Bobur Tea – Tea packaging that brings the World of Bobur to life

Bobur Tea is not just tea, but a tribute to our great ancestor, statesman, military leader, and poet Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur. He founded the Mughal Empire in India and left behind the invaluable historical work, “Baburnama”.

Unfortunately, today the name of Babur is often mentioned only in history textbooks. We saw this not as a problem, but as an opportunity: using modern design and functionality, we aimed to rekindle pride and interest in his personality and great service, especially among the younger generation.

We were faced with the task of developing a tea packaging design and brand that would meet the following requirements:

• Successfully integrate the rich cultural and artistic heritage of the Babur era;
• Stand out on the shelf as an exclusive (premium) product;
• Offer an innovative, ecological solution;
• Embody the aesthetics of the East and modern Western conceptual design.

We delved into the world of miniatures, poetry, and architecture of the Babur era, and studied his personal records and interests (for example, his love for gardens and flowers). The richness of Eastern stained-glass (colored patterned glass) art and its ability to refract light, creating a magical atmosphere, became our key finding.

We used associations: Babur → The Renaissance Era → Light → History That Comes Alive. Thus, the idea of “World of Bobur” — an entire world contained within a cylinder — was born.

We developed a collection where each package is an independent work of art:

• Stained-Glass Art: The central part of the cylindrical packaging is designed in the form of stylized stained glass, illustrating important scenes from Babur's life (court scenes, poetic reflections, palace personnel).
• The element of light: This stained-glass image is transferred onto a material that transmits light. When the package is illuminated from within, the scenes come alive and the colors become vibrant.
• Second life (Upcycling): The most innovative solution is that after the tea is consumed, the packaging can be easily used as a functional decorative candle holder or a night light. This makes the product not only ecologically acceptable but also an aesthetically beautiful interior object. Furthermore, this allows a piece of Babur's history to be kept in the home.

The project was recognized as a powerful and innovative solution, participating in the major professional TAF24 festival, where it attracted public attention as a unique example of cultural heritage redesign.

The “World of Bobur” concept allows the brand to present itself not just as tea, but as a collectible item and a cultural souvenir. This approach opens the way to new, premium sales channels such as art galleries, gift shops, and tourist destinations. In such places, the aesthetic value of the packaging is often higher than that of its contents.