Guru of Tea

Scientists have been investigating tea for centuries and have proclaimed that tea is the panacea for all illness! Starting as all our health and wellness claims did - as ancient wisdom - modern day scientists, clinicians and MD’s are now finding that tea has many health promoting properties.

In addition to overall health issues we are also gaining more insight as to the active principles of tea – what is actually delivering the effect? Our understanding of tea composition is improving yearly as our ability to measure both individual chemicals and their properties (such as anti-oxidant potential) moves forward. Of course many studies published claiming the health promoting action of tea are carried out in a laboratory or in a test tube so we need to examine the criteria that makes a good scientific study see ‘in-vitro, in-vivo ? in-conceivable!’-what’s important? A cup or glass of tea contains flavonoid antioxidants such as Catechins, Theaflavins, Thearubigins as well as vitamins, minerals, a unique amino acid called theanine and of course – water! I look more closely at the composition of tea in the section ‘There’s more to tea than EGCG’.

As well as looking at tea in biological systems regulatory and certification bodies are examining tea. What is tea? What can advertisers say about tea?

International Regulation

Regulatory bodies are interested in protecting international trade, the consumer and making sure that buyers and consumers are not misled. Regulation often sounds rather tedious but it is necessary and overall a good thing. The main regulatory areas that the tea supplier, trader or seller must be aware of are;

1. Defining and testing tea. What is tea & how do I describe it? What if I have a dispute with my supplier? The international tea community through the International Standards Organisation (ISO)and country member bodies (e.g. Kenyan Bureau of standards) has defined Black tea in terms of bulk chemical composition as well as the analytical methods to test and taste tea. Some countries (especially producing nations) also have their own standards. An ISO standard for green tea and others are being drawn up as you read…..

2. Contaminants – These are extraneous or external chemicals and / or substances that can be found in teas related to poor agricultural practices and manufacture or storage and / or accidental inclusion. Contaminants include amongst other things pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, mycotoxins.

3. Health Claims – care needs to be taken here as regulatory authorities are hot on this one! In the EU all claims from 2010 will be strictly regulated but even if approved you will need to prove to the local trading standards authorities that your product complies! Non-EU countries and regions have their own regulations and the buyer must conform to local standards. Beware making an unintentional implicit claim through wording, pictures or logos. Brand managers beware!

The gurus top tips on regulations;

1. Don’t assume that your supplier knows the regulatory requirements of your country or the country / region that you will be selling your product in. Be clear on your requirements and if in doubt ask either for certificates of analysis or a signed declaration that the product meets the regulations in your area.

2. Different countries and regions have different regulations. If in doubt ask your local tea association or regulatory authority.

3. Not all countries are members of ISO! Even in SO member states the standards are usually only applied in case of a dispute between buyer and seller or applied by the port authorities on a routine testing basis. It is important to remember that if the buyer and seller agree a separate standard for the item of sale the quality does not need to apply to ISO standards. BUT the port authorities can still stop the product entering of leaving their juristiction!

4. Regulations are ever changing so keep an eye out and as always if in doubt check with your local tea association.