The Hindu Business Line : Packeters, blenders told to stop colouring tea

Coonoor April 9 Tea Board has told the tea packeters and blenders to stop adding colours to tea as it is not permitted under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA).

"While the PFA allows 24 natural flavours like cardamom, ginger, tulsi and mint to be mixed with tea, it does not allow any colours although permitted to be added for other food items including sweets, ice cream, jelly, jam and flavoured milk.

"Besides, some of these colours are hazardous to health. The colours reduce the consumption of pure tea. So, we have asked the traders to withdraw such teas from the market. They have agreed to abide by the directives of the Tea Board," said Mr R.D. Nazeem, Tea Board Executive Director.

Positioning for quality

" I hope that the consumption of good tea would increase by 20 per cent if colouring stops. Only sub-standard teas are used for colouring and so, if the practice ends, the market would be rid of such teas. This will help us position the South Indian teas in the quality league of Assam and Darjeeling," he said.

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