Herbal Tea Made From Local Herbs Turns Bijnor's Rural Women Into Entrepreneurs With Overseas Buyers Women from a self-help group in Bijnor, backed by the National Rural Livelihood Mission, are making organic Vidur Herbal Tea whose demand has now reached the United States, England, Germany and France. A group of rural women in Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh, has built a business that now carries its scent far beyond India's borders. Under the banner of Vidur Herbal Tea, a self-help group has turned locally grown herbs into an organic tea that has completely reshaped the women's financial lives, and orders for it are now landing from as far away as the United States and Europe. How the business got off the ground The venture took shape with support from the National Rural Livelihood Mission, a government programme built to help rural women set up small enterprises and become financially independent. Members of the group borrowed one lakh rupees from a bank to get the herbal tea business off the ground. What began as a modest experiment soon grew into a full-fledged cottage industry, run entirely by women from within the community. Today, 10 women from the group work together to prepare completely chemical-free, organic tea by hand. The enterprise has lifted their earnings so sharply that the women are now counted among the village's lakhpatis, a striking example of rural women's economic empowerment and proof that small self-help groups can scale into real businesses. A blend of natural herbs goes into every cup According to Babita Rani, who heads the group, the tea is made using lemongrass, giloy, mulethi, jamun leaves, raw turmeric, guava leaves, cinnamon, tulsi, green cardamom and fennel. Every ingredient used is fully organic, with no chemical additives involved at any stage of preparation. The tea is currently sold in two distinct flavours, giving customers a choice depending on their taste. This particular blend of herbs has made the tea popular for both its aroma and its health-friendly qualities, helping it stand apart from mass-produced tea brands. From Bijnor to Moradabad, the business keeps expanding The Vidur Herbal Tea network is no longer confined to a single village or town. In Bijnor itself, the tea is now served at around 40 outlets and cafes, a sign of how firmly it has taken hold of the local market. In Moradabad, the women run two dedicated centres, and a new outlet has recently opened near Kachahri Gate in the Civil Lines area of the city, extending its reach further into a new market. Step by step, the small group is turning into a recognisable brand with a growing retail footprint across the region. Demand is now coming in from overseas too Last year, the group took part in an exhibition held in Delhi, where foreign visitors sampled the tea and were won over by its taste and fragrance. That encounter sparked interest in ordering the tea from abroad. Babita Rani said requests for opening franchises are now coming in from countries including the United States, England, Germany and France. "Slowly, our Vidur Herbal Tea is becoming a brand," she said. Within India too, large quantities are being ordered from several states, turning the venture into a dependable and growing source of income for the women involved. How to order Vidur Herbal Tea from home Anyone interested in trying the tea can get in touch directly on the mobile number 9625 102715. Orders can also be placed online through Google, allowing the tea to reach customers from any part of the country without needing a physical store nearby. The group maintains that the herbal tea also carries genuine health benefits, making it worth trying at least once. A journey that began with a small bank loan has now crossed international borders, and that is precisely why this story from Bijnor is turning into a source of inspiration for women in other villages as well. What this means for you If you live in or around Bijnor or Moradabad, this herbal tea has already reached a market near you. • Across India: The model, built on a single one-lakh-rupee bank loan under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, shows how women in any village can start a business with small capital. Women interested in joining a similar group can approach their local rural livelihood mission office. • In Bijnor and Moradabad: Residents can now taste the organic tea directly at more than 40 outlets and cafes. The newly opened centre near Kachahri Gate in Moradabad's Civil Lines area is the closest option for people in that city. • For prospective buyers: Anyone in the country can order the tea by calling 9625 102715 or placing an order online through Google, so it can reach a customer's home without needing a nearby store. • For buyers abroad: Franchise plans are being prepared for the United States, England, Germany and France, meaning residents there may soon be able to get the tea locally. Why this happened Vidur Herbal Tea's growth was not accidental, it followed a clear sequence of steps. Seed funding from a government scheme, the product's quality, and exposure at an exhibition together pushed it from a local venture to an internationally sought-after brand. • Government-scheme seed funding: A one-lakh-rupee loan under the National Rural Livelihood Mission gave the women a way to start the business without needing large capital of their own. • An organic, chemical-free identity: Made from herbs like lemongrass, giloy and tulsi, the tea's purity set it apart from mass-market tea and built customer trust. • A Delhi exhibition as the turning point: Foreign visitors who sampled the tea at an exhibition in Delhi last year were the ones who first triggered interest in franchises and orders from abroad. • Gradual network expansion: What started as a single centre has grown into 40 outlets in Bijnor and two centres in Moradabad, steadily turning it into a recognisable brand. Questions & Answers 1. Where is Vidur Herbal Tea made? It is prepared by a self-help group of rural women in Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh. 2. Where did the funding to start the business come from? The group took a one-lakh-rupee bank loan under the National Rural Livelihood Mission. 3. How many women are involved in making the tea? 10 women from the group currently work together to prepare it. 4. What herbs go into the tea? It is made using lemongrass, giloy, mulethi, jamun leaves, raw turmeric, guava leaves, cinnamon, tulsi, green cardamom and fennel. 5. Which countries are showing demand for the tea? Requests for franchises are coming in from the United States, England, Germany and France. 6. Who heads the group? Babita Rani heads the self-help group. 7. How can someone order the tea? By calling 9625 102715 directly or placing an order online through Google. 8. How many outlets exist in Bijnor and Moradabad? The tea is served at around 40 outlets and cafes in Bijnor, while two centres operate in Moradabad. Inspiration & Lessons The journey of Babita Rani and her group shows that limited resources are no barrier to building a large business with the right approach. • Don't be afraid of a small start: A venture launched with just a one-lakh-rupee loan has now grown into dozens of outlets and franchise demand from abroad. • Stick to quality: Insisting on completely chemical-free, organic ingredients gave the product a distinct identity that earned customer trust. • Seize the right platform: The contacts made at an exhibition in Delhi were what carried the tea into international markets, showing how valuable it is to showcase a product at the right event. • Use technology to widen reach: Enabling online orders through Google let the group reach distant customers without heavy investment. • Grow as a team: Ten women working together turned individual effort into a shared, collective success. https://trendkia.com/en/success-stories/jari-butiyon-se-bani-harbala-chaya-ne-badala-di-bijnor-ki-gramina-auraton-ki-jindagi-videsha-taka-bani-pahachana-29424 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.