This study aimed to develop a sustainable herbal tea product from teak and pandan leaves (HTP) by systematically comparing two distinct drying methods: hot air drying and greenhouse solar drying. Product quality, economic feasibility, and environmental carbon emissions were comprehensively evaluated. Specifically, the physicochemical properties, total phenolic content, and radical scavenging activity of the dried HTP powder were thoroughly assessed. The experimental results demonstrated that hot air drying preserved the highest total phenol content among the evaluated methods. An extensive economic analysis considered key financial parameters, including production costs (comprising labor, raw materials, and operational expenses), asset depreciation, initial capital investment, and projected revenue, using net present value (NPV) and payback period (PBP) as the primary indicators. While both drying systems proved to be economically efficient by yielding substantial NPV figures and relatively short PBPs, greenhouse solar drying exhibited vastly superior overall economic performance. Specifically, greenhouse solar drying reduced carbon emissions by 7.1832 kg CO2 eq/kg and yielded between two and four times the NPV of hot air drying. Furthermore, the PBP was shortened by approximately five to fifteen months, while break-even points indicated that lower production volumes were sufficient to offset all total costs. Consequently, greenhouse solar drying offers an eco-friendly and economically advantageous approach to herbal tea production by effectively reducing environmental impact, eliminating electricity costs, and enhancing both production capacity and overall profitability. Ultimately, this processing method represents a highly sustainable processing strategy for organic farming community enterprises.
Citation: Kanokwan Kingphadung, Parika Rungpichayapichet, Prasong Siriwongwilaichat, Sujin Woottichaiwat, Suphaphat Kwonpongsagoon. Sustainability of teak–pandan herbal tea processing in an organic farming community enterprise: Comparative analysis of greenhouse solar and hot air-drying methods[J]. AIMS Agriculture and Food, 2026, 11(4): 929-946. doi: 10.3934/agrfood.2026046
This study aimed to develop a sustainable herbal tea product from teak and pandan leaves (HTP) by systematically comparing two distinct drying methods: hot air drying and greenhouse solar drying. Product quality, economic feasibility, and environmental carbon emissions were comprehensively evaluated. Specifically, the physicochemical properties, total phenolic content, and radical scavenging activity of the dried HTP powder were thoroughly assessed. The experimental results demonstrated that hot air drying preserved the highest total phenol content among the evaluated methods. An extensive economic analysis considered key financial parameters, including production costs (comprising labor, raw materials, and operational expenses), asset depreciation, initial capital investment, and projected revenue, using net present value (NPV) and payback period (PBP) as the primary indicators. While both drying systems proved to be economically efficient by yielding substantial NPV figures and relatively short PBPs, greenhouse solar drying exhibited vastly superior overall economic performance. Specifically, greenhouse solar drying reduced carbon emissions by 7.1832 kg CO2 eq/kg and yielded between two and four times the NPV of hot air drying. Furthermore, the PBP was shortened by approximately five to fifteen months, while break-even points indicated that lower production volumes were sufficient to offset all total costs. Consequently, greenhouse solar drying offers an eco-friendly and economically advantageous approach to herbal tea production by effectively reducing environmental impact, eliminating electricity costs, and enhancing both production capacity and overall profitability. Ultimately, this processing method represents a highly sustainable processing strategy for organic farming community enterprises.
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Figures(7) / Tables(3)
Kanokwan Kingphadung, Parika Rungpichayapichet, Prasong Siriwongwilaichat, Sujin Woottichaiwat, Suphaphat Kwonpongsagoon. Sustainability of teak–pandan herbal tea processing in an organic farming community enterprise: Comparative analysis of greenhouse solar and hot air-drying methods[J]. AIMS Agriculture and Food, 2026, 11(4): 929-946. doi: 10.3934/agrfood.2026046
System boundaries of the carbon emission assessment. The outputs illustrated in this figure correspond directly to the activity data and emission factors employed in the subsequent carbon emission calculations
Herb supply chain of the Lum Sum Organic Farming Community Enterprise, Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Drying curves of teak leaves (A) and pandan leaves (B) under different drying methods
The pH of mixed dried teak leaf and dried pandan leaf tea prepared from HA and GH drying methods at ratios of 100:0, 75:25, and 50:50. Hot air drying = HA; Greenhouse solar drying = GH. Values followed by different letters within the same drying method indicate significant differences (p < 0.05). An asterisk (*) indicates a significant difference between drying methods
TPC (A) and TAC (B) of mixed dried teak leaf and dried pandan leaf tea prepared from HA and GH drying methods at ratios of 100:0, 75:25, and 50:50. Hot air drying (HA); Greenhouse solar drying (GH). Values followed by different letters within the same drying method indicate significant differences (p < 0.05); * indicates a significant difference between drying methods
Sensitivity analysis of carbon emissions
GHG emissions and production unit cost of teak-pandan tea dried from HA and GH drying methods at ratios of 75:25 and 50:50
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