Lipton Institute of Tea
{{Short description|Tea research facility}}
The Lipton Institute of Tea was a dedicated tea research facility established by consumer goods company Unilever, which closed in 2013. The Institute conducts studies on the mental and physical health benefits of tea. As well as research conducted directly by the Institute, it also funded and coordinated research projects at academic and research institutions around the world.
Background
The Lipton Institute of Tea was headquartered in Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire, UK. A formal tea research base had been established there by Unilever in 1967. The Institute also has research centres and regional representatives located in major tea-growing regions (such as India and Kericho, Kenya) and other key tea-drinking markets (including France, Japan, China, and the USA). The Institute claimed as its mission "to promote awareness and understanding of tea, from bush to cup".{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnw.ca/en/releases/archive/February2009/19/c2045.html |title=Black or Green, Tea Consumption Reduces Risk of Ischemic Stroke by 21 Per Cent |website=www.cnw.ca |language=en |access-date=2017-07-16}} The Institute also participated in and organised scientific conferences.{{Cite web|url=http://www.youth.sg/content/view/5566/61/|title=Tea – does it really benefit you?|last=Zhen-Kuang 11 July 2008|website=Youth.sg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207005453/http://www.youth.sg/content/view/5566/61/|archive-date=7 February 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=7 July 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_pressreleases&view=detail&pr_id=16388&Itemid=77&ln=en|title=Scientific research confirms: Theanine, naturally found in tea, improves mental clarity|date=27 April 2008|website=ArabianBusiness.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506055408/http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_pressreleases&view=detail&pr_id=16388&Itemid=77&ln=en|archive-date=6 May 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=15 July 2017}}
Integral to the Institute’s research facilities was its operation of what it claimed was the world’s most northerly tea plantation at its UK headquarters. This facility grew representative samples of tea from around the world in a controlled environment.{{Cite web|url=http://arabianbusiness.com/|title=Middle East Business News, Gulf Financial & Industry Events & Information|website=ArabianBusiness.com|language=en|access-date=2017-07-16}}{{cite web |website=Liptoninstituteoftea.org |url=http://www.lipton.com/en_en/Lipton_Institute_of_Tea-1,10.aspx#Lipton |title=Institute of Tea-1,10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723110504/http://www.lipton.com/en_en/Lipton_Institute_of_Tea-1%2C10.aspx#Lipton |archive-date=2012-07-23 }}
Research
The Institute invested in clinical trials to support health benefit claims and its scientific understanding of Camellia sinensis (tea). Many of the Institute’s findings have resulted in academic publications.{{Cite web|url=http://www.unilever.com.uy/Images/iv-icn09_About-the-Lipton-Institute-of-Tea_tcm186-189709.pdf|title=About the Lipton Institute of Tea|website=Unilever.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101034/http://www.unilever.com.uy/Images/iv-icn09_About-the-Lipton-Institute-of-Tea_tcm186-189709.pdf|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=15 July 2017}}
Work focused on theanine and flavonoid antioxidants, both of which occur naturally in tea and are claimed to have health benefits.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lipton.com/en_en/Lipton_Institute_of_Tea-1%2C10.aspx|title=Lipton Institute of Tea|date=2012-07-23|access-date=2017-07-16|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723110504/http://www.lipton.com/en_en/Lipton_Institute_of_Tea-1%2C10.aspx|archive-date=2012-07-23}} The Institute also funded research on heart health and stroke{{Cite web|url=http://www.npicenter.com/anm/templates/newsATemp.aspx?articleid=23310&zoneid=28|title=NPI Center|website=www.npicenter.com}}{{dead link|date=August 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and, in April 2009, published the results of research conducted with the University of L'Aquila, Italy, about tea and cardiovascular health.{{Cite web|url=http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/145413.php|title=New Research Suggests Drinking As Little As One Cup Of Black Tea Per Day Can Help Protect Against Cardiovascular Disease|date=11 April 2009|website=www.medicalnewstoday.com|access-date=15 July 2017}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.liptoninstituteoftea.org}}
- [https://www.hightea.nl/ High Tea Locations]
{{Teas}}
{{Unilever}}
Category:Tea in the United Kingdom
Category:Agricultural research institutes in the United Kingdom
Category:Organisations based in Bedfordshire