Company History
4 Generations, 1 Belief
We Did Not Begin in a Factory.
Our story began in the headwater forests of Chiang Rai,
High in the mountains where wild Assam tea has grown naturally for generations.
Cha Tra No.5 is a Thai tea brand shaped by the forests of Chiang Rai, the local culture of Miang—traditional fermented tea leaves—and a relationship with mountain communities built over generations.
For 4 generations, we have carried forward the knowledge of selecting, roasting, and blending tea, with one purpose: to create a dependable standard of Thai tea for entrepreneurs and tea lovers alike.
The Origin Story
From Mountain Trade to a Thai Tea Standard
In 1957, a Chinese man of Hainanese heritage made Mae Kha Chan, Chiang Rai, his home—and began a life closely bound to tea and the mountain communities around him.
He arrived without machinery or substantial capital. What he brought was a commitment to deal honestly with the people of the mountains.
He began buying Miang, made from wild Assam tea leaves carefully harvested by local mountain communities from tea trees growing naturally within Chiang Rai’s headwater forests.
Some of these tea trees are believed to be between 100 – 200 years old. They grow as part of the surrounding forest ecosystem, without reliance on chemical cultivation, and remain closely connected to the traditional way of life of the communities who care for them.
At the time, no one could have known that this modest trade would become the foundation of a tea story spanning four generations.
Over the years, the work grew—from Miang and loose-leaf tea to tea powder, a mountain roasting facility, a tea production factory, and eventually Cha Tra No.5.
Yet through every stage of that journey, we have remained connected to the headwater forests where our story began.
Because we believe that good Thai tea must begin with a good origin
In 1957, a Chinese man of Hainanese heritage made Mae Kha Chan, Chiang Rai, his home—and began a life closely bound to tea and the mountain communities around him.
He arrived without machinery or substantial capital. What he brought was a commitment to deal honestly with the people of the mountains.
He began buying Miang, made from wild Assam tea leaves carefully harvested by local mountain communities from tea trees growing naturally within Chiang Rai’s headwater forests.
Some of these tea trees are believed to be between 100 – 200 years old. They grow as part of the surrounding forest ecosystem, without reliance on chemical cultivation, and remain closely connected to the traditional way of life of the communities who care for them.
At the time, no one could have known that this modest trade would become the foundation of a tea story spanning four generations.
Over the years, the work grew—from Miang and loose-leaf tea to tea powder, a mountain roasting facility, a tea production factory, and eventually Cha Tra No.5.
Yet through every stage of that journey, we have remained connected to the headwater forests where our story began.
Because we believe that good Thai tea must begin with a good origin
A Legacy of Integrity
4 Generations. 1 Belief.
Across four generations, Cha Tra No.5 has passed down not only the craft of Thai tea, but also a responsibility to care for its source – the forest, the tea, the knowledge, and the mountain communities behind every leaf. “If the source is not cared for, nothing that follows can truly endure.”
1957
A Beginning Built on Trust
A Chinese man of Hainanese heritage, known to the family as Akong, settled in Mae Kha Chan, Chiang Rai.
He began buying Miang from local mountain communities, building a relationship of trust between the people of the town and the people of the mountains.
1967-1977
From Miang to Tea
The family began developing loose-leaf tea and tea powder, bringing traditional tea knowledge into products made for wider everyday use.
1982
The Birth of Cha Tra No.5
Cha Tra No.5 was officially established, carrying the family’s tea knowledge into a brand created for Thai tea entrepreneurs.
Today
Carrying Thai Tea Forward
Now in its fourth generation, Cha Tra No.5 continues to preserve its roots while developing Thai tea for the needs of today’s entrepreneurs—and the future of the industry.
“From leaves gathered in the forest to tea served in people’s hands, Cha Tra No.5 is about more than tea.
It is about creating opportunities for local communities, supporting entrepreneurs, and carrying Thai tea onto the world stage.”
Vision & Mission
The Standard of Thai Tea for Entrepreneurs
To establish Thai tea as a trusted standard for entrepreneurs in Thailand
and a recognized expression of Thai tea craftsmanship internationally.
5 Steps, From Forest to Cup
Crafted with Care at Every Step
Quality Standards
Standards
