About us
The Power Maw Shan story
Our family-owned company has been in the tea market for the last five decades. We started as a small farm and tea factory in Pindaya (southern Shan State) in 1964, and just 20 years later, we created our first brand: Maw Shan.
Since the 1980s, we have constantly expanded our business and today, we are proud to export to international markets including the UK and Germany.
Myanmar was once a wealthy and powerful civilization in South East Asia. Over the centuries, Shan State (also known as Shanlands) has been deeply involved in trade networks with India, China, Thailand and beyond.
Early Shan history goes back to 650 BC when they were said to have migrated from China. Tea across these regions was cherished and used by emperors, including the Shang Dynasty during 1500 BC as a medicinal drink. It said that the mother tea plant, Camellia sinensis, originated in northern Shan State and south west China.
Our family grew up learning about the many legends of tea. Some tell of tea from Yunnan to Tibet Tea Horse Road that went through Myanmar. Other legends say that Alaungsithu, King of the Pagan Dynasty of Burma, toured Namhsan in Shan State and was presented with seeds.
Tea has played a strong role in our family and the local Palaung people across hundreds of years. Tales tell of the British civil servants’ wonder when they approached Namhsan to see our ancient and rich tea culture growing in the hills and valleys.
Today, Shan State tea still dominates local livelihoods, contributing to their primary income, GDP and employment.
Over the years, Maw Shan has helped grow livelihoods and now we are sharing this wonderful healing and delicious tea throughout Myanmar. We have a stunning range of black tea, white tea, green tea, red tea, fermented tea, herbal teas, and our divine tea infusions.
Our company is built on creativity, quality, and innovation, paired with a deep respect for generational knowledge and admiration for women tea farmers. Our current CEO is our mother and family hero, Daw Kyin Po.
Certifications
We received our Fair For Life certificate from EcoCert in 2019. Maw Shan is the first and only certified Fairtrade company in Myanmar.
Our strong company values have made it our core business to give our farmers living wages, and to support and nurture the soil and environment through organic farming. We were already implementing organic (2018) and Fairtrade (2019) practices before certification. It was not a big change.
We also share 5% of the profits through our Fairtrade fund. The more my sister and I work with my mother, the more we see how amazing she is.
After exporting our tea to Germany under the label, “Myanmar Green Pindaya Tea”, Maw Shan became the first organic tea exporter to the EU. This was massive in building trust between farmers and consumers. Our farmers are so proud to be a part of this.