Assam industries and commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on Thursday released ‘Tea: A Wonder Drink for Health and Wellness’, which is considered to be a first of its kind book on tea and its health benefits.
The book was released during a meeting with tea industry and Tea Board in Guwahati on the occasion of the first International Tea Day observed on Thursday.
The book is authored by Dr. Pradip Baruah, who has been associated with the tea industry for the last 28 years.
Baruah is currently the chief advisory officer of Tocklai Tea Research Institute (TTRI).
The book has been published by Tea Vision, an NGO formed to work for the well being of the tea industry.
Minister Patowary said, “As informed by the author Dr. Pradip Baruah, this book should be the first such compilation of various research findings worldwide on the health benefits of drinking tea.”
“Each finding mentioned in this book is backed by related reference of the research carried out in that area. It creates awareness as to how drinking tea provides beneficial properties against various ailments,” said the minister.
“This will also increase the consumption of tea. There is a reference in the book that the world’s fastest marathon runner of Kenya consumes tea in large quantity.”
“I highly appreciate Bidyananda Barkakoty, president of Tea Vision and the entire team of Tea Vision along with the author, Dr Pradip Baruah for publishing such an important book on tea and health,” Patowary further said.
Speaking on the occasion, Barkakoty said, “This book is a review of the scientific papers on the chemical constituents, medicinal, therapeutic, wellness and nutritional values of tea, highlighting research findings across the world including some popular beliefs.”
“The book is aimed at informing the readers about the enormous benefits of drinking tea for health and wellness,” Barkakoty added.
Baruah, the author, said, “The medicinal and nutritional properties in tea give a boost to immunity, promote healthy life and reduces mortality.”
While drinking tea for its taste and enjoyment, people also take in many medicinal and therapeutic compounds in it which are beneficial to human body.
“A total of thirty beneficial properties of drinking tea have been found as indicated by scientific studies carried out across the world,” said Baruah.
These are all indicated in various scientific researches being carried out across the world, although further clinching proof on human trials is necessary on these aspects, he informed.
“The other topics covered in the book on tea and meditation, tea and aromatherapy, tea and detox, tea gastronomy, health benefits of different types of tea and tea seed oil, etc. should be of immense interest to the tea drinkers, researchers, common readers and tea industry as a whole around the world,” Baruah added.
The foreword of the book is written by Arup Kumar Dutta, a Padmashri awardee.
The book is prefaced by messages from Dr. Kanwar Narain, director, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region, Dibrugarh and Dr. Satyajit Borah, vice-president, Indian Medical Association, Assam State Branch.
The meeting was also attended by Dr K.K. Dwivedi, commissioner & secretary, Industries & Commerce; Sanjio Kumar, executive director, Tea Board; Bidyananda Barkakoty, president, Tea Vision and adviser, North Eastern Tea Association (NETA).
Ramenlal Baishya, assistant director, Tea Board and Harsh Sutodiya, executive committee member, Tea Vision, were also present at the event.