First quarter 2012

Tea Market Update
V o l u m e 8 N o 1 J a n u a r y— M a r c h 2 0 1 2

20th Session of the Intergovernmental Group (IGG) on Tea of Food &
 Total Production
from all tea grow- Agriculture Organization (FAO) 30th Jan -1st Feb 2012 and
ing areas registered Colombo International Tea Convention 1st – 3rd of Feb 2012.
to 73.18 Mkgs for
the period ended 31
The year 2012 marks 145 years of the is certainly an achievement and shows world
March 2012, which
commencement of Sri Lanka tea industry on recognition for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Tea
is 6.6% less than
a commercial scale. Sri Lanka Tea Board, Board made arrangements to host the FAO/
the previous year
the apex state or-
same quarter.
ganization of the
tea industry in Sri
 Average auction Lanka under the
price at Colombo purview of the
dipped to 355.77 / Ministry of Planta-
kg or 9.7% below tion Industries will
the last year level. be hosting the 20th
Session of FAO/
 Sri Lanka tea ex- IGG on Tea in
ports for the first Colombo, Sri
quarter of 2012 Lanka in 2012
reached 76238MT,
a 4.3 % decrease Selecting Sri Lanka
over the first quar- as the venue for one
ter of 2011. of the most impor-
tant events in the
global tea industry, providing a prestigious IGG Sessions which took place from 30th
platform for the United Nation’s Food and January to 1st February 2012 at Cinnamon
Tea Production 2
Agriculture Organization’s 20th Session of Grand Hotel, Colombo.
the Inter-Governmental Group (IGG) on Tea
Cont. in page 5 ….
Tea Marketing 3

Tea Exports 4 General Overview
Global Tea Scene 6
Economy
Due to the continuity of the subsidized fertilizer
Trade Fair Participation 7
Drought hit weather further retarded agricul- and power sector intervention by the govern-
tural output and world demand on key Sri ment, inflation was maintained below the last
Lankan exports commodities declined consid- year level to be provided to the masses enabling
Research Update 8
erably by 1.4 percent or US$2.63 billion in food items and other intermediate goods at
value, widening balance of payments too at affordable prices.
the end of first quarter compared to last year
same period. As a result pressure on the rupee Tea Industry
mounted through out the period and govern-
ment eased the control of exchange rate Lower rains and price volatility at Colombo tea
Editor-Sampath Perera auction deprived a more positive performance
Tea Promotion Division expecting a narrowing of the huge trade
deficit of US$ 2.55 billion for the period. to be recorded in tea industry. Corporate sector
E-mail
Hence, the economy recorded a 7 percent plantations Companies made a major setback as
sampath@pureceylontea.com Colombo Stock Exchange recorded lower value
growth as mentioned in Central Bank report
Web-site for the period which is lower than same per share in its history due to lower yield and
www.pureceylontea.com quarter of last year. higher COP. Continue in page …………….5

Tea market update Volume 8. No. 1 P AG E 2

+
Tea Production
Total Production from all tea growing areas amounted It is evident from table 3, that Plantation sector tea
production recorded moderate decline while Private
to 73.18 million kilograms for the period ended 31
and Public sectors remained with less variation in first
March 2012, which is 6.6% less than the previous year quarter as against last year same period.
same quarter. This slight decrease can be attributed to
lower rains experienced mostly in Western high and Government sector recorded a poor performance for the
Uva regions. past as consecutive years though they witnessed
5.5Mkgs record production in 2008 first quarter as the
March production recorded a severe decline compared highest in recent years.
to last year but ahead of the 2010 and 2009 crop. Table 3 – Distribution of Tea Production
Hence, specialty Western High season didn’t reach January-March 2012/2011 (Units:MKg)
forecasted level affecting cash trapped cooperate
sector factories mostly centralized in hill country. 2012 2011 Change
Sector
Production % Production % Qty %
Table 1 - Cumulative and monthly tea Production
January-March 2008-2012 (Units :MT) Private 43.02 58.79 43.32 55.2 -0.3 -0.5
Plantation 27.19 37.15 32.56 41.5 -5.4 -12.9
2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 Public 2.97 4.06 2.52 3.2 0.4 13.9
January 23198 21,141 26796 17810 26278 Total 73.18 100.00 78.40 100 -5.2 -6.7
February 22,775 22,125 24858 12764 25518 Matara and Kandy districts recorded a slight increase
March 27,208 35,134 21458 18412 30811 in production while Nuwara-eliya and Galle districts
fell remarkable decline as against last year same
Total 73,181 78,400 73,112 48,986 82,607 quarter. It is showed in table 4 below.
Table 4.- District wise tea production comparison
Intended tea planting of high grown were 41137 ha, as at December 2012/2011 (MKg)
which is 18.5% of total tea lands and produced nearly ADMIN. DIS-
17 million kilograms for the period and this deficit is TOTAL-2012 TOTAL-2011 CHANGE
TRICT
higher than the cumulative deficit other two regions. It BADULLA 6.79 6.85 -0.06
is depicted in table 2.
COLOMBO 0.15 0.00 0.15
GALLE 10.81 11.98 -1.17
Table 2 - Cumulative tea production according
to elevation and category till March (Units :Mkg) HAMBANTOTA 0.07 0.06 0.01
KALUTARA 3.92 4.23 -0.31
Jan-March Change KANDY 7.10 6.57 0.53
Category
2012 2011 Qty % KEGALLE 2.47 2.62 -0.15
Elevation MATALE 0.39 1.31 -0.92
High 16.99 20.11 -3.12 -15.50 MATARA 10.52 10.00 0.52
Medium 11.98 12.34 -0.37 -2.97 NUWARA ELIYA 15.80 19.25 -3.45
Low 44.22 45.95 -1.74 -3.78 RATNAPURA 15.16 15.50 -0.34
Total 73.18 78.40 -5.22 -6.66 TOTAL 73.18 78.37 -5.19

Processing Method
Orthodox 67.55 70.83 -3.28 -4.63 Tea Marketing
CTC 4.87 6.81 -1.94 -28.46 Attributed to many external market forces the depressed
Green Tea 0.76 0.76 0.00 -0.26 tea market that prevailed during
Total 73.18 78.40 -5.22 -6.66 the first three quarters of 2011,
intensified this quarter too. Total
Proportionately, CTC tea production dipped severely quantity sold through Colombo
by 28.5%, while Green Tea production figures auction increased marginally and
remained unchanged for the period compared to the total average price for the quarter
last year same period.. …..

PUBLICATION OF TEA PROMOTION DIVISION—SRI LANKA TEA BOARD

Tea market update Volume 8 . No. 1 P AG E 3

fell sharply compared to the same period of 2011. Table 7: Teas sold and prices fetched by
Subsequently, total earnings decline slightly at distribution channels (Qty:Mkg, Price Rs./Kg)
Colombo auction though total disposed quantities First Quarter
increased compared to last year same quarter. It is Different Channel 2012 2011
depicted in table 5. Qty Price Qty Price

Table 5 –Teas Sold and prices fetched in Public Auction 81.8 355.77 77.7 394.17
first quarter 2012/2011Unit:Qty-Mkg,Rs/Kg Private Sales 0.9 383.34 0.4 445.97
First Quarter Direct Sales 0.4 462.74 0.6 391.63
Different Difference
2012 2011 Total 83.0 356.62 78.7 394.43
Channel
Qty Price Qty Price Qty Price As depicted in table 7 above, Private sales average
High 17.8 340.0 17.3 380.5 0.5 -40.5 price dropped by Rs.63 per kilogram whilst volume
traded increased by 125% or 0.5Mkgs compared to
Medium 13.5 317.9 11.8 357.5 1.7 -39.6 the last year same period.
Low 51.8 372.4 49.6 408.1 2.2 -35.7 Buoyant price levels prevailed for Direct sales,
despite volume traded decreased by 33% or
Total 83.1 356.6 78.7 394.4 4.4 -37.8 0.2Mkgs, and average auction price at Colombo
auction dipped to 355.77 /kg or 9.7% below the last
Table 6– Weekly Auction sales comparison year level as against the correspondent period of
during the quarter (Rs/Kg) 2011.
Auc. High Medium Low Average
Month Change
No. 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 -year 2011-year
1 326.29 376.05 300.79 353.22 367.35 406.62 347.44 387.76 -40.3
2 332.06 377.63 306.12 353.55 367.78 412.11 350.62 391.46 -40.8
January
3 327.71 375.14 298.24 353.29 365.58 409.70 347.14 379.43 -32.3
4 334.45 377.26 301.86 360.44 361.77 415.76 347.33 377.30 -30.0
5 333.55 370.37 302.74 348.34 362.47 397.06 347.73 367.17 -19.4
6 330.01 374.15 297.76 348.61 352.04 404.35 338.94 381.59 -42.7
February
7 334.78 380.10 310.01 359.21 364.44 414.66 351.41 382.61 -31.2
8 330.41 378.95 315.94 361.86 365.15 422.45 350.45 381.01 -30.6
9 332.79 376.90 320.87 353.50 369.79 401.73 354.29 386.42 -32.1
10 330.19 389.11 322.07 369.77 367.76 408.93 353.08 391.95 -38.9
March 11 342.71 389.36 324.72 371.06 375.91 407.92 360.15 393.20 -33.1
12 348.75 384.27 339.89 378.31 395.90 402.38 375.55 383.73 -8.2
13 356.25 374.30 346.49 366.44 424.13 394.96 396.92 363.39 33.5

Colombo Auction Colombo auction price

Colombo Tea Auction were held on thirteen
auctions during the quarter and average sale prices
were always below those of last year correspondent
sale and in some weeks the difference in price drop
exceeded Rs.40/Kg.

The main reasons for price reduction of our teas are
the lesser inquires made for High grown quality
season teas by the Western Nations due to economic
crisis and instability in Persian Gulf where more The most significant feature of
than 30 percent of our teas consigned. this quarter is sudden Rupee
value depreciation which caused
a check on price decline at end
of the sale In March.

PUBLICATION OF TEA PROMOTION DIVISION— SRI LANKA TEA BOARD


Tea Exports
P AG E 4
Sri Lanka tea exports for the first quarter of 2012 reached Hence, the sequence of events that took place in the
76238 metric tons with re-exports, a 4.3 percent decrease global economy shocked the world premium food
over the first quarter of 2011, following value of the and beverage markets with little exceptions.
shipments earned US$332.9 million, down 12.2 percent due
to lower FOB value and volume. Table 10 -Top ten destinations of Pure Ceylon
tea from Jan– March 2012/2011 Units:Qty - MKg
Tea exports for the month of March alone show a quantity
Total tea
increase and earnings decrease, reaching 29247 metric tons 2012 2011 Change
Country Exports %
valued at US$125.3 million, up 8.2 percent and down 5.2
percent, respectively, over March 2011 figures. Quarterly Qty Qty Qty % 2012 2011
exports of value added tea like Tea bags, Packets ,RTD, Russia 11.16 12.67 -1.51 -11.92 14.64 15.91
and Instant tea excluding re-exports in first quarter were Iran 10.08 7.52 2.56 34.04 13.22 9.44
41492 metric tons, down 6 percent from first quarter 2011, Syria 6.81 6.18 0.63 10.19 8.93 7.76
while its export value decreased to US$189.47 million, fell Iraq 5.29 4.89 0.40 8.18 6.94 6.14
13 percent, attributed to appreciation of dollars by 9.3 Turkey 4.30 5.75 -1.45 -25.22 5.64 7.22
percent over last year same quarter. These details are Libya 3.85 1.87 1.98 105.88 5.05 2.35
shown in table 8. and 9.below. Azerbaijan 2.65 2.60 0.05 1.92 3.48 3.26
Japan 2.47 3.20 -0.73 -22.81 3.24 4.02
Table 8 - Export Statistics for each month during
UAE 2.43 6.65 -4.22 -63.46 3.19 8.35
first quarter 2008/2012Units : MT
Ukraine 1.93 1.95 -0.02 -1.03 2.53 2.45
2012 2011 2010 2009 2008
Total 50.97 53.28 -2.31 -4.34 66.86 66.9
January 23,239 27266 21045 18403 23659
 except re-export volume
February 23,753 25345 25116 21400 28359
Sequence of top ten destinations changed dramati-
March 29,247 27026 24049 30123 26808
cally where United Arab Emirates crashed to 9th
Total 76,238 79,638 70,210 69,926 78827 place importing its lowest level of 2.43Mkgs or a
63% decrease per quarter compared to the last year
Table 9 – Tea Exports comparison during first quarter
same period. It is depicted in table 10. A rebound of
(2012/2011) Units:Qty-Tons, FOB-Rs/Kg Value-Millions
the ruined economy of Libya showed a significant
The major reason for the decline that recently occurred in
2012 2011 Change % Change
Category
Qty FOB Value Qty FOB Value Qty FOB Value Qty FOB Value
Bulk* 29,953 492.72 13681 29,844 465.69 13,898 109 27.03 -8,538 0.4 5.80 -61.4
Packets* 35,653 481.89 17,180 37,535 484.48 18,185 -1,882 -2.59 -1,005 -5.0 -0.53 -5.5
Tea Bags* 5,374 950.58 5,360 6,200 922.29 5,718 -826 28.29 -358 -13.3 3.07 -6.3
Instant Tea 464 776.98 361 429 761.59 327 35 323.69 34 0.0 0.00 0.0
Green Tea 531 1,085.28 576 573 996.13 571 -42 89.15 5 -7.4 8.95 0.9
RTD** 1 1,873.97 37 4 905.08 4 -3 968.89 33 0.0 0.00 0.0
Sub Total 71,976 516.30 37,195 74,586 521.78 38,703 -2,610 -5.48 -1,508 -25.4 -1.05 -3.9
Re-Exports 4,261 730.42 3,112 5,052 660.61 3,337 -791 69.81 -225 -15.7 10.5 -6.7
Total 76,237 528.26 40,307 79,638 528.64 42,040 -3,401 -0.38 -1,733 -4.3 -0.07 -4.1
* Black Tea ** Ready To Drink
improvement of tea imports while Iraq showed
the country’s tea exports was due to a combination of
moderate progress of its Ceylon tea imports. Ukraine
factors commencing from economic crisis in USA, Euro
and Iran offered the highest
Zone calamity, aftermath of the Japanese tsunami, currency
FOB price per kilogram whilst
depreciation in most major markets, accumulated with the
Libya and Kuwait record the
uprising of Arab nations and sanctions on Iran.
lowest FOB for the period
among top ten list of
destinations.



……………..………….from page 1. issues related to production, marketing, pricing and
General Overview consumption of tea. Intercessional Working Groups
Weather representing all stakeholders are held every other year
Bright weather with few scattered rains were reported in all prior to main FAO/IGG Session and it is mandatory to
tea growing regions. seek the approval of member countries on agenda,
themes, issues and new working groups to be discussed
Quality at the main session of FAO/IGG on tea.
Lower production Western quality teas and general leafy The International Tea Committee (ITC) Producer/
grades in low grown areas registered.

Crop

High and mid grown teas reported a lower production and
low grown also registered a slight decrease.

Colombo International Tea Convention .. from page 1

Incidentally, Sri Lanka hosted the 15th Session of FAO/
IGG on Tea in August 2003 gaining immense mileage. At

Consumer Members Forum preceded the IGG on Tea
sessions on 29th January 2012, together with a half day
meeting on “Climate Change”. The tea producing
countries also met on the sideline of FAO/IGG on Tea
Conference, to establish an International Tea Producers
Forum (ITPF) on 1st February 2012.The objective of this
gathering is to create a common platform for tea
producers and to formulate strategies for the benefit of
all tea producing nations. This informal meeting was
chaired by honorable Mahinda Samarasinghe , Minister
The United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization of Plantation Industries In Sri Lanka where a resolution
(FAO)/Intergovernmental Group (IGG) on Tea which was signed by 10 tea producing countries with agreeab-
was established in 1969 is a forum where important ility to set up an ITPF
policies and strategies related to the global tea industry
are formulated. Its Membership is open to all the mem- In order to present the global tea fraternity who will
gather in Colombo with a total offering, Sri Lanka Tea
Board and Colombo Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA)
hosted an International Tea Convention from 1st to 3rd
February 2012 at Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo.
The tea convention this year revolved around the theme
“Exclusivitea” encompassing the niche in quality that is
synonymous with “Ceylon Tea”. The event attracted all
major leaders of the global tea industry to the heart of
Colombo for the three day event. The convention
provided all stake holders, both local and international
with an ideal platform to exchange views, network,
share technologies and resources and integrate during
the span of the event. The Colombo Tea Conventions
bers/associate members of UN who are interested in tea have always been the best attended in the tea world and
production/consumption/trading of tea. The FAO/IGG on boast of an exclusive mix of international speakers on
Tea, a subsidiary body of the committee on Commodity themes of current and future relevance. This mega
Problems hold biannual sessions and is considered as the -event was organized by the CTTA, in collaboration
only global forum for member nations to deliberate with the Sri Lanka Tea Board.



P AG E 6
Average auction prices at all world auction centers
Global Tea Scene fetched below the US$ 3 per kilogram price though tea
Tea Production production had relegated to a considerably low level.
The global liquidity crisis played havoc among most
Major black tea producing countries of India and East major markets, as a result, the industries won’t be able
Africa registered a crop shortfall in first quarter of 2012 to grow as planned. This is likely to lead to lesser
due to the prolong dry weather in major tea producing employment generation, job cuts as well as stagnation
areas. Worst ever drought in fifteen years in North in salaries. As such are expected to dwindle the
India resulted in a crop short fall of 18 % by end March demand for imported hot beverages as well as local
2012 compared to last year same period. consumption.

Table 11 -Global tea production comparison in Kenya Tea exports increased by 10 million kilograms
first quarter 2012/2011(MT.) for the period due to a surge in imports by Egypt,
PRODUCTION Month 2012 2011 Change
Afghanistan and Pakistan compared to the previous
year same quarter. China maintained its previous year
N E INDIA 3 37520 45553 -8033 tea export volume with a slight decrease due to strong
SOUTH INDIA 3 44774 48841 -4067 market position in west African countries.
BANGLADESH 3 731 998 -267
CHINA (1) 3 356000 286000 70000 As a emerged tea exporter of Vietnam shipped 19,500
3 -6799
tons of tea worth of US$ 27.8 million in the first two
SRI LANKA 71,601 78,400
months of this year, rose by 18.24 % in volume and
INDONESIA 3 15438 14821 617
17.25% in value term over the same period of last year.
KENYA 3 72436 85169 -12733
In the first two months of this year, Vietnam exported
MALAWI 2 13721 13606 115 2,800 tons of tea worth $ 2.6 million to Indonesia,
TANZANIA 2 6608 6835 -227 accounting for 14.7 per cent of the total. Further
UGANDA 2 4902 7414 -2512 Vietnam shipped total of 7.5 million kilograms of tea
ZIMBABWE 2 3189 4267 -1078 to Pakistan. Taiwan, and Russia for the first two months
TOTAL 626920 591904 35016 of 2012.

*Till March provisional Source : INTTEA All global tea producers have incurred income declines
while traders and firms in higher stages of the value
Low rains and frost conditions in Kenya, Uganda, chain have escaped this death trap. In the mid 1990s
Zimbabwe, and Tanzania too have attributed to the
earnings by tea producing countries (exports F.O.B)
decline tea production. As a result Kenyan tea crop
dropped 15% in first quarter compared to the were some US$ 5-6 billion and the value of retail sales
corresponding period of 2011.The severe global tea of tea, largely in developed countries, about US$30
crop failure was adequately compensated by increased billion. Now the value of retail sales exceeds US$70
green tea production from China over the period. It is billion with energy price increases but tea producing
depicted in table 11 above. countries only receive around US$ 10-12 billion. The
Table 12- Average prices in major auction centers unbalanced character of power in the tea value chain
as at 31st March 2007-2012
helps explain the increasingly unequal distribution of
total incomes in all tea producing countries.
Centre 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007
Kolkata 2.01 2.77 2.58 2.54 2.37 1.96 Table 13. Global tea production and Exports comparison
Cochin 1.73 1.73 1.71 1.83 1.65 1.36 (1976-2012) Unit: MKgs
Chittagong 1.88 2.14 2.63 1.98 1.62 1.17
Mombasa 2.67 2.72 2.54 2.29 2.18 1.66 2011 2005 1995 1985 1976
Jakarta 1.84 1.97 1.81 1.82 1.51 1.33 Global Production 4217 3458 2521 2263 1588
Colombo 2.99 3.26 3.28 3.14 2.87 2.53 Global Exports 1719 1566 1079 951 791
Guwahati 1.74 2.33 2.43 2.23 2.14 1.72 Sri Lanka (without re-
303 299 235 198 200
Malawi 1.67 1.61 1.58 1.58 1.37 1.05 exports)
World 2.47 2.73 2.71 2.49 2.31 1.89 Sri Lanka percentage
17.6 19.1 21.8 20.8 25.3
(Global Exports)
Source: ITC


Tea market update Volume 8 No. 1 P AG E 7

Sri Lanka Tea Board Participation at Foodex
Trade Fair Participation Japan 2012 (6th to 9th March 2012)

“PRODEXPO” RUSSIA (11th - 15th FEBRUARY Sri Lanka Tea Board organized a National Pavilion for
2012) Ceylon Tea and participated together with Jafferjee
Brothers Ltd, Imperial Teas (Pvt) Ltd, Stassen Exports
Sri Lanka Tea Board participated at the Prodexpo – the (Pvt) Ltd and Basilur Tea (Pvt) Ltd at Foodex Japan
largest exhibition in Moscow, Russia with following tea 2012. The 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations
exporting companies. between Japan and Sri Lanka is being celebrated this
Mabroc Teas (Pvt) Ltd., Natures Pride (Pvt) Ltd, Ceylon

Tea Bags (Pvt) Ltd and Ceylon Tea Land (Pvt) Ltd. Sri
Lanka coordinated and extended the necessary assistance year and a special promotional seminar for tea, tourism
and investment and a high profile net-working session
between the tea trades of Japan and Sri Lanka were
organized to coincide with Foodex Japan 2012.

Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Plantation

for the successful participation of the above fair.

GULFOOD 2012 in UAE, 19th – 22nd February Industries and Hon. Namal Rajapakse, Member of
Parliament graced the occasion. Sri Tea Board was
Sri Lanka Tea Board facilitated the participation of 09 represented by its Chairperson and Director
private sector tea exporting companies under the Ceylon (Promotion).
Tea pavilion at GULFOOD 2012 exhibition. The compa-
nies participated under Ceylon Tea pavilion are M/s. BPL HORECA 2012 in Lebanon, 20th – 23rd March
Teas (Pvt) Ltd, M/s. HVA Foods (Pvt) Ltd, M/s. Ranfer
Teas (Pvt) Ltd, M/s. Mabroc Teas (Pvt) Ltd, M/s. Vintage Sri Lanka Tea Board organized the participation of 02
Teas Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd, M/s. Ceylon Fresh Teas (Pvt) Ltd, private sector tea exporting companies at above trade
M/s. Ceylon Tea Land (Pvt) Ltd, M/s. Eswaran Brothers exhibition that M/s Eswaran Brothers Exports (Pvt) Ltd
Exports (Pvt) Ltd and M/s. Ceylon Tea Marketing (Pvt) and M/s. Imperial Teas (Pvt) Ltd. Sri Lanka Tea Board
Ltd. Sri Lanka Tea Board coordinated all the logistical coordinated all the logistical arrangement of the
arrangement of the participation of the exhibitors. participation of the exhibitors.


Tea market update Volume 8. No. 1
P AG E 8

In the study, 75 young male regular tea drinkers were split into
Research Update two groups and monitored for six weeks. One group, the
control group was given a caffeinated placebo devoid of the
Black tea reduces risk of Parkinson's disease active tea ingredients.

"To our knowledge, this is the first prospective cohort studyThe other group was given fruit-flavored caffeinated tea mix-
of Parkinson's Disease risk factors in a non-white populationture made up of the constituents of an average cup of black tea.
living in Asia..." When both groups were subjected to challenging tasks which
Asst Prof Koh Woon Puay, Department of Occupational and induced stress, the group taking the tea mixture was found to be
Family Medicine.Findings from a collaboration between the able to reduce their cortisol levels by an average of 47 per cent.
National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) and NUS have revealed "We had observed an inverse association between consumption
of black tea and the risk of Parkinson's Disease in the Chinese
for the first time, that drinking black tea (but not green tea)
reduces the risk of developing Parkinson's Disease among the population residing in Singapore. Our research is a very prom-
Chinese population in Singapore. ising first step to identify dietary and lifestyle factors related to
Parkinson's disease in an Asian context. More studies will be
The findings, which are published in the on-line issue of needed before we can firmly establish the protective effect of
American Journal of Epidemiology (Dec 2007) suggest that black tea on the disease and understand its underlying mecha-
black tea may exhibit neuroprotective effects on Parkinson's nism. Such research will enable us to develop strategies to
Disease. The findings, presented at the 1st Asian and Oce- prevent or reduce the progression of this debilitating neurode-
anian Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Congress generative condition," said Dr Louis Tan, senior consultant
(Oct 2007) won the second prize for Best Research Presenta- neurologist at NNI-TTSH who is leading the study with Dr Koh
tion Award. of NUS.

The NNI-NUS study is unique. "To our knowledge, this is the
NICE CUPPA TEA: Dr Koh Woon Puay and Dr Louis Tan
first prospective cohort study of Parkinson's Disease risk fac-
lead research team on the effects of black tea on Parkinson's
tors in a non-white population living in Asia. Singapore Chi-
Disease.There has always been a lack of data from Asian
nese are well suited for the study of coffee, green tea and black
populations on dietary and lifestyle factors associated with
tea consumption and health outcomes since all three types of
Parkinson's Disease, said co-Principal Investigator for the
beverages possess divergent intake profiles in this population.
research project, Asst Prof Koh Woon Puay, Department of
Other strengths of the study are its population-based design and
Community, Occupational and Family Medicine. To fill this
the collection of data on tea-drinking prior to disease diagno-
gap, the researchers examined these factors in relation to
sis," said Dr Koh.
Parkinson's Disease in the Singapore Chinese Health Study
with a cohort of 63,257 Chinese men and women. This is a
Next, the team intends to dentify other factors that may affect
first community-based study of the disease's risk factors in an
an individual's risk of developing Parkinson's disease as well as
Asian population.
understand the mechanism of black tea's protective effect on the
disease. Experimental scientists have shown that black tea
Between 1992 and 2005, data was collected through in-person
extracts (oxidised polyphenols such as thearubigins and
interviews using structured questionnaires. Results from the
theaflavins ) possess neuro-protective and neuro-rescue proper-
study showed that individuals who had a higher dietary intake
ties in an animal model of Parkinson's Disease, said Dr Koh.
of caffeine were less likely to develop Parkinson's disease.
But at the moment, it is too early for the team to identify what
This result tallies with what several large population-based
the possible protective content may be.
studies in USA and Europe have shown.

However, a novel finding by the NNI-NUS team is that black
tea intake also reduces the risk for developing the disease --
and it is not just the caffeine content in black tea that is re-
sponsible. Green tea, in contrast, did not show any significant
protective effects on the disease.

Black tea magic

Black tea comes from the leaves of Camellia sinensia -- a per-
ennial evergreen shrub that is native to Southeast Asia. The
leaves are oxidised under controlled temperature and humid-
ity. Then the leaves are dried to arrest the oxidation process. Trade and statistics inquiries:
They are then sorted into grades according to their sizes.
Sri Lanka Tea Board
According to a study in 2006 by University College London, 574,Galle Rd, Colombo – 03.
black tea also has an effect on stress hormone levels in the Tel :2587814,2582122 Fax : 2587341
body.


First quarter 2012

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