Aussie cold brew nitro tea maker to boost production after capital raise

Cold brew nitro tea producer East Forged has completed a $1.5 million capital raise led by Global Mind Agriculture Australia (GMAA), the venture capital arm of Vietnam agribusiness TTC AgriS.

The funding will support the company’s expansion into key Asian markets including Japan and South Korea as well as help boost the company’s production capabilities at its Sydney-based facility.

Founded by Kym Cooper, a hospitality tea consultant, and Tania Stacey, a World Tea Brewing Champion, the company sources its green, black and white tea leaves from growers in Australia and China. Each batch is brewed in Sydney for up to 12 hours using a cold-brewing process.

“We set out to elevate tea from a functional beverage to something much more refined, similar to what the craft beer industry has achieved,” Cooper said.

“By cold-brewing, we’ve created a naturally flavourful tea that doesn’t need any of the sugars or artificial additives typically found in commercial iced teas.”

The cold-brewing process is combined with nitrogen infusion at the canning stage. This infusion process is inspired by the smooth pour of a Guinness, to add a creamy mouthfeel to the tea that is said to be rare in the iced tea market.

“Nitrogen gives our tea a rich, velvety texture, often compared to a perfectly poured pint of Guinness or the fine beading of vintage champagne,” Stacey said.

“We’re sometimes described as the Guinness of the tea world and we’re honoured by that.”

TTC AgriS Chairlady Omi Dang said TTC AgriS’s growth strategy in Australia is deeply rooted in the agriculture and food industries, integrating cutting-edge technology with sustainable practices.

“By partnering with local businesses through co-investments and strategic agreements with small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the food and beverage sector, we’re focused on driving organic growth. Our thanks to Trade and Investment Queensland for connecting and accompanying the International Business Development Strategy of TTC AgriS and GMAA in Australia.”

“We are thrilled to have GMAA as a key investor and partner in our journey,” Stacey said.

“This investment will enable us to scale our operations and reach new markets while staying true to our core mission of offering consumers a healthy, premium tea experience. The craft tea movement is gaining momentum globally, and we’re thrilled to be at the forefront of that change.”

Beyond private investment, East Forged also benefited from the federal government’s Boosting Female Founders (BFF) grant program, receiving $125,000 before the program was discontinued.

Image caption: East Forged Founders Tania Stacey and Kym Cooper. Image courtesy of East Forged.