Between Health Ally and Export Commodity: An Analysis of Consumers’ Perceptions of Tea and Its Health Benefits in Bujumbura City

  • Alice Ndayirukiye CRSNE-Research Center in Natural Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Université du Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi
  • Menus Nkurunziza CRMP-Research Center in Mathematics and Physics, Faculty of Science, Université du Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi
  • Emmanuel Singoye CREDSR-Research and study Center on Development in Societies in Reconstruction, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Université du Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi
  • Jeremie Ngezahayo CRSNE-Research Center in Natural Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Université du Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi
  • Pierre Claver Mpawenayo CRSNE-Research Center in Natural Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Université du Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi
  • Diomede Ndayitwayeko Doctoral school, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Université du Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi
  • Ferdinand Ndikuryayo CURPAS-University Centre for Research and Applied Pedagogy in Science, Institute of Applied Pedagogy, Burundi
  • Anaclet Nsabimana School of Science-College of Science and Technology Kigali, Department of Chemistry, Kigali, University of Rwanda, Butare, Rwanda
  • Godefroid Gahungu CRSNE-Research Center in Natural Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Université du Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi
Keywords: Burundi tea, Consumer perception, Health benefits, nutritional awareness, Bujumbura

Abstract

Tea (Camellia sinensis) serves as Burundi’s second-largest foreign exchange earner, supporting over 60,000 smallholder tea farmers. Despite the high quality of local high-altitude harvests, a significant disconnect persists between the beverage's intrinsic functional value and domestic consumption practices. This study evaluated consumer perceptions, functional knowledge, and preparation habits in Bujumbura to identify key public health literacy gaps. A quantitative cross-sectional survey (n = 300) was conducted across Ntahangwa, Mugere, and Mukaza districts using simple systematic random sampling via mobile-administered structured questionnaires.

Results reveal a striking health-behavior paradox: while 54.4% of respondents report drinking tea for health reasons, over 90% regularly add refined sugar, and 28.0% incorporate bovine milk. These culinary additions introduce high glycemic loads and introduce milk proteins that clinically attenuate flavonoid bioavailability and acute vascular efficacy. Awareness of specific prophylactic properties was minimal: only 1.0% recognized tea’s role in glycemic regulation, 0.3% were aware of cancer-preventive benefits, and 7.3% associated intake with sleep quality. Notably, despite 71.0% of participants attaining secondary or higher education, 97.0% could not identify any specific bioactive compounds.

Suboptimal preparation methods and low functional literacy severely diminish the health-promoting potential of Burundian tea. Targeted public health interventions, nutritional education focusing on reduced additives, and optimized brewing practices are urgently required to leverage local tea as an accessible tool in mitigating regional non-communicable diseases.

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Published
2026-09-09
How to Cite
Ndayirukiye, A., Nkurunziza, M., Singoye, E., Ngezahayo, J., Mpawenayo, P. C., Ndayitwayeko, D., Ndikuryayo, F., Nsabimana, A., & Gahungu, G. (2026). Between Health Ally and Export Commodity: An Analysis of Consumers’ Perceptions of Tea and Its Health Benefits in Bujumbura City. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 57, 106. Retrieved from https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/21497
Issue
Vol 57 (2026): ESI Preprints
Section
ESI Preprints

Copyright (c) 2026 Alice Ndayirukiye, Menus Nkurunziza, Emmanuel Singoye, Jeremie Ngezahayo, Pierre Claver Mpawenayo, Diomede Ndayitwayeko, Ferdinand Ndikuryayo, Anaclet Nsabimana, Godefroid Gahungu

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