By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 18: The Sarawak government is taking steps to create an orchid-based beverage industry, tapping into its biodiversity to create a unique signature product.
In a TVS report, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg revealed the idea of producing orchid tea came from his late wife, Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, who suggested using local orchids to make tea.
“My wife once told the Sarawak Orchid Society, ‘Find an orchid that can be made into a drink like tea.’
“Since this is part of her legacy, I have asked my daughter to continue this effort. I want it to become a unique industry for Sarawak.
“Just as Western countries have ‘Earl Grey Tea’ or ‘Jasmine Tea’, we can produce orchid-based tea. It is nature-derived and has its own health benefits,” he said during the Tautan Kasih and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) Excellent Service Awards ceremony held at a hotel yesterday (Oct 17).
Abang Johari said research is being done to test the orchid tea’s quality and health benefits before it enters global markets.
He further stated the initiative represents the State’s new approach to developing a nature-based economy that promotes sustainability while strengthening local research and innovation.
“This scientific research enables us to produce unique products that can be understood and appreciated internationally.
“This is one of the ways we can derive economic value from what we have, so that the world recognises that Sarawak possesses rich biodiversity that can be sustainably utilised,” he added.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh and SFC General Manager Abang Arabi Abang Aimran. — DayakDaily
