Foreign diplomats taste Nepali tea and hospitality in Ilam’s Antu

By Prem Adhikari,Pashupatinagar, Apr. 15: After enjoying a boat ride on the Antu Pond, a group of ambassadors from various countries proceeded towards a hill covered by a tea garden. At the hill, wicker baskets used for plucking tea leaves had been prepared in advance. Each guest was handed a basket traditionally used for carrying tea leaves. Then, the ambassadors, accompanied by Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Amrit Bahadur Rai, entered the tea garden.

For the next half an hour, the ambassadors carried the baskets on their backs and engaged in plucking tea. As instructed, they carefully picked only the top two leaves and a bud from the mature tea plants, which is considered the ideal pick for the first flush. Everyone followed the instructions diligently and completed the tea-plucking activity accordingly.

According to Rai, this was a unique experience for all the ambassadors. They learned how tea is cultivated and processed. The tea leaves plucked by the ambassadors were collected and labelled with their names for identification.

Rana Bahadur Rai, Mayor of Suryodaya Municipality, stated that the tea picked by the ambassadors would be processed and sent to them as a souvenir. “This is part of our effort to promote Ilam’s tea,” he said.

Australian Ambassador to Nepal, Leann Johnston, shared that while she had previously tasted Nepali tea, experiencing the process at the source was truly memorable. “We will also try to help bring tea from such a beautiful place to the global market,” she added.

As part of the informal programme, a tea-tasting session was also held in Antu. Organised by the Suryodaya Tea Producers Association and the National Tea and Coffee Development Board's Fikkal-based Tea Expansion Programme, the tasting featured 16 different varieties of Nepali tea.

According to Gopal Kattel, Secretary of the Suryodaya Tea Producers Association, the tea tasting was held to promote Nepal's diverse tea varieties in the international market. Alongside the tasting, participants were introduced to different types of teas, such as Black Tea, Orthodox Green Tea, Oolong Tea, Silver Tea, and Golden Tea. Tea technician Navin Koirala from the Fikkal office explained the characteristics of each variety.

The event also included tasting local dairy products, cheese, and cardamom-infused items.

In celebration of the Nepali New Year 2082, ambassadors from various countries visited Suryodaya Municipality in Ilam on Sunday. Organised jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the Nepal Tourism Board and coordinated by Suryodaya Municipality, the informal visit brought ambassadors from 15 countries to Antu.

The delegation, led by Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba and including Foreign Secretary  Rai, officials from the ministry, and representatives from the Tourism Board, comprised over 45 high-level dignitaries. 

As part of Monday’s activities, the ambassadors enjoyed a boat ride on Antu Pond and participated in a fishing activity, according to Mayor Rai. 

He mentioned that since this was an informal visit under the ministry's annual programme, various recreational activities were arranged. "We hope this event will contribute to promoting our tourist destinations," he said.

Each year, the MoFA organises trips to new tourist destinations for resident ambassadors in Nepal on the occasion of the New Year. This time, the destination selected was Antu and Kanyam in Suryodaya Municipality.

Foreign Secretary Rai said that the ambassadors' visit would help in promoting tourism in Suryodaya. On Monday morning, the delegation also witnessed the sunrise view from Antu hilltop.

To welcome the ambassadors, the municipality had organised various cultural and musical performances. Traditional dances including Rai, Lapcha and Newar communities as well as Sakela and Jhankri were performed to greet the guests.

Ambassadors from Egypt, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Thailand, Australia, France, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and ICIMOD participated in the event. 

FM Dr. Rana said that the informal visit had provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the tourism potential of the region. The visit is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday.

‘Tourism foundation of development’ 

Foreign Minister Dr. Rana said that tourism is the cornerstone of Nepal's development and prosperity. 

“Nepal’s unique culture, heritage, and natural beauty are major attractions for the world, and these priceless assets are also the basis for the nation’s development and prosperity,” she said. 

FM Dr. Rana praised Nepal’s cultural and ecological diversity, scenic landscapes, lush greenery, biodiversity, heritage sites, and majestic Himalayan ranges. Highlighting the significance of the Ilam, she described it as a land of expansive tea gardens, mist-covered hills, and warm-hearted people. She encouraged everyone to experience Ilam's tea, pure air, traditional lifestyle, and unique way of living.

She further urged the attending diplomats to act as "ambassadors of Nepali tourism" upon their return. “I kindly request that when you return to your respective countries, you take with you beautiful stories of Ilam and Nepal, and help promote them as much as possible,” she said.

Dr. Rana also discussed the strong potential for foreign investment in Nepal, particularly in the sectors of tourism and infrastructure, and invited the global community to invest in these areas.