Nutrition Aspects of Tea and The U.S. Tea Industry Dr. Yan Chen [email protected] Dr. Yan Chen • PhD in Horticulture and graduate certificate in entomology • Research focuses • Plant stress physiology • Changing from ornamental crops to medicinal plants – tea, hemp, and others • Effects of environmental factors (terroir) on yield, sensory and chemical profile of tea A traditional beverage from Camellia sinensis Shennong who discovered tea 4,700 years ago Four oldest ancient tea plants (>1400 years old) were found in Yun’nan China Tea pot and tea roller from Song Dynasty (960) Health benefits of tea in general . Caffeine - improve brain function . Anti-oxidants (polyphenols/flavonoids, i.e. EGCG): help against free radicals that will cause cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc. Fiber – weight loss . Minerals – beneficial or controversial Green tea . Based on 113 peer-reviewed research papers . Catechins – in various sizes . Highest in EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) . reduce inflammation and prevent certain chronic conditions, including heart disease and diabetes . Interfere with the growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers . Reduce risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, reduce risk of stroke Hot U.S. tea consumption 28% . $13 billion in 2019 Iced 67% . 2nd largest tea importing country only after Russia . 80% consumed as iced tea – especially in summer . 85% as black tea – affected by importation history Louisiana Consumer Survey 2019 . Green tea (flavored) consumption is increasing . Bottled tea (flavored) is increasing . Loose tea (flavored, again!) is increasing . Bagged tea demand is decreasing Alabama (1), California (3) Florida (1), Georgia (3) Hawaii (17), Idaho (1), Louisiana (3) Mississippi (3), Michigan (2) Tea is commercially grown in 18 states Maryland (1), New York (1) North Carolina (1), Oregon (1) South Carolina (1), Texas (3), Tennessee (1), Virginia (1) Washington (2) . 12 members in 2013, more than 60 members in 2021 . https://usteagrowers.com . FB page: https://www.facebook.com/usltg . Let’s Grow Tea FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letsgrowtea Successful stories in recent years • Innovation in tea processing by U.S. farmers – i.e., the Great Mississippi Tea Co. https://www.greatmsteacompany.com • White tea • Yellow tea • Green tea • Oolong • Black tea • Flavored or blended teas Site-specific production systems LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station The Great Mississippi Tea Co., Fleur de Lis Tea Farm, Amite, Louisiana Brookhaven, Mississippi Farmers initiated new methods . Use of shade trees – honey locus and black gum trees incorporated in tea fields . Farmer initiated development in machineries for trimming, harvesting, and processing Oolong (Mississippi Belle, GMT) 1. Withering into night With UVB light 2. Shaking and bruising 3. Heating - SuVi 5. Drying 4. Rolling LSU AgCenter tea research projects . Varietal evaluation and selection . Chemical compound analysis LSU AgCenter tea research projects . Field production research – weed management, fertility management, trimming and harvesting schedule LSU AgCenter tea research projects . Tea101 Workshops for beginning and prospective tea farmers LSU AgCenter tea research projects . Market demand and consumer preference survey Where do 479 you prefer your tea 452 leaves to be 3145 Respondents grown? (Select ONLY 299 One) 1915 LSU AgCenter tea research projects Support to new tea farmers Regional and international collaborations USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative Planning Project . University of Hawaii . UC Davis Global Tea Initiative . University of Florida . Mississippi State University . North Carolina State University . Clemson University . University f Georgia . Texas A&M University . Oregon State University . Industry stakeholder Advisory Committee . Industry associations.