All in a Brew

The growing industrial use of natural products such as green tea extract as food and beverage ingredients has been driven by more consumers demanding overall good health with ‘food as medicine’. This has led to the growth of nutraceuticals, which is one of the most promising sectors in the food industry, and it has also augured well for the natural extracts sector.

Natural extracts from fruit such as red berries, citrus fruits and grapes, vegetables and herbs contain active pharmaceutical ingredients. These extracts provide nutrition and antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

The main types of tea consumed today are green, black, white and oolong. These variations are results of the way tea leaves are processed. To produce green tea, tea leaves are picked and steamed; this stops enzymic reactions occurring as part of the oxidative process. This process prevents fermentation that would otherwise brown the leaves, thereby producing green or yellow tea leaves.

Researchers at the University of Yale found a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer in Asia, despite the high incidence of heavy smokers in the region. They say this could be explained by the high consumption of tea, particularly green tea, among Asians as part of their daily diet.

Green tea extract
Green tea extract available today are mainly sourced from China and India and is derived from a tea plant called Camellia sinensis. This plant is shown to contain polyphenols, particularly the catechin epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The extract is rich in volatile oils, vitamins, minerals and caffeine.

Green tea is mainly used in beverages, functional food, cosmetics and supplements. In October 2007, Coca Cola introduced its green teaflavored Diet Coke beverage with antioxidant benefits with added green tea powder in the UK.

According to a Frost & Sullivan report in 2007, the green tea extract market in Europe was valued at $32 million.

The report says green tea extract consumption has increased steadily since 1998, backed by numerous scientific studies confi rming the health benefits – bioflavonoids in the extract have shown to inhibit enzyme activity, especially in tumorcausing or cancerous cells.

According to a Frost & Sullivan report in 2007, the green tea extract market in Europe was valued at $32 million.

The Asian paradox
In June 2006, the University of Yale coined the term ‘Asian Paradox’ to correspond to a phenomenon observed among the majority of the Asian population. The researchers found a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer in Asia, despite the high incidence of heavy smokers in the region.

Researchers say this could be explained by the high consumption of tea, particularly green tea, among Asians as part of their daily diet. They say the antioxidant defensive property of the polyphenol EGCG in green tea may prevent low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, which has been shown to play a key role in the patho-physiology of arteriosclerosis.

EGCG has also shown to reduce the amount of platelet aggregation, regulate lipids, and promote proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells, which are factors in reducing cardiovascular disease. The compound has also shown to be an effective antimicrobial agent.

Research fuels growth
Clinical trials on green tea have validated almost every aspect of its health benefits. Scientific research on the health benefits of green tea has expanded exponentially, with more than 1,500 articles published in research journals in the last five years in Europe.

More manufacturers are using scientific research on green tea in their product marketing efforts aimed at consumers. These messages are adapted in local markets, according to medical practices and the general scientific knowledge and health concerns of target consumers.

A tea-based drink for example could be promoted as a slimming beverage in France and as a beverage with antioxidant benefits in the Netherlands. Such marketing strategies could be due to national regulations on the marketing messages on the packaged product.

Natural extracts from fruit such as red berries, citrus fruits and grapes, vegetables and herbs contain active pharmaceutical ingredients. These extracts provide nutrition and antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

Legislation
While the use of polyphenols in food and food-related applications are not legislated in Europe, there are strict laws on the processing of polyphenol compounds in food products. These application-specific rules and practices demand compliance with European Union (EU) standards, whether it is the cultivation or processing of crops, making compositional analysis or health claims.

The EU defines a standard of detailed practice (such as molecule maximum level) within a framework that adheres to specific objectives. In the Commission Regulation No 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuff, suppliers need to comply with good agricultural practices (GAP), in addition to certifications like hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) and good manufacturing practices (GMP), and international standards such as the International Food Standard (IFS) and the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The directive also requires laboratories responsible for the analysis of green tea extract to be accredited according to EU Directive 93/99/EWG.

This has led ingredient manufacturers to proactively adopt complex and strict manufacturing practices, in line with those in the pharmaceutical industry. The regulations on processing are generally impacted by three factors: choice of extraction solvent, substantiation and authorization of health claims.

Opportunities
Green tea extract manufacturers can capitalize on the growing market demand for ‘clean label’ food by providing application-friendly extracts. There is a need for new technologies that can help mask the bitter taste and odor of green tea. By penetrating new application sectors with lateral growth, the industry can potentially grow two-fold.

With the growing supplement sector and the waning prices of green tea, manufacturers can increase their profi t margins at the premium value sector. The tremendous success of nutritional supplements has attracted the cosmetics and dermo-cosmetics companies to jump onto the bandwagon.

L’Oréal and Danone for example have used scientifi c evidence of green tea extract to strengthen their product positioning in the food supplements sector. Nestle has also joined hands with Coca Cola to manufacture a green tea-based weight loss supplement called Enviga. They have also released a health beverage called Lumae last year.

China is a major supplier of green tea and it has greater production capabilities than Europe. Asian manufacturers are set to have this ‘home advantage’, as they direct their resources to this sector.

While the use of polyphenols in food and food-related applications are not legislated in Europe, there are strict laws on the processing of polyphenol compounds in food products.

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