Commercial Viability of Blue Tea Production in North 24 Parganas District: A Comparative Study with Green Tea

Abstract

Blue Tea is generally made from Blue Butterfly Pea Flower (scientifically called as ‘CliteriaTernatea. L’ and commonly identified as “Aparajita” or “Neelkanta”) which is a common plant in most of the Southeast Asian countries. The prime objective of the present study is to explore the long-term economic and commercial viability of production of Blue Tea in North 24 Parganas District. Besides, the study comparatively analysed the process, estimated cost and return associated with manufacturing of Blue Tea and Green Tea and highlighted the prospects and challenges associated with Blue Tea as a substitute of Green Tea.  Green Tea is chosen for comparison with Blue Tea because flavour of Blue Tea is more or less similar to Green Tea. The study is basically explorative in nature. Most of the data are collected from on-the-spot inspection of manufacturing facility situated in North 24 Parganas district. Various cost and inflation accounting techniques are used to estimate costs and return. The study revealed that in spite of lack of Government support, absence of any kind of research and development, marketing and other promotion related initiatives, Blue Tea production in North 24 Parganas District has shown enormous economic potential.