Vahdam India, a tea and wellness brand founded by Bala Sarda, launched first in the US market in 2015, deliberately bypassing India where the market was dominated by CTC teas. Sarda disregarded advice against placing India at the heart of the brand, stating, “If Scotland can proudly market Scotch whisky as Scottish, then someone has to proudly say they are from India too.” The US and Canada together account for roughly 60% of the brand’s business, while Europe and the UK jointly contribute 30%. Building credibility in the US was challenging due to consumer distrust of Indian products in premium packaged tea; transparency became key. Late last year, Vahdam formally launched in India, expanding its tea portfolio and introducing the supplements business in January 2026. The brand vacuum-packed loose-leaf teas, even for retail customers, and innovation made a difference.