Zhuyeqing Tea, a major green tea maker in Southwest China”s Sichuan province, said the nation’s tea consumption market is undergoing significant changes, and it will further strengthen cooperation with e-commerce platforms to meet growing demand from young consumers.

In addition to drinking milk tea and fruit tea, young Chinese consumers have been more interested in going to teahouses or making freshly brewed tea at home, and Zhuyeqing believes that the sales growth potential of original leaf tea is significant in the country.

Facing changes in the tea consumption market, the company has continued to optimize its range of products. It launched its latest green tea for this spring, and introduced a new series of products in smaller tins and more fashionable packaging. Since Monday, its hundreds of stores nationwide had also launched events that allow customers to taste the latest spring tea.

“Chinese consumers have been paying more attention to the cost performance of tea and the functionality of tea as gifts. Tea has increasingly become a day-to-day drink to go with meals and to carry during business trips,” said Tang Xianhong, president of Zhuyeqing.

“Besides, tea has become an emotional attachment of many people, indicating consumers’ pursuit and celebration of better quality lives,” Tang said.

Meanwhile, young people’s interest in drinking tea has driven the online consumption volume of tea products, and search volumes for green tea have been climbing on major e-commerce platforms.

Zhuyeqing has signed agreements to further strengthen cooperation with e-commerce platforms JD and Tmall and launch more promotional activities online. The company also started cooperation with major on-demand services platform Meituan, which allows customers to participate in lucky draws online and get the products later at brick-and-mortar stores.

“By leveraging the stickiness of those platforms’ customer base, we are expected to accurately reach more potential customers and enable more people to conveniently enjoy the freshness of spring tea,” Tang said.

In addition, the Chinese people have been interested in exploring the country’s intangible cultural heritage after Spring Festival was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December.

Sanxingdui, an ancient archaeological site in Sichuan, has attracted public attention after new archaeological discoveries were made at the site. At the occasion of the launch of new spring tea this year, Zhuyeqing and Sanxingdui Museum officially cooperated to carry out more innovative interpretations of tea culture.

Currently, green tea accounts for nearly 60 percent of the total output of all kinds of tea in China, followed by black tea and dark tea. Sichuan stands as a major high-quality green tea production base in China, and Mount Emei has a tea planting history of over 4,000 years, according to the China Tea Marketing Association.

“Tea has a huge market size and sustained demand in China, and the country’s tea sector has grown comprehensively in multiple dimensions, demonstrating its strong vitality and resilience. And the development of the tea sector significantly contributed to rural vitalization,” said Wang Qing, chairman of the association.

Last year, domestic tea sales volume reached nearly 2.5 million metric tons, and total sales value hit 330 billion yuan ($45.24 billion), the association said.

Meanwhile, tea export volume reached 374,000 tons last year, up 1.8 percent year-on-year. Export value was $1.42 billion, down 18.4 percent. Some top exporting destinations include Morocco, Ghana, Uzbekistan, Russia, the United States and Japan, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.

For tea exports, green tea significantly exceeded other categories in terms of both export volume and value, with export volume of green tea about 10 times higher than that of black tea, said the China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products.

zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn

Dietary and herbal supplements may seem harmless, but a recent study shows that six popular supplements are linked to liver damage.

The survey study estimated that, during a one-month period, over 15 million U.S. adults took supplements containing ingredients that may harm the liver. These include turmeric, green tea, ashwagandha, garcinia cambogia, red yeast rice, and black cohosh.

The liver helps break down medications and supplements. While medications undergo extensive testing before receiving Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, supplements do not. For example, Tylenol carries a required liver warning label with information about risks and safe dosages. However, supplements can reach store shelves without having to go through rigorous testing for safety and efficacy.

However, this doesn’t mean everyone taking these supplements will have liver damage.

“Not every liver will get injured. It also depends on each patient and what else they are taking and other prescriptions they are taking. It’s really something that’s unpredictable,” said Alisa Likhitsup, MD, MPH, clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigan Health and lead author of the study.

Here’s what you should know about the six supplements linked to liver toxicity.

1. Turmeric

Turmeric is a popular dietary supplement for managing arthritis, digestive problems, and liver disease. However, some evidence suggests that turmeric supplements may damage the liver. Supplements with black pepper may cause additional harm since this enhances turmeric absorption.

A 2023 study showed an increase in turmeric-induced liver injuries in the U.S. The researchers examined data from the U.S. Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network between 2004 and 2022. Only ten cases of turmeric-related liver injuries were reported, but six of these occurred since 2017.

2. Green Tea

Green tea supplements have been marketed as weight loss and cancer-fighting agents. Consuming too much of a specific compound in green tea—epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)—may harm the liver.

“Regular tea drinking, about 3 to 5 cups per day, does not pose the same risk, as dietary intake provides much lower levels of EGCG,” Caroline Susie, RDN, a Dallas-based registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told Verywell in an email.

3. Ashwagandha

Some people take ashwagandha for stress relief or to support overall health. There have been reports of ashwagandha-related liver injuries in the U.S.

“The precise toxic threshold is unknown, but reported cases involve high-dose extracts rather than traditional root powders,” Susie said.

While high-dose extracts may cause harm, low dietary intake of ashwagandha is generally safe, she added.

It is important to speak with a trusted healthcare provider before taking ashwaganda, especially if you have a history of liver disease. Taking ashwagandha with other supplements might cause additional harm.

4. Garcinia Cambogia

Garcinia cambogia supplements that contain hydroxycitric acid (HCA) have been touted for weight loss. These may interact with other medications and have been linked to liver damage.

“The risk is higher when combined with other weight loss supplements,” Susie said.

5. Red Yeast Rice

Red yeast rice supplements are said to help lower cholesterol. These contain a natural statin that may cause liver damage, said Nima Majlesi, DO, a medical toxicologist at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital.

People who take higher doses tend to have a greater risk, but due to a lack of regulation, you don’t always know how much you are taking, he added.

Case reports have linked red yeast rice with liver issues. A 2019 case report showed that a 64-year-old woman experienced liver inflammation six weeks after starting a red yeast rice supplement. Once she stopped taking the supplement, her liver enzymes dropped, which suggests that her liver was recovering.

6. Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is an herbal product used to manage menopause symptoms. Some reports have linked supplements labeled “black cohosh” to serious liver damage.

Taking black cohosh with other medications or supplements may cause liver injury. It is important to always speak with a trusted healthcare provider about all of the medications and supplements you take.

Should You Avoid These Six Supplements?

It is important to consider risks before taking any supplement, not just these six. Studies have also shown that supplements are frequently mislabeled, so you don’t always know exactly what you are taking.

“All supplements, you have to question. The reality is because this industry is so poorly regulated, we have no idea, actually, what’s in many of them,” Majlesi said.

Those looking to reduce their blood sugar levels need to consider the food and drinks they consume.

A nutritionist has shared what to eat and drink to help regulate blood glucose, focusing on drinking healthy drinks and eating a nutritious breakfast.

The nutritionist recommended having Greek yoghurt at the start of the dayGETTY

Aside from eating and drinking the right foods, another nutritionist shared three unusual hacks that help stabilise blood glucose.

The expert spoke exclusively to GB News and said exposure to cold can activate brown fat which improves glucose metabolism.

They said: “Try ending your shower with 30 to 60 seconds of cold water, or even a cold plunge.

When the cold water hits your body, “try big long exhales out whilst projecting your voice. This keeps your nervous system balanced but also helps to stimulate dopamine”.