Green tea: Time for a paradigm shift
Here is an exclusive interview with Melfort Green Teas Deputy Managing Director/CEO and Pussellawa Plantations Ltd Consultant Tiran Peiris, 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 for the patent rights for his invented green tea derived
Q: product. Can you describe the composition of green tea?
Tea, which includes both black and green tea varieties, is the most consumed liquid after plain water. Tea is a valuable Chinese gift to humanity. However, green tea is even more precious as it gives us a host of valuable and beneficial ingredients intact, even not found in black tea.Green tea is brewed in boiled and lukewarm water and consumed in sips. Here is a list of beneficial ingredients found in it: Catachins, caffeine, amino acids, Vitamin C, B, E, flavonoids, polysaccharides, fluoride and many more.
Q: Could you explain what direct benefits one can derive by drinking green tea daily. Green tea has properties that possess the following benefits derived from catechins found in it: Antioxidative action, antimutagenic action, enzyme-inhibitory action, antihyperglycemic action, antihypersensitive action, antibacterial action, antiviral action, radioactive action, antitumour action, antihypercholesterolemia action, fat reducing action, antiulcer action, bowel modulation action, anticariousaction, etc. Besides, 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 butyricacid-antihypertensive action, flavonoids- haliotosis prevention, polysaccharide – antihyperglycemic action, fluoride anticarious action, Vitamin E – antioxidative action to prevent aging, theanine – antihypersensitive action in addition to aiding memory capacity.(This information is research based)
Q: What is the recommended quantity for consumption?
Just threeto fourcups daily without milk or sugar.Water should be well boiled and reduced to80°C. Brewing time – three minutes – two grams per 150ml of water. Q: With such a quantity daily consumed what are the direct health benefits? Prevention of cancer, heart disease and strokes by lowering the cholesterol level, aging, obesity, skin wrinkling, skin aging, arthritis,diabetes, alzheimers, parkinsons, liver diseases, hypertension, asthma, cold and flu, ear infection, herpes, tooth decay, stress, allergies and HIV. It enables stronger bones.(Extracts from research)
Q: With such incomparable health benefits why is green tea consumption so low? Firstly, lack of awareness among the 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 is hardly any ‘push factors’ which could result in shops, restaurants, hotels and food stalls readily offering green tea to all clients with bold and 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 Q: process. What is the global marketing opportunity currently for green tea?
Dealing with the prospect for our global penetration with the FAO prediction of 7.2 percent for green tea against 1.87 percent for black tea next ten 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 our economy.
Q: When you say a paradigm shift what does it involve?
It requires an attitudinal change, a desire to look beyond the horizon of traditional scene.
Secondly, it requires organisational rearrangement that needs to start in the boardroom 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, implement time frame and enact new legislation/regulation all necessary to make the quantum change in the plantation sector.
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.
Q: Could you briefly give a glimpse of the history of tea in the world? Chinese began the production of green tea3000 years ago compared to 146 years of Sri Lanka tea history, whereas the green tea history in Sri Lanka is very much less and could easily market as a new product from Sri Lanka since all over the world green tea has been accepted as a healthy beverage.
Q: What is special about Sri Lanka green tea production?
Sri Lanka tea both green and black is certified to be the only ‘ozone friendly’ tea in the world. (A huge advantage in marketing)
Tea leaf grown in Sri Lanka possesses the highest content of polyphenols (catechins), which is converted to antioxidants as compared to any other tea produced world over (a huge advantage in marketing), cleanest in the world, produced right through the year.
Q: Apart from a beverage, what are the other products whichcould be produced from green tea remnants?
Recently, in addition to the drinking of green tea, wider application for tea and its components is developed. And tea’s antioxidative, antibacterial and deodorant and other properties are put to use in various fields such as the beverage market and dietetics. Now, new types of products, which are made from green tea or its components, have become increasingly popular such as Green Tea Cotton socks, T-shirts, Polo shirts, towels, undergarments, etc. Confectionery –catechin candy, chewing gum, biscuits, etc.; can drinks, Pet bottles, instant tea, etc.; Eating green tea – tea powder, tea flake, medicines and the green tea-based cosmetic products.
Q: Your final message? Four cups of green tea a day will keep the doctor away.