Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/581281
STiR tea & coffee industry international 19 Why Choose Rooibos Limited? • Preferred supplier since 1954 • Extensive product range (bulk and packed) with various certifications. • Rooibos Quality Guaranteed means Rooibos of the highest possible quality, produced in an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable manner. RB15.26 www.rooibosltd.co.za ROOIBOS GREEN ROOIBOS HONEYBUSH More about Rooibos Rooibos is a unique tea from the Western Cape region of South Africa that has gained in popularity the world over. Rooibos is naturally caffeine free, low in tannins, contains no oxalic acid and is rich in flavonoids and antioxidants, making it the ideal health beverage for young and old. International Offices: SOUTH AFRICA • TAIWAN • JAPAN SRI LANKA• USA FLAVOURING PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT BLENDING CONTRACT PACKAGING blends that date back to the very beginning of the company in Saint Petersburg in 1867. The Prince Vladimir blend was created by Pavel Kusmichoff in 1888 to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the Christianization of Russia by Vladimir the Great and is a mix of Earl Grey, citrus fruits, vanilla, and spices. Anasta- sia is a blend of black teas from China and Sri Lanka flavored with bergamot, orange blossom, and lemon. Learn more: www.kusmitea.com cultivars that can adapt to the hotter, dryer weather, research and trials take a long time and the work is still in the early stages. NASA Helps Tea Growers In January 2015, National Aeronau- tics and Space Administration launched its Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission that aims to map global soil moisture and detect whether soils are frozen or thawed. Information will be beamed back to earth from September and will help combat the effects of climate change. The moisture in the top 5cm of soil will be measured by an orbiting observatory and the data will be made available to 50 world institutions, including Tocklai Tea Research Institute in Assam. This will help researchers and planters to plan such field operations as planting and irrigation during dry periods and drought. Tocklai are partnering with Cranfield University in Britain and Kobe Gakuin University in Japan to study soil carbon (an important component of healthy soil), work to improve soil health and the retention of water by increasing soil carbon and nutrients, and help the tea industry cope with climate change. The project with Cranfield Univer- sity will be funded by the British Council, and the Kobe Gakuin Univer- sity project will be funded by the Sumitomo Foundation of Japan. Collaboration is also ongoing between Tocklai and the Ethical Tea Partnership which is currently working on climate change in Kenya. Re-launch of Tata Tea Premium Tata Tea Premium, India's largest tea brand and flagship brand of Tata Global Beverages, has announced the re-launch of its brand across all major cities in India. The brand includes both 'badi patti' (large leaf orthodox) and 'choti patti' (small CTC leaf) teas to meet demands from different sectors of the market. Commenting on the re-launch, Rishi Chadha, head of tea marketing said, "We have a highly differentiated product offering in Tata Tea Premium. It is the Assam is getting hotter INDIA Climate Change in Assam Warmer temperatures and changing rain patterns in Assam are affecting produc- tion and quality of the region's tea. Temperatures are gradually rising above the norm, and this has caused an increase in the number of pests such as the helopeltis mosquito (which strips the bushes bare). The resulting increase in the use of pesticides is causing a hike in production costs and worries about risks to human health. Meanwhile, rainfall is down by 20 cm a year and, whereas the rain used to be evenly distributed, it is now unpre- dictable. Dry weather causes low yields and if sprinkler systems and irrigation pipes have to be used, this again pushes costs up. Too much rain means the bushes flush too fast and tea quality drops. In 2014, there was an 8% drop in tea exports and, although this is partially due to competition from Africa and Sri Lanka and stagnant tea prices, the extreme weather has also contributed to the problem. Tea tasters say that climate change is affecting the full-bodied flavor and quality for which Assam is known. Scientists are trying to develop tea