Eshanya Beverages, Mysuru, unveils Nitte’s DST TEC developed Betel Leaf Tea bags

Eshanya Beverages has launched ‘Betel leaf tea bags’, which were developed at NITTE (Deemed to be University) DST Technology Enabling Centre (DST TEC).

Mr. Sandeep Eshanya, Mysuru, said that he had read a research paper on betel leaf tea. Since he was from Mysore, which holds a GI tag in betel leaves, he contacted a few start-up incubation firms.

But it was NITTE DST TEC, which agreed to support Eshanya and NITTE University’s Centre for Science Education and Research (CSER) was asked to study the product. According to Mr. B.S. Mamatha, NITTE’s CSER, they researched on the product for a year. The research involved the way betel leaves can be dried and cut into small pieces, which will release its natural taste when placed in hot water. “It took a year to come out with the product that had mild and natural taste of betel leaf. The product retains the health benefits of betel leaf.

Eshanya Beverages sold over 300 boxes of tea, each containing 50 bags and priced at Rs. 349, through an online platform recently. Betel leaf tea bags are available in retail stores in Mysuru. Apart from natural flavour, they brought out betel leaf bags in orange, rose petals and lemon flavours, he said. Launching the product, Mr. Sateesh Kumar Bhandary, Vice Chancellor, NITTE, said, TEC set up at NITTE is among a few set of TECs set up by the Union government’s Department of Science and Technology across the country. Since the last three years, TEC has been supporting new entrepreneurs, he said.

Mr. Iddya Karunasagar, Advisor (Research and Patent), NITTE, said the TEC recently transferred technology of making of almond milk powder to a Delhi-based start-up. Technology transfer related to two more products of TEC is in the pipeline, he trailed off.