When Nepalese restaurateur Pemba Sherpa moved to the United States more than 25 years ago, he dreamt of sharing his family’s age-old recipe for traditional Himalayan chai with the world. His vision came to fruition in 2014 when he founded Sherpa Chai, a traditional chai beverage company headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, that brings Sherpa recipes passed down through generations to your home.
Today, Sherpa Chai has grown into one of the most successful outlets selling authentic chai tea originating from the Himalayas. Inspired by a rich heritage, Sherpa Chai’s signature beverages feature a healthy blend of organic Nepalese black tea, fresh ginger and a mixture of spices. The organic black tea, grown exclusively for Sherpa Chai in Nepal, is brewed in Colorado by Sherpas. Sherpa Chai’s all-natural flavors––including Traditional, Spicy, Unsweetened, Honey Vanilla, Decaf and Turmeric Ginger––are available in over 800 locations across the United States.
Though Sherpa Chai’s Boulder headquarters is a long way from the brand’s origins in the Khumbu region of Nepal, 85% of its staff immigrated from the hillside villages to work alongside Pemba. Together, they further their traditions, culture and love of chai while creating generational opportunities for the Nepalese community.
“The one thing that drew me into being part of this organization and buying part of the company was the Nepalese people; they have such a spirit of giving back and helping each other,” Dave McKean, Sherpa Chai CEO, said. “In Pemba’s life, he’s done things like going back to the village he grew up in to build a bridge that allows the kids to get to school faster as well as a hydroelectric plant that gives them electricity.
“Dilli Koirala, our head brewer, has gone back and provided all kinds of support to the village of Budhabre that he grew up in, establishing a community center and urgent care facility,” McKean added. “Pemba and Dilli both have sponsored six children between them, and they inspired me to sponsor a Nepalese girl. There’s just so much that the Nepalese do to help each other and other Sherpas. And the reason why Sherpa Chai is so important is that there are many opportunities here to make real changes in people’s lives that will have generational after generational effects. That’s why I’m part of Sherpa Chai––we can really change people’s lives.”
Pemba has always focused extensively on community empowerment and social service for the people living in the Himalayas. For that reason, Sherpa Chai set up a secondary and higher education scholarship fund to help Sherpa children realize their dreams and pursue a quality education.
In addition to community service, Sherpa Chai has extended support for charities through blood donation, a hydropower fund and earthquake relief. They are also raising funds for the people of Nepal affected by COVID-19.
“What began as Pemba’s dream to share a generational recipe has turned into a full-fledged operation that is committed to empowering the Nepalese community,” McKean said. “When you buy Sherpa Chai, not only will you get to indulge in the authenticity of traditional chai but help us further our mission of giving back to people deserving of opportunity.”
