Bangladesh building plant for jute leaf drink, an alternative to tea

Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation has started building a factory for commercial production of jute leaf drink, an alternative to tea, in Jamalpur’s Sarishabarhi.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Mirza Azam unveiled the foundation stone of the plant in Jhaluparha area on Friday.

“We are trying to diversify the use of jute with an aim to bring back the golden days of this fibre. New technologies are being invented. In continuation of these efforts, this green jute drink is coming,” the state minister said.

“It will enrich the jute industry,” he believed.

The project’s adviser and inventor of jute drink, Ismail Hossain, said they hoped to export the product of the plant, which is being built at an estimated cost of Tk 11.6 million.

According to Ismail, the factory will start production by the end of this year.

“We will collect jute leaves in the current season and process them. The drink will taste like green tea,” he said.

According to him, the new drink would help the consumers control diabetes and blood pressure, and reduce fat besides preventing many diseases.

Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation Chairman Mahmudul Hassan and Textiles and Jute Secretary Fasizur Rahman Chowdhury, among others, were also present.