GOVPH

A local tea brand aims to achieve a firstof-a-kind goal in Caraga’s tea industry by planning to build the region’s first-ever tea kiosk in an effort to promote tea to common Filipinos.

Nature’s Apothecary voiced their aspirations of setting up a stall that would serve different kinds of tea— including their signature butterfly pea tea—in Caraga, as it doesn’t have a local lea-serving store that “might” help raise appreciation of the beverage to Filipinos, who are known as huge coffee drinkers.

“We plan to set up this kiosk because we want to change the norm of Filipinos being coffee drinkers with our brand as the starting point,” Danica Fabre, the brand’s owner, stressed in an interview.

The Buenavista, Agusan del Nortesituated tea manufacturer intended to erect the kiosk in a local mall within the said region to begin their steps in the grassroots, and even wished to start soon.

“Hopefully by next year, we can start carrying out our plan since we’re excited to serve tea, instead of coffee, to them,” Fabre stated.

BEGINNINGS

Danica, together with her partner JJ, started the tea brand in 2018 after becoming health-conscious, getting introduced to the blue loose leaf butterfly pea, scientifically known as Clitoria ternatea, and realizing its benefits to wellness and economy.

“I saw its (butterfly pea) potential and we want our success to be inclusive to others, especially those underprivileged people in our community,” JJ said in an interview with Philippine Star Life.

And as their four-hectare farms in Buenavista and Nasipit grew, they started to manufacture more butterfly pea and Hibiscus teas, which became their staple bestsellers over time, and its other variants to bolster healthy living to their locality.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Danica raised that tea, including their brand’s best-sellers, offered many health benefits, which included having antioxidants that can lower diabetes and cholesterol—and can even aid in stimulating the brain at great lengths. Drinking the beverage could also support skin and hair health, promote weight loss, and prevent cancer cell growth. (By SJA participants from Butuan City)