Zaynab Hasan, a young aspiring tea enthusiast. Her passion for herbs got her starting a full-fledged herbal tea business. Read on to find out more about her projects, interests and aspiration.
Tell us briefly about yourself?
My names Zaynab Hasan, I am currently pursuing a degree in Islamic finance at the University College of Bahrain.
Tell us about your professional background?
I am a self-taught homegrown herbalist, took a course in tea at the UK tea Academy. Visited many tea plantations and herbal gardens in Kerala, India.
How did this idea strike you? and why tea?
I was never into tea, but at home, we have always grown our own herbs and something about them I was always inquisitive, and I always dreamt of doing something in this field, so I slowly started realising that I enjoyed doing this and I want to learn more and during this journey I got the name little white kettle.
it was a dream that’s how I got the name little white kettle.
How is this unique?
It’s homegrown, using organic soil, pesticide free, handpicked, dehydrated in sanitized dehydrator ovens, and packed into organic staple free teabags and see-through glass air sealed jars. Also, all herbal blends are caffeine free.
What all flavours of herbal tea do you have?
Peppermint, moringa Olie Fera, lemongrass, rose, jasmine, lime leaves, basil, lemon verbena. I also make my
own mixtures like mixing jasmine
and rose, lemongrass and ginger, peppermint orange peel and ginger and
so much more.
Who has been your inspiration?
My Dad, he’s my number one inspiration and has been with me from the start. All that I am today, is because of him.
How do you think society today has accepted the importance of a good cup of tea?
Society today is evolving, people these days are switching to more healthier options than caffeine thus I would say to a lot of extents people have accepted tea as a part of their daily lives.
What have been the major challenges of your life so far?
The weather in the summer tends to dry up all the leaves and that’s something I have faced since day one, Therefore I am planning to build a greenhouse to minimize heat.
What are the other fields that you are into or interests you?
I recently opened up another business which where I am focusing on coffee. In this project of mine, we serve homemade cold brew or in other words high-class coffee.
Have you participated/held exhibitions in Bahrain or in any other place? Give us a list of the last few.
Yes, there are many like The food festival, the nest, garden exhibition, and durrat marina.
Any interesting project/business ideas you are coming up with in the near future?
Hopefully, many ideas but nothing planned yet.
What is your message to the aspiring entrepreneurs of Bahrain?
Don’t ever think about giving up! And be patient, patience is the key to success.