Debra Li

    debra_lidan@163.com

    TEA can hardly be called a trend — after all, it’s been grown, picked, traded and sipped for centuries. In the West, it has always played second fiddle to coffee, receiving nowhere near the level of esteem and adoration as the beloved bean. However, a growing number of health-minded people have turned to this hot drink for its various benefits.

    Hoping to scoop up a bigger market share in tea’s hometown, Mauristea Investment Co. Ltd. officially launched its ripe black tea products in Shenzhen last week. They hope that the Chinese — exporting around 300,000 tons of tea annually and importing about 20,000 tons — will have a taste for exotic teas, like the Mauritius ripe black tea.

    The tea company, using the extinct flightless dodo for its brand image, is determined to distinguish itself from other tea exporters from Mauritius. Unlike those who try to tame the bitter taste with other flavors (mint, coconut, bergamot, earl grey, lemon or vanilla), the Kuanfu brand tea focuses on the original flavor of black tea.

    Going through 26 processes from harvest and fermentation to drying, sieving and packaging, the tea was grown in the company’s own plantation in the lush natural environment of the island country. Promising that no artificial fertilizers or pesticides are used on their tea plants, the company targets its products for those who truly appreciate the bittersweet taste of black tea.

    Or, they hope that the general public will embrace it like a panacea with no side effects.

    During the processing stage, black tea is fermented and oxidized, which gives it the unique color, flavor and health benefits that are widely known. These reportedly include beneficial impacts for high cholesterol, diarrhea, tooth decay, digestive problems, poor blood circulation, high blood pressure and asthma.

    Plain black tea is rich in antioxidants known as polyphenols and also has minimal amounts of sodium and carbohydrates, which makes it a great drink for those who want to lose weight.

    For those who find the raw bitterness too strong to swallow, they can add sweetening agents, spices, chocolate or even rare herbs while brewing it. In India, milk and sugar are normally added. People also add various herbs including ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, lemon grass, mulethi or holy basil — although that might be against the wishes of the Kuanfu tea producers who believe pure is best.

    As black tea can cause acidity issues in your stomach, you’d better not get too addicted to it and should avoid drinking after lunch or dinner. Perhaps you won’t, as Kuanfu tea sports a hefty price tag at 218 yuan (US$31.9) per 100 grams.