Health Drinks, Special tea, Braille-friendly packs

When it comes to boosting immunity and sustaining it at a time when dreaded variants of the virus are not quite at bay, there can be nothing better than consuming a health drink like tea, a beverage Assam is known for around the globe.

Research has it that consuming Assam tea in the right dosage each day can reduce the risk of cardiac attacks. Besides, the active ingredients in the tea play an important role in reducing the risk of high blood pressure, preventing blood clots and keeping blood vessels relaxed.

At a time when the world is limping back to a normal state of affairs after being hit by multiple waves of the virus, the demand for health beverages is at a premium.

Along with the normal varieties and blends, it is the speciality tea varieties from Assam's tea gardens which are making a name and carving a niche in the global market. To cite a fresh instance, a kilogram of speciality tea processed in a bought leaf factory in Upper Assam's Dibrugarh district sold for as high as Rs 99,999 during a sale at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre here on Monday.

This is for the first time that such a variety of orthodox tea, named Golden Pearl, made in a bought-leaf factory in Assam has fetched such a high auction price.

The encouraging trend is the premium quality of leaves that the Nahorchukbari bought-leaf factory sources from various small tea growers in the Nahorchok, Nudwa, Dikom and Ekoratoli areas of Dibrugarh district.

On December 14 last year, a kilogram of speciality tea, Manohari Gold, from Manohari Tea Estate in Dibrugarh district, fetched Rs 99,999 at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre to create a new record.

This is for the first time that such a variety of orthodox tea, named Golden Pearl, made in a bought-leaf factory in Assam has fetched such a high auction price

There is so much in offer, thanks to research and innovation.

Guwahati-based start-up Aromica Tea, which promotes health and wellness through organic and herbal tea blends, also offers a customised range as well to suit the taste buds of some of its clientele.

Incepted in November 2018 by Ranjit Baruah and Dolly Sharma Baruah, the startup offers over 60 varieties of teas that incorporate health benefits of natural herbs and ingredients.

"Nowadays, people are willing to try out different flavours such as Blue Tea, Bhut Jolokia Tea, Roselle tea and different green teas. Trials are underway for new products such as Nettle Leaf Tea and Wood Apple (Bel) Tea," Baruah informed Fit-Northeast on Wednesday.

"In November last year, we launched an exclusive variety of tea packets which has Braille language, probably the first of its kind in India. The specially designed Braille-friendly tea packets, of three varieties " Assam Orthodox Tea, Assam Green Tea and value-added Masala Tea " are for the convenience of the visually challenged, giving them equal opportunities and a choice of their own," he said.

Earlier, such clients used to buy tea by smelling or by asking the traders. The name of the product, MRP, manufacturing date, expiry date, net weight, details of the tea is printed in Braille.

Asked about the response to the tea printed in Braille so far, Baruah said. "Very encouraging! The first lot is all sold out. The second lot is being prepared."