CHIANG RAI – Thai farmers often face unpredictable prices and tough market conditions. However, Nopkao Janyo found a smart way to survive and thrive. She turned her love for roses into a highly profitable organic business in Chiang Rai.
Key Takeaways
- Nopkao transformed cheap fresh flowers into premium organic rose tea selling for 5,000 baht per kilogram.
- She created high-value products like pure rose water and skincare lotions to reach new customers.
- Her farm uses clever organic methods, sacrificing early blooms to grow much stronger, healthier plants.
The Birth of an Organic Rose Farm
The story began in 2012 at “Baan Suan Ya Noi” in the Mae Chan district. Nopkao returned home to take over her family’s farming business. She wanted to farm sustainably without harming human health.
She started with organic rice before moving on to roses. She always loved flowers and saw a huge opportunity in the growing health market. Therefore, she chose to grow two specific Thai rose varieties.
She planted “Mon Klai Kangwon” and “Mon Daeng Prasert” roses. These types offer a strong, sweet fragrance. This makes them perfectly suited for brewing premium rose tea.
Clever Farming Techniques
Running a successful organic farm requires careful planning. Nopkao uses raised planting beds that are one meter wide. She also spaces the plants out by 60 to 80 centimeters.
This spacing allows plenty of sunlight to reach the stems. It also keeps the plants airy and prevents plant diseases from spreading. Her most interesting trick, however, is a test of patience.
During the first 45 days, she actually picks and throws away all the early blooms. This forces the rose bushes to store food and build strong roots. She waits another 45 days for the next set of flowers.
This patient approach yields incredibly healthy and beautiful roses. Once the new flowers bloom, she can harvest top-quality roses every single day.
Solving the Low-Price Problem
Selling fresh cut flowers is often a tough business. A fresh rose usually sells for just three baht. Furthermore, fresh flowers wilt quickly and have a very short shelf life.
According to Khaosod, Nopkao solved this pain point by processing her flowers. She turns them into high-value items like organic dried rose tea. To do this, she carefully selects flowers at the perfect blooming stage.
She dries them in a hot air oven at 50 to 55 degrees Celsius. The baking process takes exactly 24 hours. This careful method preserves the tea’s natural color, smell, and quality.
Because of this process, her dried organic rose tea now sells for 5,000 baht per kilogram. This massive price jump completely changed her business model.
Entering the Beauty and Food Markets
Besides tea, Nopkao also produces premium rose water. She targets the food, bakery, and skincare industries. She picks the fresh flowers before 10:00 AM when they smell the best.
She uses three kilograms of fresh roses to make three liters of pure rose water. She sells this fragrant water for 1,000 baht per liter. She also makes lotions and other natural skincare products.
“I no longer see myself as just a farmer,” Nopkao explained. “I am an entrepreneur working to increase my product’s value.” She plans to extract high-value rose essential oils in the future.
Today, Nopkao uses social media to share her farm’s story directly with buyers. She hopes to expand her sales to international markets soon. She wants the world to know about her amazing organic roses from Chiang Rai.
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