Herbal tea from Indian village served to BRICS leaders
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Women in Lakkhiwala, a village in Bijnor district, India, served their locally produced Vidur Prerna Swadeshi Herbal Tea to heads of state and dignitaries at the BRICS Summit 2026 gala dinner in New Delhi.
The tea, a blend of giloy, mulethi, turmeric, cardamom, fennel, and lemongrass, gained national attention when Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed its flavour and health benefits in his “Mann Ki Baat” broadcast.
Following the prime minister’s praise, demand for the tea increased significantly and a delegation from NITI Aayog, a government policy think tank, visited the group. Babita Rani, the head of the self-help group, explained that administrative support helped them develop and market the tea after learning about medicinal plants from her farming background. The Bijnor district administration launched Vidur Prerna Swadeshi as a community brand in December 2023.
District Magistrate Jasjit Kaur stated that over 30,000 self-help groups operate within the district, collectively marketing more than 160 products and generating a turnover of over ₹12 crore. The Lakkhiwala group received a ₹10 lakh loan to expand production and currently produces around 1,000 packets of tea, each containing 100 grammes, which sell for ₹300 directly or ₹350 in stores.
