TRI introduces new tea products

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

COLOMBO: The Tea Research Institute (TRI) has been able to produce 1000 cups of tea out of one kilo of instant tea prepared using refuse tea.

The new product with other few products were launched at a ceremony held at Ambuluwawa by Minister of Plantation Industries D. M. Jayaratne last week. A soft drink, tea wine, instant milk tea pack were among the other new products.

The Chairman, Tea Research Institute Jerry Jayawardena said that it was possible as a result of researches carried out by the Institute to prevent the damage causing to the industry due to refuse tea. He said that one kilo of instant tea made out of five kilos of refuse tea would only cost Rs. 500 which will make 1000 cups of tea at a cost of .50 cents each.

The soft drink made out of refused tea could be used as Cola drink in two varieties as with sugar and without sugar. The Bio-Chemical Department Head of the Tea Research Institute Tissa Amarakoon said that Tea is a drink consisting Sodium which does not include Calory and Sugar and suitable for heart diseases and high blood pressure.

Minister D. M. Jayaratne pointed out that although many people under estimate refuse tea there are about 800 small entrepreneurs in this field making their living. But the government has to give them the new knowledge and technology.

The ministry is prepared to give from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 100,000 loans to those entrepreneurs along with the technology through the Institute.