Rajasthan’s new olive leaf tea plant is a collaboration between the Rajasthan Government and a private company.
An olive tea manufacturing plant is set to open in the Rajasthani
village of Bassi following a two-year feasibility study. Three olive
farms in Jhunhunu, Jaipur and Jalore have been selected for the
collection of olive leaves.
While Indian olive leaf tea is a fresh
brew, global demand for the product is increasing. It is believed that
olive leaf tea delivers more health benefits than green tea and contains
more anti-oxidants and Vitamin C.
The Indian Government is also brewing up plans to
extract oleic acid, a fundamental ingredient in medicines used to treat
heart disease, from Rajasthan’s olive leaves. Yogesh Kumar Verma, chief
operating officer at Rajasthan Olive Cultivation Limited explained, “If
we are able to extract it, it will open further avenues in the
pharmaceutical sector.”
Rajasthan’s olive leaf tea plant is expected to initially produce
around 50 Kilos of tea per day. Tea tasters have been recruited for the
plant, which is a collaboration between the Rajasthan Government and a
private company.
The olive leaf tea has created a bit of a stir in India’s tea industry.
Gagnesh Sharma, deputy director (tea development) at India’s Tea Board
said, “As per the country’s Tea Act, any products made from the leaves
of Camellia sinensis kuntze, shrub or small tree can be termed as tea
for commercial purposes. Preparations from olive or other plants can be
termed herbal concoctions, but not tea in a proper sense.”
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