Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
What is Tea?
Tea is an ancient beverage that has been consumed for over 5,000 years. Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world after water, and can be found in most U.S. households and is gaining in popularity in the United States because it's health benefits, varieties and adaptability are but three of the many benefits offer to drinkers of tea.
Tea is the only beverage commonly served for any occasion. On any given day, over 3.5 billion cups of tea are consumed World wide.
Tea has a long history and, because it is usually boiled in water before consumption, has often been a much healthier drink than water that is easily contaminated.
The future for loose leaf and speciality teas is especially bright in the United States as the powerful trend toward living healthier lifestyles creates greater demand for quality tea.
What are the Different Types of Tea?
Tea is generally classified into four main categories, depending on their oxidation level. The four main varieties are White Tea, Green Tea, Oolong Tea,and Black Tea, black tea being historically in greatest demand in the western world. Recently however, green tea has become increasingly popular.
Herbal teas, popular in certain segments of the market, are made from plants other than the Cammelia sinensis plant. These herbals are called Tisanes and, while not actually made from tea, are often included when talking about tea.
What is Black Tea?
Teas are classified by their level of oxidation.
Black tea has been allowed to oxidize 100% before being fired (dried), and the complex chemical reactions that have occurred between the outside air and the enzymes located within the leaf produce a dark, very complex tea.
In black tea, all of the original qualities of the leaf are gone and replaced with a depth of taste, aroma and character that are as unique as they are significant.
The liquor (liquid produced by infusing or boiling the leaf in water) ranges from a dark amber to a black that would rival strong coffee.
What is Green Tea?
Green tea is mature tea that has been has been picked, and then pan fired (or steamed) to stop the oxidation process after a very short period.
Because of the very limited amount of oxidation, green tea produces a subtle sweetness and green tea produces a greenish liquor that offers a bouquet that ranges from grassy to floral.
What is Oolong Tea?
Oolong tea offers the widest range and varieties of flavor and serves and an excellent base for blending and creating unique teas.Oolong has oxidation levels that range between 1% and 99%.
An oolong tea is one that has been allowed to oxidize partially and thus produces a more complex, darker liquor, that falls on the scale between a green and a black tea.
An oolong can be slightly oxidized to very oxidized depending on the variety of the tea and control of the process.
The depth of character for an oolong ranges greatly and is partially a result of the degree of oxidation, so an oolong can end up being closer to a green tea, or a black tea, depending on how it is produced. The liquor produced, therefore, can range from a greenish yellow, to a dark amber.
What is White Tea?
White tea is made from the immature buds of the tea plant that are picked and processed before they have had time to mature and lack the enzymes that are found in other more developed tea.
White teas, because of their lack of maturity, tend to have much less caffeine than any of the other teas . White teas are not allowed to oxidize at all and thus produce a pale liquor. Many tea drinkers consider white teas to be the most subtle of all teas.
In poorer areas, or in areas of extreme dislocation like China faced under certain times of Communist rule, where tea has been unaffordable or unavailable to many, tea drinkers have been served another kind of 'white tea,' which is simply hot water.
What is Pu-erh Tea?
Pu-erh tea is unique to China and now is becoming very popular with some tea drinkers.
Often referred to as "compressed tea" Pu-erh tea is made from long leaf tea found in southern Yunnan Province in China and the leaves are compressed into wheels and other shapes.
Pu-erh can be made of oxidized or unoxidized leaves but the distinction from other tea leaves is that Pu-erh tea is stored in darken caves for lengthy periods. Because of this process Pu-erh acquires a distinctly earthen flavor and is an acquired taste among tea drinkers.
Chinese tea drinkers of Pu-erh value the tea as an indispensable part of the digestive process afyer heavy meals.
Where is Tea From Originally and Where is it Grown Now?
Tea plants were first cultivated in am area of southern China that bordered on present day India, Tibet. Nepal and areas of Southeast Asia. But it was in China that tea became dominant.
The first legends and myths of tea tell of an accident where in 2732 BCE a tea leaf fell in Emperor Shen Nung's hot water, which he drank and discovered was quite good
But beyond ancient stories, it is a documented fact that tea has been part of world culture for over three thousand years. Tea does originate in China, and to this day, some of the best oolong teas come from Taiwan, and green teas from it's neighbor, Japan.
Because China had the population and market, coupled with an advanced communication network and powerful bureaucracy, it provided an ideal natural, governmental and marketing climate for the growth in production and consumption of tea.
Eventually, Chinese tea became a commodity very much sought after in the western world as Europe and the United States developed a taste for quality tea and the health and consumer benefits it provided.
There are many different countries where tea is now produced. During the days of colonialism, the British, had difficulties controlling the production of tea in China, took tea to India, where it is still heavily cultivated in significant quantities to this day.
Over the years, cultivation has also spread throughout Asia, Indonesia, Russia, Turkey, Africa, and even South America. While a great deal of white tea and green tea still comes out of Asia, a significant amount of the black tea produced today originates outside Asia.
Because of tea's requirements for a warm mountainous region, there are limited areas where tea can be cultivated globally, but tea is marketed and consumed world wide. The story of tea, therefore is one of marketing and distribution as well as cultivation.
What Are Speciality Teas?
Specialty teas are defined as those teas that are of a unique and high quality. They are mainly high quality, rich tasting loose leaf teas processed by the orthodox method of tea processing.
How is Tea Produced?
Although all tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, the difference between the various teas is a process called oxidation. Tea is processed by breaking down the cell walls of the individual tea leaves through a process called withering and then exposing the tea to air that directly interacts with enzymes in the tea leaf.
Much like a banana that turns brown when exposed to air for a period of time, tea leaves go from their natural state to various stages of oxidation and during the process, change color and develop the unique flavors associated with the individual types of tea.
General Terms
What is Assam?
Assam is a region in northeastern India that is well known for its strong, black, high quality tea.
What are Autumnal Teas?
Autumnal teas are teas from India and Taiwan that are harvested in autumn and their taste is affected by the cooler temperatures.
What are Basket Fired Teas?
Basket fired teas are Japanese green tea;s that are fired (oxidation stopped) using a basket curing process.
What is a Blender?
A blender is a taster of tea who decides on the proportions of each tea variety required to produce the flavor of each blend.
What is Brick Tea?
Brick tea is made from common grades of Chinese and Japanese teas, mixed with stalks and dust and molded into bricks under high pressure.
What is Broken Orange Pekoe (BOP)?
Broken Orange Pekoe (BOP) is black tea comprised of smaller leaves and broken segments with some tips, harvested by the fine plucking method.
When an abundance of tips is included , the grade becomes F.B.O.P.(Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe).
What is Broken Pekoe(BP)?
Broken Pekoe is full bodied black tea comprising broken segments of somewhat coarse leaves, without tips.
What is Cachar?
Cachar is the most common form of black tea from the Cachar district of Assam.
What is Camellia Sinensis?
Camellia Sinensis is the botanical name for tea.
What is Ceylon?
Ceylon is the former name of the country now known as Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka is an island located off the south east coast of India. Ceylon is often used to generically describe the teas from Sri Lanks.
The Market For Tea
What is the Daily Consumption of Tea in the World?
Every day about 3.2 billion cups of tea are consumed throughout the world.
What Country Produces the Most Tea?
Although tea production began in China, India produces the most tea. A significant amount of this tea is consumed in India.
What Country Exports the Most Tea?
Although India produces the most tea, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) exports the most tea.
What Country Consumes the Most Tea on a Per Capita Basis?
On a per capita basis, Ireland consumes the most tea.
What is the Annual Consumption of tea in the United States?
In the rest of the world, tea ranks second as a beverage only to water. This is not the case in the United States however, as beverages like coffee, carbonated beverages and fruit juices traditionally have been more popular in the United States.
Nevertheless, per capita sales of loose leaf and speciality teas are expected to double in the next four years and growth opportunities are tremendous. And the base for growth percentages is huge.
In 2007, Americans consumed well over 50 billion
servings of tea, or over 2.25 billion gallons. About 83% of
all tea consumed was Black Tea, 16% was Green Tea,
and a small remaining amount was Oolong Tea.
What is the Daily Consumption of Tea in the United States?
Although the United States lags behind other companies in tea drinking about one half of the American
population drinks tea and the South and Northeast have the greatest concentration of tea drinkers.
What About Iced Tea Consumption?
Americans drink more iced tea than most other countries. Presently, about 85% of tea consumed in the United States is iced.
Are Ready-To-Drink Iced Teas Popular?
Over the last ten years, Ready-To-Drink Tea has grown
nearly ten fold. In 2006, Ready-To-Drink sales were
conservatively estimated at $2.65 billion.
What is the Popularity of Tea Bags, Loose Tea?
In 2007, over 65% of the tea brewed in the United States
was prepared using tea bags. Tea bags were used also as a convenient way to make iced tea. Ready-to-Drink and iced tea
mix comprises about one fourth of all tea prepared in the
U.S., with instant and loose tea accounting for the
balance.
Bagged tea is convenient but use lower quality tea that is produced by the CTC (cut, tear, curl) method of mechanical processing.Many experts believe that bagged tea, because of the lower quality tea used in CTC production, have degraded the tea market particularly in the United States.
Because tea bags are an expensive form of packaging, tea bag suppliers must use lower quality tea to remain cost competitive.
Loose leaf tea uses higher quality tea and it is best served loose in order for the tea leaves to expand and fully infuse. Most tea bags are not compatible with loose leaf tea because they do not allow full infusion.
High quality lose tea is gaining in popularity however, and growth in the looseleaf, speciality tea market has been exceptionally strong.
What is the Status of Current Tea Sales?
Purchases of tea in the United States has shown strong, consistent growth.Retail sales showed significant growth aided by strong demand in e-commerce channels as well as sales through traditional segments like supermarkets.
Growth in tea revenues can be largely attributed to trends toward greater health awareness and value added efforts in tea and coffee houses.
What is the Status of Anticipated Sales?
The industry anticipates strong, continuous growth over
the next five years. This growth will come from all
segments driven by convenience, interest in the healthy
properties of tea and the continued discovery of Specialty
Tea.
Where is Tea Grown?
Much of the world's tea is grown in mountainous areas
3,000 - 7,000 feet above sea level, situated between the
Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn in mineral rich
soil. Leading tea-producing countries include
Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Indonesia, Kenya
Malawi, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania.
What are the Ideal Conditions For Tea Growth?
Tea requires specific environmental conditions to grow and quality tea requires the right combinations of these conditions in order to maximize its taste, body and health ingredients.
Grading of Tea
Many methods of grading tea have developed over time and in the various tea producing countries. Tea grading is a s much an art as it is a science.
There are two factors to consider when grading tea: What is the origin of the tea and how is it processed (Orthodox vs CTC).
The Indian world of tea (India and Sri Lanka) uses a rather complex rating system depending on the quality of the leaf. Thius system was influence dy the British who originally controlled the tea business in these areas.
The Indian system Uses a series of letters to denote tea leaf quality and the systems includes letters for the finest grade of whole leaf tea down to the lowest grades of leafs that include fannings (small bits and pieces)and dust (the least desirable grade) that are used in the CTC process for bagged tea.
The system is specific and comprehensive and covers both whole leaf and broken leaf:
Grades of Orthodox Indian Tea
Whole Leaf Grades
In declining order of quality
- SFTGFOP - Special fine tippy golden flowery orange pekoe (smallest whole leaf).
- FTGFOP - Fine tippy golden flowery orange pekoe (medium whole leaf).
- TGFOP - Tiny Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (medium whole leaf)
- GFOP -Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (large whole leaf)
- FOP- Flowery Orange Pekoe(extra large or large whole leaf)
- FP - Flowery Pekoe
- OP Orange Pekoe
Note: Orange Pekoe (OP)are whole leaf teas with no tippiness and do not define quality or contain orange flavoring.
CTC Grades
- FP - Flowery Pekoe
- PEK - Pekoe
- BOP - Broken Orange Pekoe
- BP1 - Broken Pekoe One
- BP - Broken Pekoe
- BPS - Broken Pekoe Souchong
Note: CTC processing produces a very low quality tea that is used in bagged tea mainly to offset the cost of tea bag packaging. The result of CTC processing in a flavor without the rich taste or or multiple infusion qualities of loose tea.
Grading of Chinese and Japanese Teas
Grading of Chinese and Japanese (which uses the Chinese system) is not standardized like Indian teas and therefor is extremely complex and confusing.
The system of grading has migrated from traditional to a complicated numbering system and back to traditional.
In addition, speciality teas have a specialized grading system is also different from the grading of standard tea and the grades are differentiated by the leaf's appearance rather that different "cup quality " appearance used to grade Indian teas.
The Health Qualities of Tea
By now, most of us have heard that tea helps protect our health and prevent disease. But, research has often been inconsistent, and we may not yet fully understand the potential of tea or exactly how it works.
One thing's for sure: the key lies in tea's anti-oxidants. Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radical damage may lead to cancer. Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and may prevent some of the damage free radicals otherwise might cause. Examples of antioxidants include beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamins C, E, and A, as well as other substances found mostly in plant products.
Tea is one of the best sources of anti-oxidants. This plant contains many different forms of anti-oxidant, with EGCG being the most plentiful. EGCG makes up about 30% of tea's total anti-oxidant value. And, this is good news because EGCG is a very potent anti-oxidant.
Recent Research Findings About Tea and Health
Heart Health
It may seem like an unlikely medication, but more and more research indicates that tea may be one of our most effective weapons in preventing and even treating heart disease. There have been many studies that have shown ways in which tea can be effective in protecting health.
In some studies, green tea has been shown to prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, preventing it from turning to arterial plaque. This is important news, since arterial plaque (atherosclerosis) is one of the most significant risk factors for heart attack and stroke.
Additionally, a study conducted by the US Department of Agriculture(USDA) found that participants who drank 5 cups of black tea per day along with a diet moderately low in fat
and cholesterol reduced their LDL cholesterol by about
11% after three weeks.
One of the best remedies for cancer may be as close as your nearest tea cup. There is an increasing body of evidence to suggest that tea can help prevent the onset of cancer or, at the very least, slow the growth of tumors. This is incredibly encouraging news, given the fact that nearly two-thirds of the world's population drinks tea each day.
An additional study found tea drinkers to have an
approximate 42% reduced risk of colon cancer as
compared to non-tea drinkers. Men who drank more than
1.5 cups of tea per day were found to have a 70% lower
colon cancer risk.
Ovarian Cancer
There have been dozens of studies linking green tea with different forms of cancer, including prostate cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, and esophageal cancer. However, until recently, there has not been any evidence that green tea can prevent ovarian cancer.
However, one study reported by the UK Tea Council, over 60,000 Swedish women were examined and interviewed regarding their dietary habits, including their consumption of green tea. The women were between the ages of 40 and 76. The study followed the women for over 15 years, and concluded the following:
- The women who drank green tea on a regular basis were far less likely to develop ovarian cancer
- The more tea a woman consumed, the lower her risk. In fact, each additional cup of green tea per day above 2 decreased risk by an additional 18%
Skin Cancer
Green tea is of significant importance in our quest to live longer and be healthier. There are hundreds of studies that have shown that green tea is a good cancer preventative and can increase the effectiveness of cancer treatments.
One important study is linked to skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. While only 4% of skin cancer cases are melanoma, it causes more deaths than any other type of skin cancer.
In addition, according to University of Arizona research
findings, participants who drank iced black tea and citrus
peel had a 42% reduced risk of skin cancervii and hot
black tea consumption was associated with a significantly
lower risk of the most common form of skin cancer,
squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
Can Tea help with diabetes?
Drink tea. Both green and black teas have been shown to help control blood sugar levels.
One study, in particular, performed by the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology in Calcutta, India, showed that tea had a significant effect on the blood glucose levels of diabetic mice. When the mice were given tea, their blood sugar levels stayed consistent and did not rise above normal levels.
What is the Caffeine Content of Tea?
Tea is naturally low in caffeine. A cup of Black Tea, for
example, contains about 40 milligrams of caffeine.
Generally speaking caffeine content can be summarized as follows:
- All non herbal teas, whether black, white, green, or oolong have a variable amount of caffeine.
- The average range of caffeine content in an eight ounce teacup is 20 to 60mg.
- Certain classes of green tea tend to be lower in caffeine than blacks or oolongs - as low as 10mg.
- Oolongs generally have a caffeine level that averages 18 to 20mg.
- Only the strongest blacks ever reach the 50-60mg. while many are closer to 30 to 40mg.
Can Tea be Decaffeinated?
Branded decaffeinated tea should be avoided because of low quality.It is very difficult to remove caffeine from tea without removing the essential tea elements and degrading quality often results.
It is possible, and easy however, to prepare ordinary tea so as to remove most of the caffeine from the finished product. Caffeine is very water-soluble, more so than many of the flavor components in tea. So a very brief infusion can remove much of the caffeine while preserving flavor.
Tea and Weight Loss
Many varieties of tea have been associated with weight loss when combined with a healthy diet and proper amounts of exercise.
Ingredients of Tea That Make it so Beneficial to the Human Body.
- Polyphenols- Thought to aid in cancer prevention through many mechanisms, and it has high antioxidant actions.
- Cardiovascular health -Tea may inhibit oxidation of LDL (bad cholesterol). Scientists believe that this is linked to coronary heart disease.By simply drinking green tea you can help reduce the effects of the cholesterol in your diet, and reduce your risk of heart disease, too. More...
- Antimutagenic- New research is emerging that suggests that green tea plays a significant role in prohibiting and in some cases, reversing common mutations that are considered carcinogens (cancer causing agents).Furthermore, the studies are also uncovering facts that indicate that green tea holds healing properties that slow the aging process and other age related illness and ailments.
- Natural Oils for Digestion- Because Drinking tea during or after a high-cholesterol meal has been shown to lower the increase in the fat content of the blood, tea is a natural aide to speed the assimilation of nutrients after a heavy meal.Pu-erh tea is especially effective.
- Tea Catechins-Anti-oxidants are important to our health because they protect our bodies from free radicals. Free radicals are oxygen containing molecules that are created as a by-product of our digestive processes. Free radicals left unchecked damage our cells and DNA, leading to disease and aging.
Sub Varieties and Blends of Tea
While the major groups of tea are well known, tea drinking has evolved over the years to where there are many other sub varieties of tea, such as Pu-erh, , and many blends like the familiar Earl Grey. Coconut Pouchong, White Persian Melon and others.
The varieties of teas are almost infinite due to the conditions under which they are produced, and tea blending produces delicious teas if the blending is processed with quality ingredients and a high level of care..
Some of the sub varieties are:
- Black, unblended:
Assam (India),
Ceylon (Sri Lanka),
Darjeeling (India),
Keemun (China),
Nilgiri (India),
Sikkim (India),
Yunnan (China)
- Popular blends:
Pu-erh Chai
Moroccan Mint
French Breakfast
English Breakfast,
Irish Breakfast,
- Scented/Flavored:
Jasmine (China; green, scented with jasmine flowers),
Earl Grey (international; black, scented with oil of bergamot and lavendar),
Lapsang Souchong (China and Taiwan; black, scented with smoke),
Many varieties of flavored teas
- Oolong:
Ti Kuan Yin [Tai Guanyin] (Mainland China),
Formosa Oolong (Taiwan, many varieties),
- Green:
Genmaicha (Japan),
Gyokuro (Japan),
Spider Leg (Japan),
Mattcha (Japan, used in the Tea Ceremony),
Sencha (Japan),
Hojicha (Japan),
Genmaicha (Japan),
Longjing [Lung Ching, Dragon Well] (China),
Baozhong (China),
Gunpowder (China),
- Other:
Pu-erh (China)
What is a Tisane?
Pronounced tee-zahn, this is the French term (now adopted by most western cultures) for any infused beverage made with anything other than actual tea leaves. This includes herbal tea, Rooibos, Heuningbos, fruit melanges, and many others.
Some common herbs that are used as tisanes are peppermint, chamomile, rose hips, lemon verbena, and fennel.
How many Cups of Tea Should be Consumed in a day?
Tea is a beverage consumed and enjoyed throughout the world for centuries. An average tea drinker consumes about three to four cups of tea in a day. Studies recommend that a regular intake of six to ten cups a day, will contribute to your health and well being.
How does Tea Compare to Coffee?
Tea also contains flavonoid antioxidants while coffee contains a different variety of antioxidants. Compared to the extensive studies on the role of tea antioxidants the studies on coffee antioxidants are few.
All studies on flavonoid antioxidants in tea indicate the important role of tea in a balanced diet. Also tea contains about half the caffeine content of a comparable cup of coffee.
How much Milk and Sugar Should be Added so That the Antioxidant Properties are not Destroyed?
To date studies indicate that consumption of tea results in increased antioxidant activity in the body, and that the addition of milk to tea does not affect these increases.
Which Kind of Tea Provides the Best Anti oxidants?
All teas made from the Camellia Sinensis plant are good sources of antioxidants.
Tea Preparation
What is the Best Way to Prepare a Delicious Cup of Tea?
Time:
The finer the grain, the quicker the brew time as the surface area of the tea exposed to the hot water is greater. Nearly powdered teas are ready to go in about two minutes or less, while large leaf varieties may need more than five minutes.
The general rule is three to five minutes, blacks longer than greens. The longer a tea steeps, the more likely it is to become slightly astringent or "bitter" to your taste. Some tea lovers prefer a bit of astringency, while others recommend putting the tea into infusers or paper filters (rather than directly in the pot) as the leaves can more easily be removed from the pot after the prescribed steeping time, which also preserves a bit more "virtue" for you in the leaves if the intent is to reuse them to brew yourself a second pot.
Temperature:
With black teas, the hotter the water the better. Bring it just to a boil and let it back off a couple of degrees. Green teas are usually a bit more delicate and do better in water that is in the 160 to 185 degree range, so it may make sense to let your water cool a bit before brewing the tea in this case.
If you don't want to get out the thermometer, just bring the water up to a boil as usual and then take it off the stove, allowing it to cool for five minutes or so before pouring it on the green leaves.
Quality of Water
Never use tap water to brew your tea because sediments and contaminants in the water will ruin the taste of your tea. It is best to use purified water processed through a distillation, oxidation process for best flavor.
What Role Does Pure Water Play in Making Delicious Tea?
Water is the basis of tea and the popularity of tea rests largely in the historical fact that water must be boiled as part of the tea preparation process. Boiling water helps purify water and supports a healthy lifestyle.
You can't make a great cup of tea without pure drinking water, Water that is not pure contains contaminants that will definitely adversely affect the taste of brewed tea no matter how perfectly steeped.
Tea Ware
What is Tea Ware?
Tea ware is that group of product accessories that support the brewing of a perfect cup of tea. It includes tea pots, brewing cups, infusers and a myriad of items that make serving tea easier and more flavorful.
What is Yixing Pottery?
Yixing pottery is a unique, traditional form of Chinese ceramic earthenware art. As an art form it shares many characteristics of both pottery and porcelain and its most popular form is found in the construction of tea sets. When used to brew and pour tea. Yixing pottery, because it is not glazed, absorbs the flavor and taste of the tea it contains.
What is the Relationship Between Tea and Porcelain?
Today most tea is served in porcelain tea pots and cups and porcelain plays a major part in the ambiance created at tea rooms and tea parties.
Porcelain was originally only produced in China and became and important part of the tea trade. It served many purposes in addition to the light, strong decorative addition to the tea ware offering because of its use as ballast for sailing ships (it was strong, heavy and waterproof).
Chinese porcelain was the highest quality and very decorative and added significant value to the the total tea proposition. In quality, Chinese porcelain far exceeded the quality of porcelain in the European market but , as the quality of Chinese porcelain increased and the Europeans erected barriers against Chinese imports, Chinese porcelain gradually disappeared from the market.
Miscellaneous Tea Facts
- Tea is good for body hydration. It does not act as a diuretic as often claimed.
- Studies have shown that tea actually reduces stress or enables individuals to better manage stress.
- Although many avoid drinking tea in the evening, new evidence is emerging that tea may have a positive effect on sleep quality because of the L-theanine tea contains.
- A cup of black tea usually contains about one half the amount of caffeine than does the equivalent amount of coffee.
Tea Legends and Myths
Since tea is an ancient drink that has remained largely unchanged for over 5000 year, tea's history contains a number of myths and legends.
Like other myths and legends in history, the tea legends plat a valuable role in explaining events that occurred before written history.
What are the Legends and Myths Surrounding the Discovery of Tea?
The first legends and myths of tea tell of an accident where a tea leaf fell in Chinese emperor Shen Nung's hot water, which he drank and discovered was quite good
However, since Chinese dynasties have a record of writing history to meet their own needs, it is safe to assume that the mythical properties of this story make the emperor's action the first recorded history of tea.
Many believe that tea, as a drink and medicine, existed long before recorded history.
Is the Story About Naming Earl Grey Tea True?
Earl Grey tea is one of the most popular blended black tea on the market today. The tea combines oil of bergamot and other flavorings to make a very pleasant , tasteful drink. It is especially popular when quality ingredients are used and the blend is balanced so the flavoring agent does not mask the taste of inferior tea.
How Earl Grey tea was developed is an interesting story.
Charles Earl Grey, Second Earl Grey of Howick was a notable politician and Prime Minister of England and widely traveled throughout the world. As the story goes, in 1830 Earl Grey traveled to China on a diplomatic mission where he saved the son of a high ranking Chinese dignitary and was rewarded for his efforts with the recipe of the drink that is now called Earl Grey tea.
In fact Earl Grey was involved in the development of Earl Grey tea if only to the extent of lending his name to the new brew but he never traveled to China and black tea was not popular in China.
Tea Trivia
- "Penny Universities" were largely responsible for bringing tea to the British middle classes and thereby broadly expanding the market for tea in Britain.
In the second half of the 17th century groups of coffee drinkers gathered in spots called coffee houses that served refreshments and provided a place for all kinds of social interaction and discourse.
As the popularity of those coffee houses that served tea grew, academics and students used the facilities as meeting places to discuss current events and politics and their knowledge was complemented by cheap news papers that sold for no more than pennies.
These shops soon took on the name "Penny Universities" for their contribution to local knowledge and discussion and became a substitute for those who could not afford real universities. And they helped tea sales as well.
As tea drinking became more popular, it gradually overcame coffee drinking and became the beverage of choice.
- The tea industry is extremely labor intensive and the most labor intensive job is that of tea plucking. Tea plucking, because it is only done by hand , employs many millions of workers and the standard for the most tender shoots and leaves at the top of the bush is "Two Leaves and a Bud".
The plucking of the uppermost part of the tea bush ensures quality but it is hard work to ensure the best tea quality.
- When tea leaves are infused with hot water, they rapidly release the full flavor of the tea, including tannins and caffeine. The leaves expand and often twist and unwind during this process. This process is called "The Agony of the Leaves".
- Tea Contains between one third and one half as much caffeine as coffee.
- One tea bush will produce tea for at least 50 years.
- In 1666 the cost for one pound of tea rose as high as $80.00 - $100.00.
- In 1610 Japanese Green Tea was introduced as a medicinal beverage.
- Tea bushes do not grow well on land inhabited by humans or struck by lightning.
- Experienced tea pickers, mostly women , can pick up to 70 pounds of tea per day.
- There are over 3,000 varieties of tea but all come from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
- Camellia Sinensis is part of the evergreen family and is found in sub tropical and tropical climates. Certain varieties (Chinese and Japanese) can actually withstand very cold temperatures.
- Mechanical harvesting and processing (CTC) negatively affects the quality of the tea so these teas are usually used in lower quality tea blends and tea bags.
- Contrary to public opinion, tea is a hydrating, not a dehydrating, drink.
- Both green and black teas contain similar amount of healthy antioxidants and both offer more antioxidants than fruit and herbal tea.
- Tea without milk contains no calories.
- Tea contains some zink and folic acid.
- Tea is a good source of manganese (required for body growth and development) and potassium (necessary for the control of body fluid levels).
- There are no tea farms in Britain and only one tea farm in the United States in Charleston S.C.
- Never store loose tea in the refrigerator because the leaves absorb moisture and odors from other foods.
- The lowest grade of tea (called dust and fannings) is used in tea bags.
- Afternoon tea is correctly called low tea because traditionally the tea was served on coffee tables with small sandwiches and other light food.
- Pu-erh tea is an aged tea with a unique, earthy flavor.Many tea connoisseurs highly value this tea and a compressed cake can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Pu-erh is particularly prized by Chinese tea drinkers for its aid in digestion and Pu-erh has recently become extremly popular.
- Tea is a gourmet beverage that can be paired with many types of food and together they enhance dining pleasure.
Tea Parties
What is High Tea?
High tea has nothing to do with class and indeed high tea was the realm of the working classes who demanded a hearty meal after a long day's work.
High tea was often called meat tea because tea was part of a large dinner that included meat,cheese, potatoes, eggs, bread and butter.
The meal was called high tea only because it was served at the higher main meal tables rather than the lower coffee tables found in many British homes.
What Role Do Tea Parties Play In the Promotion of Tea?
The growth of tea in the Western world was often a function of social gatherings and tea parties became one of the mainstays of tea social gathering promotion.
Tea parties often became quite formal both in Europe and the United States with rules of dress and behavior the norm.
|
|
You are not logged in.
