Cover Wild tea growing freely beneath the canopy of ancient trees in Northern Thailand, rooted in the forest for centuries. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
Wild tea growing freely beneath the canopy of ancient trees in Northern Thailand, rooted in the forest for centuries. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
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Listen to the whispers of the wild with Kenneth Rimdahl of Monsoon Tea, and why “forest-friendly tea” is the sustainable future of the global tea industry.
For many, the usual image of a tea plantation is rows of emerald bushes, manicured with mathematical precision across rolling hills. It is a picturesque scene—serene, orderly, and inviting. But for Kenneth Rimdahl, the founder of Monsoon Tea with over 30 years in the industry, that image masks a painful reality: the destruction of biodiversity.
“Those plantations are ‘Green Deserts’,” Kenneth often says, comparing monoculture farming to a desert. To create those neat rows, entire forests are razed to make room for a single species, followed by a heavy reliance on chemicals and pesticides, leading to a total loss of habitat for local wildlife.
Yet, deep within the mountains of Northern Thailand, Kenneth discovered a different world—one rooted in an ancient truth. Here, ‘Wild Tea’ grows freely beneath the canopy of giant trees, some having stood for hundreds, even thousands of years. This isn’t just about producing a beverage; it is about listening to the narrative of nature. It is proof that humanity can savour a premium experience while simultaneously preserving the very breath of the forest.
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Above Kenneth Rimdahl, the founder of Monsoon Tea with over 30 years in the industry (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
Kenneth Rimdahl, the founder of Monsoon Tea with over 30 years in the industry (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
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Journey of a skeptic
Kenneth’s journey began in 1994 in Madrid, Spain. He recalls with a smile that in those days, "Spanish people hated tea. They only drank it when they were sick because their grandmothers told them to." Despite the cultural hurdle, he successfully grew a premium tea brand with over 130 outlets globally. This expertise made him confident he knew the tea world better than anyone—until fate brought him to Thailand 25 years ago.
“A friend told me, ‘Thailand has tea,’ and I immediately replied, ‘No way. I know everything about tea, and Thailand is not on that map.’”
His confidence was shaken when he encountered “Miang” in a local market in Chiang Mai. At first, the dark green, fermented leaves wrapped in small bundles did not fit his definition of tea. It was not until he was taken high into the mountains that he saw the source: Camellia sinensis var. assamica growing tall and wild amidst the tropical rainforest. He had not just found a new plant; he had found a "forgotten treasure."
Kenneth realised that the hill tribe communities had co-existed with these wild tea trees for millennia, using them as food (Miang). While the global tea industry was destroying forests to build plantations, Northern Thailand held one of the world's most intact "Tea Forests." In 2012, he shifted from being a global tea exporter to a pioneer, founding Monsoon Tea. His mission: to transform "leaves meant for chewing" into "world-class tea," proving that the forest has immense value—if only we know how to listen and utilise it with understanding.
Above Left: A conventional tea plantation—neatly trimmed rows of lush green bushes. Beneath the picturesque surface lies a harsher reality: entire forests cleared to make way for a single tea species. Right: A natural forest ecosystem, rich in biodiversity, where wildlife, native plants, and wild tea coexist in balance. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
Left: A conventional tea plantation—neatly trimmed rows of lush green bushes. Beneath the picturesque surface lies a harsher reality: entire forests cleared to make way for a single tea species. Right: A natural forest ecosystem, rich in biodiversity, where wildlife, native plants, and wild tea coexist in balance. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
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Those plantations are ‘green deserts’
The Rimdahl Scale
What sets Monsoon Tea’s conservation efforts apart is the focus on creating "Economic Value" for the forest. Kenneth believes sustainability is impossible if the farmers are hungry. He shifted the local community's role from practitioners of shifting cultivation to "Guardians of the Forest" through the Rimdahl Scale—a biodiversity metric that categorises tea based on the environment in which it grows.
“Our idea is to sell as much tea as possible so that we can buy more from different communities and farmers. This way, they earn an income from protecting the forest instead of cutting it down. If they realise that preserving biodiversity provides a livelihood, they won’t clear the land for corn or other crops. Ultimately, the farmers make money by keeping the forest, not by destroying it. That is our core concept.”
The Rimdahl Scale isn't used to exclude tea, but to promote the restoration of entire ecosystems. It ranges from Grade C (Restoring), which aims to return former plantation land to forest, to Grade B (Improving), which enhances existing ecosystems, and Grade A (Preserving), which represents 100% wild tea growing in a perfectly balanced environment. It is a win-win mechanism that replaces "extraction" with "restoration."
Above The Rimdahl Scale, ranging from Grade C (restoring) and Grade B (improving) to Grade A (preserving)—100% wild tea that grows naturally and in balance, without human intervention. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
Above A fresh tea leave growing beneath the rainforest canopy in Northern Thailand. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
The Rimdahl Scale, ranging from Grade C (restoring) and Grade B (improving) to Grade A (preserving)—100% wild tea that grows naturally and in balance, without human intervention. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
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We want tea to be something everyone can enjoy—‘Tea for Everyone’
Digital guardians
Monsoon Tea’s most cutting-edge step is moving from visual estimation to scientific measurement. In collaboration with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), they developed an AI-driven system to monitor the tea forests. Solar-powered sensors are installed deep in the woods to record sounds, which the AI then analyses to measure ecosystem health through the frequency of birds and insects. This innovation does not just monitor—it translates directly into rewards for the locals.
“Before, I could only walk into the forest and say, ‘This looks good,’ but we couldn't really measure it,” Kenneth explains. “Now, we’ve developed small solar-powered devices that listen to the area. AI analyses the sounds of insects and birds, with entomologists teaching the AI which insect sounds are most critical to biodiversity.”
Above Solar-powered sound sensors installed deep in the forest, allowing AI to assess ecosystem health through the frequency of bird and insect sounds.(Photo: Monsoon Tea)
Solar-powered sound sensors installed deep in the forest, allowing AI to assess ecosystem health through the frequency of bird and insect sounds.(Photo: Monsoon Tea)
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“If farmers maintain high biodiversity or successfully restore an ecosystem, they receive a bonus. Now, they don’t just earn from selling tea; they earn for keeping nature healthy.”
The system also ensures traceability. Kenneth envisions a future where consumers scan a QR code to see exactly where their tea originated and "hear" the birds or insects that testify to the forest's health—reminding them that true luxury is a world still vibrant with the sounds of life.
Above Local farmers shifting from slash-and-burn farming to becoming guardians of the forest. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
Above Local farmers earn income both from preserving healthy forests and harvesting tea leaves—proving that conservation can sustain livelihoods. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
Local farmers shifting from slash-and-burn farming to becoming guardians of the forest. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
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From peaks to palaces
The art of Monsoon Tea lies in capturing the "Soul of the Place." or conveying a strong message. For their Rainbow Blend originally created for Pride Month they blend five colours of tea with tropical fruits like mango and passion fruit. With local ingredients they create international flavours that are accessible to a new generation. These blends are narrated through "colour" and "location."
For instance, the Doi Suthep Blend combines green tea with winter flowers and the essence of Chiang Mai, offering a soft, sweet profile like walking through a Northern floral garden. The Monsoon Blend mixes a base tea with peach, ginger, and flowers, feeling as fresh and vibrant as the air after a monsoon rain.
“We want tea to be something everyone can enjoy—‘Tea for Everyone’,” says Kenneth. “Whether you’re a connoisseur or a beginner, we create blends ranging from ‘pure’ to ‘playful,’ making every cup a journey of discovery.”
Above The art of blending at Monsoon Tea lies in capturing the “soul of the place”—conveying powerful stories through flavour. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
The art of blending at Monsoon Tea lies in capturing the “soul of the place”—conveying powerful stories through flavour. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
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I’m not just interested in organic, because you can cut down a forest to grow organic tea. For us, it must be organic by nature, because we focus on biodiversity.
Perhaps most impressive is seeing the harvest of small-scale Thai farmers appear in the world's great fashion capitals.
“I was in Milan at Marchesi 1824 by Prada—one of the most luxurious places in Europe—and I saw the tea tins labelled with our names ‘Lahu White’ and ‘Lanna Green’ on the shelves. It was incredible to see the tea from Thai mountain farmers in a place like that, just as it is at Four Seasons, Anantara or at Michelin-star restaurants like Le Du. It proves the world is looking for meaning deeper than just an expensive price tag.”
Furthermore, a portion of the profits supports local communities through foundations which handle education and infrastructure. They have helped over 13,000 people across Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia—building schools, providing scholarships, and even constructing bridges to ensure the forest communities are not cut off from opportunity.
Read more: Steeped in Heritage: Newby Teas and the Chitra Collection of rare teawares
Above Monsoon Tea’s diverse blends range from pure and restrained to playful and expressive, inviting both seasoned tea drinkers and newcomers alike. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
Monsoon Tea’s diverse blends range from pure and restrained to playful and expressive, inviting both seasoned tea drinkers and newcomers alike. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
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Organic is not enough
Though Swedish by birth, Kenneth insists Monsoon Tea is a Thai brand. He is proud to tell the story of Thailand’s forest-friendly agriculture to the world, believing the tea industry must move toward a more responsible future.
“Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water. Can you imagine how much forest area is destroyed for monoculture tea plantations? We have to find a more sustainable way,” Kenneth emphasises.
For him, the label "Organic" is no longer enough, as it still allows for deforestation to plant organic crops. "Forest Friendly" is the new benchmark that prioritises every life in the woods.
I want consumers to ‘Choose with Impact,’ because every cup you drink connects back to its origin and directly affects the preservation of the forest.
Above Wild tea—or forest-friendly tea—is poised to redefine what sustainability means for the future of the global tea industry. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
Wild tea—or forest-friendly tea—is poised to redefine what sustainability means for the future of the global tea industry. (Photo: Monsoon Tea)
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“I’m not just interested in organic, because you can cut down a forest to grow organic tea. For us, it must be organic by nature, because we focus on biodiversity. I want consumers to ‘Choose with Impact,’ because every cup you drink connects back to its origin and directly affects the preservation of the forest.”
Ultimately, the journey in this teacup is not just about flavour; it is about choosing to listen to nature’s song. Every sip is a vote for the planet—a confirmation that humans and forests can thrive together as long as we choose to protect the forest’s breath.
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Chutima Katepongchai is an assistant editor covering design, architecture, and lifestyle. Based in Bangkok, she writes about homes, spaces, and stylish living through the lens of beauty and culture.
