New Delhi: The Brooke Bond Tea Council held a debate on the subject ‘Is India losing a generation of Tea drinkers?’ at an event held in New Delhi today. The Brooke Bond Tea Council members dispelled myths and misconceptions existing around tea in their discussion and propagated the health benefits of tea.

As part of the debate, the Council presented the Brooke Bond Tea Council Health Paper to reveal the survey findings, as well as tea’s history and its proven health benefits. The Brooke Bond White Paper Study On Tea is based on a nationwide survey conducted by AC Nielsen and commissioned by Brooke Bond, India’s leading tea brand. The survey which covered over one thousand respondents across 12 cities aimed to understand the perceptions of tea among Indian consumers.

The survey reveals that though tea is the most popular beverage in India, 77% of the consumers surveyed actually believe that tea is unhealthy – and the cause of various ailments like acidity and nausea; it is addictive, bad for children and causes skin darkening. About 61% of the respondents believe tea is considered traditional and for the older generation — in fact, the perception amongst the youth of today is that beverages like energy drinks and juices are healthier than tea. These incorrect perceptions and myths about tea are in many ways contributing to the declining consumption of tea by younger consumers.

The Brooke Bond Tea Council comprises of experts from the tea and health fraternity who have joined hands to change existing perceptions on tea and to establish its health credentials. The Council has distinguished representatives from various fields – Nutritionists like Ms Ishi Khosla and Dr Anjali Mukerjee; Dr N. Muraleedharan, Advisor of United Plantation Association of South India (UPASI); Dr Gautam Banerjee, Scientist, Hindustan Unilever Research Centre(HURC); and Mr. Sanjiv Chatterji, Tea Excellence Centre, Hindustan Unilever Ltd.

The Brooke Bond Tea Council aims to be the tea industry’s thought leader. The Council will take up innovative interventions that can help identify issues, correct misconceptions and spread awareness to make tea a healthy beverage and restore it to its rightful place as our national beverage. The Brooke Bond Tea Council’s aim is to encourage people to drink three cups of tea daily to help contribute to good health.

Arun Srinivas, Category Head-Beverages, Hindustan Unilever Ltd, said, “India has seen a sea of change in everything; from gizmos to lifestyle patterns. The rise of convenience culture has created a leaning towards new age, but unhealthier beverages. It is necessary to propagate the natural goodness of tea and bust myths, so that consumers continue to harness the health benefits of this Superfood.”

Tea is indeed a Super Food. It has a host of goodies with various health benefits. Flavonoids, which are naturally present in many other foods such as vegetables, fruits, wine, whole grains and tea, with tea being one of the richest source of these Flavonoids, are known to be beneficial for the heart. L-theanine is an amino acid, found almost exclusively in both green and black tea and is known for its mind benefits. Weight management, immunity and oral health are among other benefits of tea. It is, in fact, a health supplement that has a multidimensional role which, apart from having cardio-protective effects and effects on mental and physical lethargy, can also contribute to oral health and complement a weight management diet and health regime.

So along with a healthy diet and exercise, drink three cups of tea daily, to help contribute to good health.