Dr. Kazi Anis Ahmed is the Co-founder and President of Teatulia Teas and also a Bangladeshi native. Dr. Ahmed tells us what a winter in Bangladesh is like through his eyes.

We are now well into the winter season here, which is my favorite time in the garden. The Teatulia Gardens are one of the coldest places in Bangladesh, and we have already had temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius (that is 60 degrees Fahrenheit). In a country where most days are in the 80s and 90s, this is really cold. And, frankly, for the poorest people who don’t have very well-insulated homes or sufficient warm clothes, this is not a very pleasant time at all. On rare occasions, for the very elderly or ill, this weather can even be fatal. We distribute from Teatulia and its sisters in the region no less than a few thousand blankets and warm clothes to folks who need them in the area. This year we are also doing the same for the kids in our Co-op school. But, such serious social impact of the weather aside, it is also a beautiful time that most people enjoy in a variety of ways.

Special molasses cakes (pithas) are made for breakfast this time of year. Fireside gatherings in the evenings are popular throughout rural compounds and bazars. Cricket, badminton and a number of other sports, though year-round now, are played with much more enthusiasm in the winter. It’s also time for all sorts of vegetables that will begin to show up in curries and other preparations. This is also a time for fairs, weddings and other festivities.

In the garden, it is a time of winding down. The final leaves are picked by now, and we are preparing for the annual pruning and other maintenance activities. It’s been a great year. The weather was normal and conducive throughout, with timely and adequate rains. No big or destructive storms, and now the advent of dewy-foggy winter days. This kind of weather, along with the efforts and diligence of all our team members, has allowed us to exceed the expected crop target for the year. So, everyone’s in a happy mood, and I’m looking forward to going back to the garden to enjoy the cold and the pithas with everyone there!

To Health. To Life. To Tea.  Learn more at www.teatulia.com.