Tea Day set for June 3, 2017
The Tea Association of Malawi (Taml) jointly with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and The Sustainable Trade Initiative have organised a Tea Day to be held on June 3, 2017 at the Kamuzu Upper stadium in Blantyre.
The event is part of activities to boost domestic tea consumption.
The tea industry is targeting to increase domestic tea consumption from the current two percent to five percent.
The Tea Day will be held under the theme, ‘Malawi Tea: For health and Quality Life’.
Tea Association of Malawi Chief Executive Officer Clement Thindwa said while the sector is revitalising, it is also important to improve domestic tea consumption.
He said over the years, Malawi traditional tea buyers have been declining, hence the need to identify new markets.
“We need to find new markets and that includes increasing domestic consumption which is currently at two percent. The Tea Day has been set aside to sensitise consumers to the importance of drinking tea,” Thindwa said.
He said a number of research studies over the past few years have shown a range of health benefits from drinking a few cups of tea every day.
Thindwa further said drinking tea can offer some protein against heart disease and cancer.
“Most recent research has also shown that tea is a good source of flavonoids, a group of compounds that have powerful antioxidant proteins.
“Tea is a natural source of fluoride and delivers 45 percent of one’s daily requirement if they take an average of three tea cups a day.
“Regular intake of fluoride protects against tooth decay and gum disease in both adults and children,” Thindwa said.
Tea is the country’s second largest foreign exchange earner with the industry being the highest private sector employer.
