“We are resilient, ambitious and committed to working together towards a healthier, happier and more prosperous future for our village and the region. Collaboration and determination are at the heart of everything we do”. (Mari Arthur).
Dr Justin John, a cancer researcher, has experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. He specialises in endotoxin testing and in 2020, together with Mari Arthur, set up Tetrim Teas in the rural Mid Wales village of Trimsarin. Mari is an English and Welsh Literature graduate from Aberystwyth University. Since graduating in 1998 she has specialised in marketing and has set up her own marketing consultancy, a Welsh language children’s day nursery and an award-winning health spa. It was while running the health spa in Cardiff that she became convinced of the health benefits of green tea, and this gave her the idea to set up Tetrim Teas Ltd. The business would develop health-related teas sourced 100 per cent in Wales that would bring economic and social benefits to the local community, including local farmers and growers. As Justin has observed “Our vision is to develop quality, nature and science-based herbal teas to improve health and wellbeing with ingredients grown in Wales and a profit share with local growers and communities”. To achieve this, they intend to grow carefully and sustainably and according to Mari they planned 3 development stages. The initial phase in 2021 was to identify ingredients and prepare recipes, the second to identify suppliers and alternative indigenous ingredients and the third, in 2023, to take the product to market, which it did.
While Tetrim Teas is very much a family business in which Mari’s nephew, Steffan, is the head blender, it is also a community enterprise. Not only does it use the village community centre as its blending house, but it also provides local employment opportunities particularly for those with learning difficulties, mental health problems or prison records. Additionally, it has collaborated with students and staff of Aberystwyth University in order to develop their recipes and to determine the health benefits of their products. Importantly, they also undertake projects with the local school children having them grow tea plants which, when ready, they can turn into tea, while they hold weekly village social gatherings where the residents can meet, drink tea, talk about health and wellbeing and practice speaking Welsh.
The first language of the business is Welsh and in June 2024 it was shortlisted for the inaugural “Most Welsh in the World Award” (Gwobrau Mwyaf Cymraeg under y Byd). Although the general public did not vote them winners of the Award they met the competition aim which, according to the organiser’s manager Zoe Pritchard, is to celebrate and promote the Welsh language and show how it “can help businesses thrive and provide careers for our young people so they don’t feel they have to move away”. As Mari observed “The fact that we have been shortlisted for the staff Mwyaf Cymraeg Award is important to us as we value our team and encourage them in decision making along with championing the Welsh language and being a living wage accredited employer”.
Sustainability and Community development are central to the business and it uses its profits to give back to the community. Currently, for example, it is renovating the village’s former, now derelict, Mineral Welfare Hall. It is turning it into a Food Drying and Processing Centre using hempcrete a French bio-based construction material that helps to prevent damp. At the same time, they are avoiding the use of plastics and their biodegradable tea bags are packed in compostable and recycled cardboard boxes. While working with local suppliers in order to reduce their carbon footprint they only deal with those who share their ethical concerns.
Tetrim Teas is an example of harmonious entrepreneurship. Profit, planet and people are in harmony with each other, and it addresses SDGs 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
References
Anonymous (2022), Tetrim Teas – Grower Collaboration Opportunity. TYFUCYMRU. 9th August.
Anonymous (2024), Shouting at Mushrooms in Welsh Helps Tea Company Earn Award Nomination. Business News Wales 2nd June.
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