance, facilitating access to national markets, especially for bio‑processing and agri startups like these.
The Herbaceous India: Other Players in the Sector
While Manipur leads with its unique terroir, the herbal beverages phenomenon is gaining traction nationwide. Here’s a snapshot of startups making similar waves:
| Startup | Location | Specialty/Ingredients | Unique Angle | Status/Reach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellers Teas | Manipur | Sumac berry, gooseberry, roselle, lemongrass | Reimagining tribal nostalgia, women-led, rural employment | 3 cafés, e-commerce, PAN India |
| Nongmadol Beverage | Manipur | Banana and pineapple peels, spices | Upcycling waste, women team, sustainability | Local, rising demand |
| Bikalp Herbals | Uttarakhand | Traditional herbal “kadha” in tea bags | Ayurvedic fusion, convenience | Expanding presence |
| Syangbo’s Living Food & Beverages | Darjeeling | Darjeeling tea, kombucha, spring water | Preservative-free, honoring heritage | Regional, scaling |
India’s Women-led Sustainability Wave
Broader data shows women-led startups are changing India’s sustainability landscape, especially in food and beverages. Women account for nearly half of new startups registered since 2022, bringing a keen focus on inclusivity, sustainability, and rural job creation.
What’s Brewing Next?
The herbal beverage scene in Manipur is not just a business story—it’s a cultural revival, an environmental mission, and an economic movement. Each cup sold is a celebration of local land, of women’s leadership, and of the healing power of memory. As the aroma of sumac and roselle drifts from café to college campus, one thing is clear: Manipur’s taste-makers have bottled nostalgia, and the world is thirsty for it.
If you find yourself in Manipur—or scrolling an online store for drinks that soothe both body and soul—look for these brews. With every sip, you become part of a new tradition, one shaped by heritage, by hope, and by the remarkable women of Manipur.
