STiR coffee and tea magazine

STiR coffee and tea 25 Tea Benefits Children Onward from Age 4 Tea not only calms and soothes, relieving stress and aiding relaxation, drinking tea strengthens the cardiovascu- lar system, builds immunity, and helps children from the age of four combat obesity. An extensive review of medical research suggests tea is an ideal replace- ment for sugary drinks. In a peer-reviewed paper published in the Nutrition and Food Technology journal, lead researcher Dr. Pamela Mason identified 60 scientific studies on the health benefits of drinking tea from childhood onward, as reported in The Telegraph of London. Mason, a public health nutritionist with an MSc in food policy, said that these "studies show that benefits for health and wellbeing are seen at daily intakes of two to four cups – and it doesn't matter whether you choose regular black tea or green tea." Caffeine negatives outweighed by tea's benefits Drinking tea daily "could help preserve physical and mental health in childhood, through the teens and adulthood, pregnancy and into old age," she said. Any negatives associated with caffeine intake by young or old are outweighed by the hydration and flavonoids it provides, said Mason. The phenolic compounds found in tea include catechins, theaflavins and thearubigins, and L-Theanine, an amino acid unique to tea that enhances brain functions such as alertness and concentration. The research, commissioned by the UK's Tea Advisory Panel (TAP), showed that clinical and laboratory studies demonstrate how phenolic compounds in green tea boost nitric oxide levels to lower blood pressure, and act as antioxidants to reduce inflammation for tea drinkers of any age. Tea polyphenols also limit cholesterol absorption in the gut and target receptors that regulate blood cholesterol levels. A splash of milk – not a big concern There continues to be confusion on the presence of "tannins" in tea, writes Bond. He explains why adding a splash of milk to a child's tea is not a big concern: Astrin- gency is caused through the interaction of the derived polyphenols with proteins in the saliva and mucous membranes of the mouth. "Adding milk to tea reduces astringency because the polyphenols interact with the proteins in the milk, rather than those in the mouth," writes Bond. Although tea does contain low levels of tannin-type substances, the bulk of tea's flavonoid polyphenols aren't tannins. They don't function as a tanning agent – for example, where tannic acid is used for the tanning of leather, said Bond. As such, the phenolic compounds present in tea should be referred to as "derived polyphenols" he said. Researchers used the World Health Organization's definition of health and wellness as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." TAP provides independent and objective information about the latest health benefits regarding black tea and herbal infusions. This novel health group brings together experts in the areas of public health, general practice, nutrition, and diet. Their work is supported by grants from the UK Tea & Infusions Association. Citation: Mason P, Bond T (2021) Tea and Wellness throughout Life. Nutr Food Technol Open Access 7(1): dx.doi.org/10.16966/2470- 6086.172 By Dan Bolton Lipton Tea Brand Breakup; Unilever Brand Divestiture Declining sales of traditional black tea in developed markets due to changing tastes convinced Unilever to sell most of its $3 billion tea portfolio. The separation of the brands is now complete with a sale likely by year-end. The record-setting pace of investment flowing into business ventures in the US and Europe suggests Unilever's timely divestiture of a half dozen tea brands will lead to a sale. Unilever c.e.o. Alan W. Jope said he is also prepared to split off the slow-growing tea division in an IPO or partnership. During a July earnings call, Jope announced that "the operational separation of our tea business is now substantially complete," but he did not offer a timeline for the divestiture. He said the company created "an attractive standalone business with dedicated leadership. We're very pleased with the progress we've made on the complex separation… we've filled 3,500 vacancies around the world, we've estab- lished the sales organizations in our largest markets. We will start to engage externally very shortly to execute on outcome, and this could be through an IPO, through a sale, or partnership," said Jope. Carving out tea required the creation of more than 50 legal entities and more than 20 sales forces. Unilever will keep its operations in India and remain in the profitable PepsiCo-Lipton joint venture in the US. Combined Unilever has the biggest tea business in the world Lipton's investors are likely to favor a sale. The tea portfolio reported $3 billion turnover in 2020. Global brands include Lipton Yellow Label and Brooke Bond and regional brands such as PG Tips and Lyons and specialty brands TAZO, Pukka Herbals, and Australian-based tea retailers T2. Combined, the division is the biggest tea business in the world. Still, sales of traditional black tea, the largest segment of the category, have been in decline in developed markets for several years due to changing consumer preferences, according to the company. Children from the age of four onward benefits from drinking tea daily according to researchers who aggregated 60 peer-reviewed studies on tea health and wellness. Tea Report

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