STiR coffee and tea magazine

STiR coffee and tea 41 Tea leaves contain bioactive compounds like antioxidants and others that are useful in medicines, nutritional supplements, and cosmetics. phyto-pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical potential of our extracts. We are following an objective and scientific process to see where the data of the extracts take us and then working on commercialization options," Ahmed says. The project began in 2021 as a result of meetings with Abhijeet Hazarika, co- founder of Fast Track Agro Tech, a young and small company working to invigorate India's tea sector by applying new but affordable methods and technologies. "The power of tea lies in its richness in antioxidants," Hazarika says. "If this could be harnessed through a frugal method, the application of health and wellness products could see huge opportunities." Tea extraction is utilized in the pharmaceutical sector primarily for its potential health benefits and the extraction of bioactive compounds found in tea leaves. Tea leaves are rich in polyphenolic compounds like catechins and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which have antioxidant and potential therapeutic properties. These com- pounds can be extracted from tea leaves and used in the development of medicinal products. "Addressing neurological ailments such as anxiety and depression with a new tea extract presents a significant opportunity for those looking to improve mental health outcomes and potentially capitalize on a growing market," Ahmed says. One advantage of using tea extracts in medicine is that they are considered safe and well-tolerated, with few side effects reported in clinical studies. Moreover, tea extracts are typically affordable and widely available, making them accessible to a broader range of consumers, Ahmed says. "This will allow Assam to enter a value-added segment of the tea industry. Pres- ently, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and China dominate this market. Through this product in- novation, we will be able to increase the earning capacity of the tea farmers, including both large estates and small tea growers," Ahmed says. Beyond medicines, the project targets food products, since tea extracts can serve as ingredients for cookies, bread spreads, bakery products, and other plant-based foods. "For the consumer, this will be an additional source of healthy plant-based ex- tracts," Ahmed says. "The novelty of the new extraction process is the relatively capital light model," Hazarika says. "It has the advantage of being able to source semi-finished products from existing tea factories without any major modification. This could be a great dif- ferentiation in manufacturing," The extraction process is being done using CTC (crush, tear, curl) tea. The project aims to let existing tea factories produce semi-finished, high- value products with a relatively modest investment of capital. The tea extract project won an innovation award from the Indian government's Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).

• Cover