Dr. Sarika Sawhney, the Founder of Olitia is revolutionizing a field we never knew anyone could. Dr. Sawhney, a graduate of science and having earned her doctorate in Naturopathy - had always been fascinated by Indian culture and the science behind it. Her love for nature and its healing powers led her to create Olitia Tea, a startup that prepared properly processed olive tea, the first of its kind in India and the world.
It all started in 2008 when olives were brought to India from Israel. People were surprised to know that an olive tree's lifespan is 8000 years, and it must have some good qualities. So they started working on the leaves and found excellent phenols that are beneficial for the human body. These phenols can prevent diseases like cancer and be hugely beneficial for diabetic patients.
Dr. Sawhney wondered how they could use the leaves so that they are beneficial for the common man. The idea that clicked was to supply it as tea, similar to green tea. However, since the plant was in Rajasthan, Jaipur, it wasn't easy for them to get the equipment needed to transform the leaves into tea. So they went to Assam to learn more about how tea is cultivated and processed from the experts.
The issue they faced was that olive leaves were harder compared to the regular ones, so the machines required needed to be tailor-made, and the tea was very bitter, so they had to mellow the taste. In 2014, they were able to complete the process, and it was ready. The tea was caffeine-free and had more calcium and proteins. Since olives are the best initial oxidants, the tea also adopted the same qualities.
They launched the tea in 2017, and it was inaugurated by the then CM of Rajasthan, Mrs Vasundhara. Later, the famous magazine Olive Time also featured tea. In 2019, when the Chief Minister of Israel, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, came to India, he was served olive tea at the President's house, and he was very impressed with the tea, which was coveted by the entire media of India. The president posted the picture on his Facebook, which was like an ad for Olitia Tea.
As it was a completely new process, they did everything by themselves and made olive tea what it is. Since it was something unusual, Dr Sawhney had to hear a lot of criticism at the start of her journey. People doubted their work and would often say it is a waste of time. However, the hard work that went into it and nurtured it connected Sarika to her startup.
They have eight flavours as of now, all of which are delicious and loved by everyone. They have also created an olive leaf capsule for women going through menopause and an entire range of self-care products based on olives.
For Dr Sawhney, leadership comes with confidence in her product. She believes in listening to her heart, being confident in her product, and being strong in her research. Once she has done it, she doesn't need to listen to anyone. There is no such thing as Plan B; you put your entire into one plan, and that will work out.
Sarika's family and friends support her, but she also has to go through their concerns and scepticism. The brand persona of Olitia Tea is the Dhanvantree, the god of Arodhya. Their target audience for tea is 25-45, for the capsule is women above 45, and for personal care products, anyone who aspires to natural beauty or wants beauty or health is their target audience.
Sarika was a woman of many talents. She had a love for Indian culture and was fascinated by the science behind it. After finishing her studies, she decided to start her own business. She wanted to create something that would help the people of India, and also give back to nature. She decided to start a tea and olive farm in Rajasthan.
Sarika believed that tea was a magical drink that could bring people together. She wanted to create a brand of tea that would be loved by everyone. So, she started Olitia Tea, a company that focuses on producing the best green tea in the market. She also wanted to bring the goodness of olives to India. She believed that the healing powers of olives would help the people of India, and also bring in revenue to the company.
When Sarika started her tea and olive farm, she knew that it would be a huge challenge. Rajasthan is not known for tea or olives, so she had to do a lot of research to find out how to grow them. She also knew that she would need the help of the local people to make her business a success.
Sarika hired women from the nearby villages to pluck and pack the tea. This gave them job opportunities and also helped Olitia Tea to produce the best quality tea. She also trained them in the art of tea-making, so that they could take pride in their work.
The olive trees were a new addition to the landscape of Rajasthan. They were not only bringing in revenue to the company, but they were also helping to create carbon credits. The olive trees were contributing to the forestation of the state, which was a huge achievement.
As the business started to grow, Sarika faced many challenges. While Olitia Tea was getting a lot of publicity, they were not having the same luck in marketing. They wanted to capture a large share of the green tea market, but they needed to improve their marketing strategies.
Sarika knew that she had to listen to her heart and be confident in her product. She also knew that research was key, and once she had done it, she did not need to listen to anyone. She put her entire effort into her business, and that was her plan A, there was no plan B. She was confident that her hard work and dedication would pay off.
Sarika's strength came from her confidence in herself and in her god. She believed that with hard work and dedication, anything was possible. Her love for Indian culture and nature drove her to create a business that would help the people of India, and also give back to nature.
Sarika's tea and olive farm became a huge success. Olitia Tea became a household name, and the olives were in high demand. The women who worked at Olitia Tea were proud of their work, and their families were benefiting from the income they were earning.
Sarika's love for Indian culture and nature led her to create a business that was not only successful but also had a positive impact on the environment and the people of India. Her hard work and dedication had paid off, and she had created a legacy that would continue to benefit the people of India for many years to come.
As Indians, tea is home to us, so it's astonishing to see Dr Sarika and Olitia Tea transforming tea into a health-beneficial beverage. Their secret and main ingredient, Olives!
6 years of research, countless experts, and a shout-out from the President of India; Olitia Tea is a first-of-its-kind brand that sells olive-centred products.
Why olive you ask? Because Dr Sarika saw what countless others saw, and created it into something no one else could. Her research, her hard work, and her confidence have turned her and her brand into a sensation and wonder.
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Olitia Tea sells olive tea, which is processed with a special method to bring all of olives' goodness and health power to the drinker. They also sell olive capsules extracted from the leaves which are designed to lessen the pain for women going through menopause. And not to forget Olitia Tea’s very own personal care line for anyone who wants beauty and health to their name.
Dr. Sarika is also working on providing employment to rural women as the plucking and packaging in her rural factories are done by women. Trees planted by her and Olitia Tea are also helping in the forest the lands of Rajasthan.
This was all possible because of Dr. Sarika’s resilience and confidence.
The confidence she had in herself, her product, and her God led her to overcome people’s negative comments, and the long journey of research and made her and Olitia Tea what it is today!
Dr. Sarika Sawhney
Founder, Olitia
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