NextGen Day

According to a cooperative executive, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will help make oolong tea processing safer and increase production threefold.

One moisture analyzer, one vacuum packaging machine, and a solar-powered dehydrator will be given to the Blooming Forest Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BFWMPC).

Drying the Camellia Sinensis leaves using a greenhouse-style sun dryer was one of the likely causes of the aflatoxin identified in the product. According to Junelyn Louvena Ruiz, director of DOST Misamis Oriental, “the solar-powered dehydrator machine (will be utilized for) a more sanitary process that would assist them in avoiding any additional dangerous toxins and successfully get the FDA CPR (certificate of product registration).”

“Hindi naman damaging palagi,” she clarified. With their outdated equipment, they are dependent on unpredictable weather. Thus, there is no way to avoid this. If the material is processed improperly and the necessary heat is not reached, the quality may suffer. Because the old technology was weather-dependent, there were times when (the product) was dangerous. Poor quality is likely if it takes too long to process and the necessary heat is not attained, but that wasn’t always the case).

Due to the new equipment that will be purchased this quarter, processing times will be lowered with the help of DOST. For this project, the DOST in Region 10 has allotted PHP 829,745.

The Misamis Oriental local government is collaborating on this initiative and will pay for the new label and design, some of the vacuum packaging supplies, delivery, and equipment installation.

The local government will also help with the installation and dry-run of the new manufacturing machinery in addition to designing and overseeing the operation of the oolong tea processing plant.

Processing oolong tea is a novel business in the province. They have been designated as the Tea Capital of Mindanao, drawing more tourists and piqueing interest from the general public, according to claims that they are the first—if not the only—camellia Sinensis oolong tea processing plantation in the nation.

Ruiz stated that even before receiving help from DOST, the association had steadily grown their plantation. They have already planted 9 hectares and have 15,000 camellia Sinensis cuttings stored in their nursery for their anticipated expansion.

In the meantime, according to Ruiz, the cooperative has 23 active members. Their oolong tea products are on display at the group’s oolong tea processing facility in Kalagonoy, Gingoog City, as well as in the cooperatives nearby, hotels, restaurants, the DTI’s OTOP (One Town One Product) hubs, Negosyo Centers, and the DTI’s Negosyo Centers.

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