Taking Tea as a Pill may reduce cholesterol?

A recent study conducted in China on 220 people showed a causal relationship between Tea and Cholesterol. A part of this group was administered a soft gel capsule with the tea extract. 

Lauded as the second most common drink in the world, a recent study in China reveals that there is a direct benefit of Tea in reducing Cholesterol. This was revealed by CNN's Dr Sanjay Gupta, in a recent interview. Dr Gupta quoted a study which shows a causal relationship, cause and effect relationship, between tea and cholesterol. Dr Gupta told premier news channel that though there were a lot of studies incidentally done on animals before, and that data was extrapolated to human beings, but this is the first study actually looking at tea and cholesterol, showing in fact that taking extracts from tea in the form of a pill can actually lower your cholesterol. This is what the researchers decided to do in Dr Gupta's words. "They looked at over 200 people, actually close to 220 people, all of them Asian. This was done in China. People were already on a low-fat diet because they had a moderate to severely elevated cholesterol. And what they found was over a 12-week period. They divided the people into two groups. One group got the pill, which was a soft gel capsule with the tea extract. The other group got just a placebo, a sugar pill, and they found that the capsule group, the people who are getting the tea, actually had an 11 percent increase in total cholesterol and a 16 percent decrease in the bad type of cholesterol. Again, that's just over 12 weeks. So pretty significant results there. They're not quite ready to recommend tea for everybody to take all of the time. They still say that you need to see some of the long-term effects of taking tea every day, and taking these capsules every day. Two, is to find out how it interacts with some of existing medications. A lot of people with elevated cholesterols are already on medications. Would this capsule somehow interact with that? So two questions out there still, but certainly a positive step for these tea extracts and lowering your cholesterol." 
Now that is a new benefit for the ones Tea is already knows to be beneficial for - Heart disease, benefiting bone density, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic as well.

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Allergic? Try Green Tea

You might just be able to cure yourself of all allergies by adding green tea to your daily diet. If researchers are to be believed, it actually offers a great deal of relief. In lab tests, a compound in green tea has been found to block a key cell receptor involved in producing an allergic response. The compound is called methylated epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Over the years, people have been drinking tea to prevent cough and cold as well as heart diseases. It is however, yet to be proved as to whether anti-allergenic compounds found have an ‘actual therapeutic effect’ in humans who consume green tea. If it works, the brew may be useful against a wide range of allergens, including pollen, dust, pet dander and certain chemicals. EGCG is one of the most active antioxidants found in tea and is believed to be responsible for tea's positive effects on the health. Green tea is arguably the second-most consumed beverage in the world, after water. Apart from working as a cure for allergies, it also fights cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis as well as tooth decay.

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In an attempt to put a check on the export of spurious teas labelled as Indian tea, the Tea Board Of India has planned to draw up a logo exclusively for the tea produced in India. The tea industry is all geared up for some important changes too that will help improve the present condition of Indian tea. As per the recommendations of Accenture, an international consultant, tea exports and tea blends are being reviewed by the Tea Board. The mid-term export strategy, as worked out by Accenture recommends production of more orthodox teas in India. Several sub-committees appointed by the Tea Board have started working on the guidelines provided by Accenture. The main issues in question are product mix, market consolidation, marketing and promotional activities, cost-cutting sourcing of funds and improvement of the quality of tea. The report of Accenture also suggests that Indian exporters should target markets in countries like Pakistan, UAE, Iran etc. Producers have been asked to curb their increasing costs and strive to increase production at the earliest. As a producer of CTC tea primarily, India will have to face stiff competition from other CTC producing nations as they might offer their teas at a cheaper rate. This will however balance the over-supply of CTC in the country and encourage production of orthodox tea.

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Readymade tea to be launched by Coca Cola

The US soft drink giant Coca Cola is planning to launch readymade tea and coffee in India. These products will bear the brand name Georgia and be out in the market soon. Test marketing for these products have already started in some of the McDonald’s outlets in Delhi. Unlike coffee, tea is likely to be introduced in one flavour. The approximate price of a cup of tea may vary between Rs 10 and Rs 18. In a conscious effort to establish itself as a purely non-alcoholic beverages company, Coca Cola has planned this unique venture. In a country like India where tea is the most sought after drink, essentially prepared at home, the soft drink major feels it will be successful in converting consumers into drinking readymade tea.

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Apeejay brews a virtual Cuppa at teastall.com

It is a virtual tea boutique.The only one so far.The Apeejay Surendra Group, which has fairly large interests in tea and hotel busines, has forayed into tea commerce with the launch of teastall.com, a niche business to commerce portal. The group has so far been a tea producer, selling the brew both in the domestic and international markets. With years of experience in the business, the online venture is a logical extension of the brick and mortar business of tea production and exports. Says Karan Paul, director Apeejay Surendra Group: "Teastall.com is a gourmet tea shop and a definitive tea site. It hopes to cater to the discerning connoisseur, who expects exceptional quality and value." The site, like a speciality shop, will house different quality teas drawm from quality producers in the industry."Consumers can now have the choicest teas with seasonal preferences from select gardens. Good teas are therefore a click away," Paul said. The visitor can browse the website to get details of the varieties of tea available in different packs.He can then place orders, pay online using international and domestic credit cards and track his package on-line after placing the order.Currently, however, the tracking facility is only available for customers who choose Fedex as couriers of the products bought on teastall.com Mr Paul said the site aims to become the largest tea shop in the world - a one stop shop covering over a hundred varieties from tea growing countries of the world." Of course, we hope the site will also become a major gateway for our own teas, which are today some of the best varieties made in Assam," Mr Paul added. Mr Paul said that teastall.com has utilised the services of Price WaterHouse Coopers for structuring the site and for technical advice. Preleminary investment is about Rs 50 lakh and another Rs 70 lakh has been earmarked for publicising the portal.

The Economic Times, May 10th

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Japanese Brew up Techno Tea

The humble teabag just might become a thing of the past, with the development of "tea tablets" by scientists.

Japanese scientists have found a way of super compressing tea leaves in the search for the perfect cuppa.

The resulting tiny pills, pressed into heart-shaped moulds, make a quick replacement for traditional methods.

And manufacturers the Towa company of Tokyo claim the innovative "Drop Tea Tablets" gives a better flavour too.

Because the compacted leaf surfaces are protected from air, they stay fresh longer than loose leaves. When added to hot water the leaves open up to brew up to Earl Grey, Darjeeling, Assam, apple or lemon tea.

Three or four pills are required for each cup and they cost around £3 for an 18 gram pack in Japan.

The only drawback compared with rival teabags is that tea addicts will need an old-fashioned strainer to keep the resulting leaves out of their cups.

The Tea Tablets are not on sale in Britain yet but the Towa company is planning to try them on the European market.

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India’s black tea exports to suffer a setback by 2010 declares FAO

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has stated that exports of black tea by India is likely to fall to 1.51 lakh tonne (lk tn) by 2010 from 1.98 lakh tonne in the year 2000. This indicates a decline of almost 2.5% in the present decade (2000-2010). For boosting India’s exports, FAO has suggested reduction in unit cost of production through productivity gains, capacity building of small growers, streamlining marketing channels, improving infrastructure, tailoring marketing activities to individual country’s demand, propagating health benefits of tea and promotion of organic tea using the Tea Mark. It has also been stated that by 2010, the total black tea imports by countries like Russia, USA, Japan would increase in a uniform manner, whereas British exports are expected to decrease by 0.6% annually. These major countries together would account for about 60 per cent of the global net imports of black tea. The FAO while conducting this study however has not taken into consideration the impact of the American military action in Afghanistan. The estimation has been made taking into consideration the current decline in Indian tea export, increase in output in major producing countries leading to a likely fall in global prices and the estimated increase in demand in some major tea consuming nations. The FAO has also estimated that India’s tea export in 2000 and 2001 is likely to fall by 9.5 per cent. But the domestic industry and the Tea Board of India fear that fall in exports may occur due to the recent US military action in Afghanistan and liberalization in Russian tea market.

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Developments Affecting The Buying And Selling Of Tea

The production, buying, and selling of tea in today’s world involves all sorts of new considerations. Health and safety in all areas of the industry-from cultivation and manufacturing to packing, blending and distribution-pose new concerns. The gradual introduction of automation has also presented managers with a new set of problems. The Fairtrade organizations are establishing new approaches to worker conditions etc. And the recently established Tea Sourcing Partnership (TSP) is encouraging companies to consider the principals that underpin tea production.

Unlike the Fairtrade Foundation, the TSP does not start from the assumption that workers are treated unfairly or are given a poor deal, and does not aim to force companies to consider ethics. Instead, it attempts to illustrate how well tea estates are run and managed via independent factual audits that assess companies against their legal obligations. Audits do demand some commitment from producers, and if they do not comply with TSP requirements, TSP members will cease to trade with the company until compliance has been demonstrated.

The introduction of the agreement is important for everyone in the industry, as lack of participation could lead to limited selling and buying opportunities. The role of the broker could be affected if they are to retain their regular customers, as companies will need to ensure that they are dealing with officially approved estates and manufacturers.

 

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Want to be a Tea Specialist?

Here comes your golden opportunity. A new course, the first of its kind, designed to make you a perfect tea taster is all set for a regal launch at The Birla Institute Of Futuristic Studies, Kolkata. The curriculum, first of its kind in the India, promises to turn a fresher into a tea expert. The new syllabus has attracted students from different walks of life. During the training period, the students will be required to tour tea gardens as well as visit homes of tea workers, tea blending centres, roadside teashops…et all. They will be taught the art of plucking tea leaves and be technically sound too. Tea books too are being released. Tea tasters might have to gulp down 500-1000 cups of tea every day. The most attractive part of the curriculum is Tea auction. The syllabus ultimately targets increase in sales. The course will enable students to evaluate the changing demands of tea in the market.

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Tough Times Ahead Of The Tea Industry

The tea industry at the moment is truly in a bad shape. Rarely has the price of tea plunged so deep or has remained constant for such a long time. There has been a major decline in profit levels, exports have been suffering a setback and stocks are being accumulated. This is notwithstanding the fact that there is large-scale corporate farming in tea and the government often intervenes to boost exports. Experts feel, it is the poor handling of the price scenario, both by the producers and the tea brokers that is responsible for the present scenario. On the one hand, the producers urge brokers to sell tea at prevailing market prices. Brokers on the other hand, are ready to reduce the tea prices further to suit the business interests of their clients. The most feasible solution seems to be the adoption of a common strategy by both the producers as well as the brokers to save the fortunes of the tea industry

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'Darjeeling' Tea has competition from Orissa

Bhuyanpirh - a new brand of tea with a unique aroma, brisk liquor and distinct flavour has enthused tasters the world over. It has been developed by the Orissa Tea Plantation Ltd (OTPL) and grown in one of the four clonal gardens in India.
OTPL has sold about 10,000 kg of Orthodox tea at prices higher than any garden in Assam and comparable to some of the better "Darjeeling type" first-flush teas grown on the Himalayan foothills.
One kg gives you as many as 400 cups which makes it more economical than ordinary orthodox tea which gives around 200 cups per kg. The per hectare yield at the Bhuyapirh garden is also 2500 kg against the national average of 1700 kg.
The tea however continues to have a Bengal connection - Calcutta based Tea Manufacturing and Marketing Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and the Orissa Government - owned IPICOL have formed the joint venture OTPL which has developed this unique tea.

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Some good news for tea-freaks

Tea lovers should not lose heart as the tea-manufacturing sector is embarking upon a series of end season measures to boost the sagging fortunes of the industry. While tea production will be heavily curtailed, emphasis will be on the production of quality tea. Import duties on tea have been slashed. The focus now is on branding the Indian tea to suit the requirements of domestic as well as foreign markets. 

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Coco-cola and Nestle – plans to expand their beverage joint venture

Coco-cola and Nestle plan to expand their beverage joint venture. The existing partnership between Coca-cola and Nestle refreshments will be renamed Beverages Partner worldwide and will have their head quarters at Zurich. The unit is designed to top the growth potential of emerging segments such as ready-to-drink teas and coffee and beverages of health giving nature.

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Pakistan: a tea loving country

So you thought that Indians were great tea drinkers. Obviously not. With per capita intake of 1 kg, Pakistan has become one of the highest consumers of tea in South Asia. The tea import bill amounted to around $200 million this year. Attempts are now being made to grow and manufacture tea to cut down on this outgo. What Pakistan needs is an investment of around $383 million in the next ten years for large-scale commercial production. Pakistan’s first tea processing plant with a projected capacity of 1000 kg a day is expected to by the middle of next year. Although it is unlikely to make a dent in the 140 million kg demand, it is a good start. 

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Kudos for Meghalaya

Three plantation centers in Meghalaya, which also include an experimental center at Umsning and two others at Rongram and Riango run by the state government have been producing increasing amounts of green tea over the last three years. The total production of green leaf was 61,538 kg in 1997-98, 72,178 kg in 1998-99 and 60,801 kg in 1999-2000. M. Suchiang the agricultural minister recently announced that green tea worth Rs. 7 lakhs had been produced last year

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