Green Tea Consumption and Its Determinants in Taraba State of Nigeria

Abstract

Green tea is obtained from unfermented tea leaves. This product is typical of the use of tea in China and Japan. This study examined the green tea consumption and its determinants in Taraba State, Nigeria. Respondents were selected in the study area using Multistage sampling technique. Three villages were randomly selected; they are Mayo-kusuku, Kakara and Kasalasah. Information was obtained from the respondents using well structured questionnaire. Information was collected from 128 respondents and the information collected was used for analysis. Analytical techniques used in the study are descriptive statistics, composite score analysis and ordered probit regression. Sixty seven percent of the respondents that consume green tea are above 30years. The mean age of the respondents is 41years. Majority of green tea consumers are male (92.2%). Majority (89.8%) of green tea consumers in Taraba State are farmers. Also, in the study, 94.1% of the respondents said that they consumed green tea while 6% of the respondents do not consume green tea. The reasons why they do not consume green tea are: they do not like it (2.2%), they do not have money to buy it (13.2%), they do not know where to buy it (7.4%), other reasons (0.7%). Eighty six percent of respondents reported that they consumed between 1 and 7 sachets per week, 8% consumedbetween 8 and 14 sachets per week while 6% consumed more than 15 sachets per week. Sixty two percent of the respondents are in the low level meaning they consume between 1and 2 sachets. Twenty seven percent are in the medium/intermediate level. Respondents in this level consume between 3 and 10 sachets. Twelve percent of the respondents are in the high level meaning they consume between 11 and 36 sachets of green tea. Age (β=0.03), sex of respondent (female: β=1.07), location (Kakara β=1.03; Kasalasah β=1.27) improved green tea consumption while occupation (technical/craftsmanship: β=-2.92), price of green tea (β=-0.29) reduced green tea consumption. This study recommended that appropriate measures should be put in place for farmers to reduce price of green tea so that more people can buy and consume green tea.