HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Sept 1: Pioneering entrepreneur Alpana Saikia, hailing from Guwahati, is poised to revolutionise the world of beverages by introducing the first-ever wine crafted from Assam tea. Driven by a desire to create something uniquely Assamese and internationally acclaimed, Alpana Saikia has dedicated her resources and extensive research to develop this innovative tea-based wine. This venture follows her success in producing wines from a variety of fruits, including peach, banana, grapes, watermelon, and pineapple.
In 2017, researchers demonstrated that excellent wine could be crafted from tea while retaining all its inherent benefits and refreshing qualities. Despite this breakthrough, tea wine had yet to make its commercial debut. In 2019, the Assam government introduced licensing for heritage wines, but tea wine did not initially fall within this category. Alpana Saikia was the first to apply for a license specifically for tea wine.
“All our legal procedures are nearly finalised, with just a few formalities remaining. Those who have tasted our tea wine, including our close friends and family, have provided excellent feedback. We are optimistic that this unique product will not only make a mark in the market but also gain global recognition, akin to other renowned Assam-based products,” stated Alpana Saikia.
Alpana holds the distinction of being the first producer of tea wine in Assam. After a series of meticulous processes, extensive experimentation, and positive reviews, tea wine is now on the cusp of receiving its commercial license and will soon be available in the market.
