STiR coffee and tea magazine

20 STiR coffee and tea / Issue 6, 2017 (December / January) Tea Report: Peter Keen Tea Epigenesis Epigenesis refers to the molecular processes that turn individual genes on and off. These are triggered by food, drinks, pollution, exercise, stress, and other aspects of "life experience." A 2017 European-wide study centered at Uppsala University in Sweden reports striking occurrences of epigenesis associated with tea drinking. This line of research challenges assump- tions that gene structures are relatively stable. It suggests that pharmaceuticals may be designed to target "silencing detrimental genes." There is a clear pattern among women in the 3,000 subjects, but this was entirely absent in men and for the coffee drinkers. Tea consumption led to changes in gene expression in women's bodies in 28 gene regions known to be associated with cancer and estrogen metabolism. The results suggest an alternative path for research on tea and health from the main focus today on the role of polyphenol antioxidants. These have been assumed to have the same impact on women and men and those in coffee, tea, and fruit as equivalent. Even though tea and coffee are both rich in anti-oxi- dants, epigenesis was not found in any coffee drinkers. The results highlight a potential role for tea ingredients to be used in pharma- ceuticals targeted to cancer and estrogen metabolism. Additional research is needed to determine whether tea can truly bestow epigenetic health benefits. However, this study brings us closer to understanding the impact one of the most common beverages could have on improving our well-being. Australia Southern Forest Green Tea A small farming operation has recently joined Australia's short list of tea growers. Southern Forest Green Tea is an endeav- our of Maria and Ron Kemp, who in the past year have just started selling their tea after a decade of growing and setting up the business. Everything from growing, processing, and packaging is completed at their premises in Northcliffe, Western Australia. The Kemps initially started growing tea as a way to diversify their farm. The Sencha style green tea produced is grown without the use of pesticides and herbicides in a pollution free environment. Mangrove Mountain Tea Co-Op A group of Australian farmers have been given a $100,000 grant to establish a tea-growing co-op at Mangrove Mountain in New South Wales. The grant, offered through the Farming Together program, will allow local farmers to work closely together to expand Australia's tea industry. Their aim is to produce premium grade green tea for export to Japan and China. The organization, known as Australian Green Tea Pty. Ltd, is looking for 10 farmers to join the venture and they hope to build a major tea processing and packing facility along the New South Wales Central Coast. A six-hectare organic plantation is already established and producing 30 tonnes of green tea a year and this grant will continue to develop the tea growing potential for the region. AZORES Gorreana is Europe's Garden Tea was first brought to Europe by Portuguese traders (1500s), and to the court of England by a Portuguese princess (1660s). Now, Portugal can claim to be the main tea growing country in Europe. Gorreana and Porto Formoso in the Azores illustrate how tiny gardens in unusual regions are finding a market. Gorreana's green tea is sold in the US by Walmart and a number of eBay-based stores. The Azores are a mid-Atlantic group of nine islands, with a temperate climate and rich volcanic soil. They are Portu- guese territory, though a thousand miles from Lisbon. Tea was introduced in the early 19th century and production grew to fourteen factories. Gorreana (50 hectares, Tea plucking at Porto Formoso Tea triggers genetic expression 120 acres) has made tea since 1883 and now produces 40 metric tons. Porto Formoso (5 acres) operated from the 1920s to 80s and was reopened in 2005. The climate is pristine, with no industry, pollution, pesticides, or urban- ization. The black pekoe and hyson green teas get favorable reviews as complex, slightly sweet and bold. The manufactur- ing process is very traditional; some of the machinery dates from the 1840s. Gorreana benefits from tourism, as do gardens in Darjeeling and Sri Lanka among others: the combination of ecology, nature, history and hands-on opportunities to visit a working tea garden. Gorreana's teas are getting coverage and endorsement on many tourist sites and publications. The Azores have a firm claim to be the largest and longest established tea growing region in Europe, but not the most unlikely or most hostile climate. The general message from Gorreana is that in the era of social media and e-commerce, any tea from anywhere that offers anything special can find its market anytime. CANADA A Direct Sell Steeped Tea is a Canadian MLM (multi-level marketing) firm selling wellness-focused tea and related acces- sories through 10,000 "consultants." It has enjoyed rapid growth and won many awards in Canada. Sales are around $16

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