Tuesday Nov 26, 2024
Tuesday Nov 26, 2024
Friday, 26 July 2013 12:47 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
However, green tea is even more precious as it gives us a host of all the valuable beneficial ingredients intact, which are not found in black tea. Green tea is brewed in boiled and lukewarm water and consumed in sips. A list of beneficial ingredients found in it include catachins, caffeine, amino acids, vitamin C.B.E., flavonoids, polysaccharides, fluoride and many more.
Green tea has properties that possess the following benefits derived from catechins found in it: Anti-oxidative action, anti mutagenic action, enzyme-inhibitory action, anti-hyperglycaemic action, anti-hypersensitive action, antibacterial action, antiviral action, radioactive action, anti-tumour action, anti-hypercholesterolemia action, fat reducing action, anti-ulcer action, bowel modulation action and anti-carious action.
Caffeine removes fatigue and sleepy feeling, in addition to providing diuretic action; vitamin C removes stress and prevents cold; vitamin B exits metabolic action of carbohydrates and amino acids. Amino butyric acid: anti-hypertensive action, flavonoids; halitosis prevention, polysaccharide; anti-hyperglycaemic action, fluoride; anti-carious action, Vitamin E; anti-oxidative action to prevent aging and theanine; anti-hypersensitive action in addition to aiding memory capacity. (This information is research based)
Just three to four cups daily without milk or sugar would be the recommended quantity for consumption. Water should be well boiled and reduced to 80° C. Brewing time; three minutes and two grams per 150 ml of water.
The direct health benefits are prevention of cancer, heart disease and strokes by lowering the cholesterol level, aging, obesity, skin wrinkling, skin aging, arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, liver diseases, hypertension, asthma, cold and flu, ear infection, herpes, tooth decay, stress, allergies and HIV. It enables stronger bones. (Extracts from research).
Firstly, there is a lack of awareness among the general public in Sri Lanka. Secondly, the medical professionals in the country have not carried out their own research/studies, which undoubtedly would encourage them to recommend green tea to those under their care to go for green tea consumption to alleviate so many common ailments that can ultimately lead to fatal consequence. But, such a move may be unwelcome by the strong pharmaceutical industry.
Thirdly, there are hardly any ‘push factors’ which could result in shops, restaurants, hotels and food stalls readily offering green tea to all clients with bold, on the spot, prominent advertisements making such offers.
Fourthly, there is a scarcity of production, a weak promotion, poor marketing distribution channels and ‘lack of expertise’ in the production process.
Dealing with the prospect for our global penetration with the FAO prediction of 7.2% for green tea against 1.87% for black tea over the next 10 years, we are clearly seated on an undiscovered gold mine. With the volatile black tea world market the time is right to make a paradigm shift to make inroads into the expanding global green tea market. My call to all stakeholders is this – ‘take the turn now’. If it happens, the contribution from green tea to the export sector would contribute considerably to Sri Lanka’s economy.
Such a paradigm shift would involve an attitudinal change and a desire to look beyond the horizon of traditional scene. Secondly, it requires organisational re-arrangement that needs to start in the board room going down to factory-production level. Thirdly, it needs sharing expertise of production methods at various levels.
Above all, the planners in various Government ministries concerned should draw-up revised plans, implementation time frame, enact new legislation/regulation all necessary to make the quantum change in the plantation sector.
The required type of green leaf could be easily sourced from Government owned estates in mid-country by paying an attractive price for green leaf whilst making the state owned estates at least a few viable.
The Chinese began the production of green tea 3,000 years ago, compared to Sri Lanka’s 146-year-old tea history. The green tea history in Sri Lanka is even less. We could easily market green tea as a new product from Sri Lanka. All over the world, green tea has been accepted as a healthy beverage and the demand is bound to grow rapidly.
What is special about Sri Lanka green tea some may ask.
Now, new types of products which are made from green tea or its components are become increasingly popular such as green tea cotton – socks, T-shirts, polo-shirts, towels, undergarments etc. Confectionery – catechin candy, chewing gum, biscuits etc., canned drinks, PET bottles, instant tea etc. Eating green tea – tea powder, tea flake, medicines and the green tea based cosmetic products.
My final bit of advice is be wise health-wise. Just drink four cups of green tea and enjoy the difference in health.
(Tiran Peiris is the Deputy Managing Director/CEO of Melfort Green Teas and Consultant of Pussellawa Plantations Ltd., who pioneered green tea in Sri Lanka. He speaks with authority on the subject. Perhaps, he could well be the only person in Sri Lanka with an extensive training in green tea with equally wider exposure internationally. He is indeed passionate on green tea. Further, adding to his credentials, he eagerly awaits the patent rights for his invented green tea derived product. He can be contacted via [email protected].)
