Arakan producers of nipa palm bud tea tout health benefits

By DMG 24 Jun 2021

DMG Newsroom
24 June 2021, Sittwe

Buds of nipa palm grown along the coast of Arakan State are dried and produced as an herbal tea that some purveyors say has numerous health benefits.

Daw Aye Sandar Htay, one such seller and advocate, said she is selling her product, called La Chan Myee dry water coconut tea, near the Global Treasure Bank in the Arakan State capital Sittwe.

The nipa palm bud is used as an herb in other countries as well as in Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady Region.

Daw Aye Sandar Htay said she bought her nipa palm buds from along the Mayu River in Rathedaung Township, Arakan State, to manufacture the nipa palm bud tea.

“The nipa palm bud tea is good for eyesight. It can heal headaches. It is suitable for people with diabetes and hypertension. The power of the nipa palm bud tea is extraordinary,” she said.

She buys high-quality nipa palm buds for K8,000 per viss, with lower quality buds selling for cheaper. She sells the finished nipa palm bud tea product for K3,500 per 100g packet. The wholesale price is K2,500 a packet.

Daw Aye Sandar Htay’s product is sent to the Food and Drug Administration to get a certificate and some doctors in Arakan State are testing it for patients with diabetes, she said.

Daw Soe Soe Aung, a diabetic from Myebon Township, said her blood glucose level went down after she began drinking the Nipa palm bud tea.

“My blood sugar reaches up to 220. It is down to 120 now. I have drunk the tea for five days now,” she said.

Daw Aye Sandar Htay said she needs technology and raw materials to produce international-quality tea, though she started to manufacture it in May.