What impact can you have in the world by drinking a cup of tea? | Zahra Afshar | TEDxWinchester
How much do you really know about the tea in your cup? In this evocative talk, a third-generation tea entrepreneur and former human rights lawyer challenges how we value tea—and the women who grow it. She takes us from the misty tea fields of East Africa and South Asia to the supermarket shelves where quality is often sacrificed for price. Through vivid storytelling, she reveals how hand-plucked tea—crafted with care and passed down through generations—is being undervalued and overlooked. But there is hope: technology and conscious consumerism can restore visibility, value, and agency to the women behind our brews. It all starts with two leaves and a bud—and a more mindful cup of tea. "Trained in criminal defence law and human rights, Zahra channels her passion for safeguarding fundamental freedoms into the family tea business and spearheads initiatives to instil responsible business practices to protect the most vulnerable in the tea supply chain. Her commitment to long term impact and addressing real needs has led to nutrition projects, sanitation programs and widened access to education – benefiting communities, not only within the tea industry, but beyond. Her efforts helped earn Ahmad Tea the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in 2024.
Called to Bar, Masters at London School of Economics, Bristol University LLB. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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