HONG KONG: In a fast-moving city like Hong Kong, tea-drinking, with its elaborate preparation rituals, may appear as something of an extravagance to many.

A mainland company has released a quick-dissolving instant Pu'er tea, in the hope of encouraging city folk to drink more tea. This brew comes in powdered form, not the traditional dried leaves.

Chairman of Tasly Group Incorporation Yan Xijun said, "Throughout history, Pu'er tea and its processing technique have gone through various changes. Today, modern fermentation technologies mean that the tea has an increased concentration of healthy ingredients like theabrownine, thearubigins, and theaflavin."

"This product is healthier, free from contamination and additives, as we have used digitized extraction. Possible contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals and impurities are eliminated from the tea," he said. "The whole process, from planting, collection, fermentation, extraction and manufacturing is stringently monitored."

He stresses that the quick-dissolving tea is a new-and-improved version of the old Pu'er tea.

Vice chairman of the Chinese Society for Microbiology Sheng Jun said, "Pu'er or the King of Ancient Tea has many benefits. It can lower blood sugar and blood pressure and has been known to decrease the risk of getting cancer. Modern life styles cause too much tension and stress. Drinking tea is good for your well-being."

Yan added, "Our plantations are situated in Yunan, also known as the world's hometown of tea. The year-round mild climate, rich rain fall and negative ions in the air are perfect for tea growing."

The plantation covers some 330,000 hectares, a quarter of which are planted in 2700-year-old ancient tea bushes.

Zhang Guoliang, vice chairman of the Chinese Tea Culture International Exchange Association, said it is his goal to make Chinese tea culture better known internationally.

(HK Edition 08/14/2009 page1)