Green Tea: More than just a soothing beverage

The popular drink – green tea – is nowadays held in high esteem for its wholesome effects – a soothing brew that is on an upward trajectory in terms of its demand among health nuts.

Against the backdrop of growing consumption, tea growers as well branded green tea importers are vying to capture more market share.

Both production and imports of green tea are posting a robust growth as producers and importers keep adding green tea to their portfolios to cater to the need for consumer demand.

According to industry people, the consumption of green tea is growing at the rate of about 20 per cent per annum.

The data of Bangladesh Tea Board suggests that imports of green tea rose sharply by 76.46 per cent to 64,000 kilogramme in 2020, which was 34,000 kilogramme in the previous year. During January-August period of this year, 35,000kg green tea has been imported.  Only 10-15 per cent of the total consumption is produced locally, industry people said.

Why consumption is rising

“Nowadays people are more aware of their health and so are turning to green tea for health benefits fighting shy of black tea,” Kazi and Kazi Tea Brand Executive Towsif Ahmed told The Business Post.

“Around three per cent of total tea consumers in the country consume green tea and another 0.50 per cent drink organic tea,” he added.

Kazi and Kazi is the only company producing green and organic tea holding the largest market share in the two segments.

Amid the pandemic the consumption of green tea increased sharply as people went for it frequently with lemon, ginger and other spices to boost their immunity to fight coronavirus.

“Green tea contains antioxidant, which helps reduce weight. So, overweight people take green tea to lose weight. On the other hand, some consumers drink it as per the advice of their doctors or nutritionists,” observed Towsif. 

“A few months ago, I had a cardiac attack and the doctor suggested me to drink green tea regularly. Since then, I have been drinking it,” said Moniruzzaman, a resident at Ramna in Dhaka.

It is rich in antioxidant which also reduces the risk of cancer and helps combat obesity by increasing the metabolism rate, he pointed out.

“Green tea is a friendly drink conducive to health. It contains antioxidant and helps drinkers reduce weight by burning cholesterol,” according to Dr Md Saidul Arefin, professor, Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka. However, those who are lean and thin should avoid it, he suggested.

Meanwhile, lifestyle changes and people’s purchasing capacity have also driven up the consumption of green tea.   

Talking to The Business Post Bangladesh Tea Board Chairman Major General Md Ashraful Islam said green tea consumption has risen but its market size is still not so big.

“Some take it as fashion. It will take time to find root among the commoners. The masses still prefer black tea,” said the chairman.

Prices of Green Tea

Kazi and Kazi organic green tea pack with 40 bags sells at Tk 170, Finlay green pack with 50 bags at Tk 110, Jaflong green tea with 50 bags at Tk 230 and unpacked green tea weighing 125 gramme at Tk 110.

Green Tea getting to commoners

Once found mostly in supper shops and posh areas, now green tea is available in tea stalls.

“Just a couple of years back, there was hardly any customers in my shop. Now I am selling green tea packet every day,” said Md Almas, a grocery shop owner in Mirpur.

Its demand is rising every day while consumers also ask for tea having different flavours, according to the grocer.

There are different types of green tea available in the market to satisfy the need of customers. These are Ginger Tea, Tulsi Tea, Medley Tea, Orthodox Black Tea, Orthodox Green Tea, Jasmine Green Tea and White Tea.

After visiting some grocery and super shops, The Business Post found that Kazi and Kazi, Jaflong, Ispahani and Finlays dominate the green tea market in which KK is the leading player.

Sharing his experience with this correspondent, a tea stall owner Ekhlasur Rahman in the city’s Green Road area said: “At the very outset when tea companies approached me to sell green tea, I ignored them. But now I am selling a good number of green tea every day.”

As people’s behaviour and affordability have changed, those living outside Dhaka are also taking green tea, said a high official of Jafflong Tea Company, a sister concern of Orion Group.

In meeting with the growing demand for green tea, we are marketing it after our brand name Jaflong by importing them from China.