Awesome History of Tea
Tea has had a very rich history. It has been around for more than five thousand years. During this time it has influenced various cultures, world leaders and even a couple of wars. Tea is thought to be more than a favorite beverage. It is thought to have great healing and medicinal uses.
Tea’s history began nearly five thousand years ago in Ancient China. The story of tea is thought to have begun in Early China with the Emperor Shen Nung. Shen Nung was not only the Emperor of China but also a scientist. He was said to have required that all of his drinking water be boiled as a way to cleanse it before it was consumed. His obsession with hygienic precautions lead to the discovery of tea. While on a road trip to a distant realm of China he and his caravan stopped for a rest. While the water was being boiled for the caravan dried leaves from a nearby bush fell into the water causing the water to become brown in color. The emperor tried the beverage even though it had turned brown and right away fell in love with this new found beverage, thus the world obsession with tea was born.
Tea quickly spread to all aspects of the Chinese culture. By 800 A.D the first book of tea was written by Lu Yu, Ch’a Ching. The Ch’a Ching, detailed the cultivation and different uses for the tea bush. It is said to have been the beginning of the Zen Buddhist form of tea service. As tea became part of the religious culture it lead the way for the introduction of tea to other parts of the world. Tea was first introduced to Japan by the Buddhist Priest Yeisei. He saw the value that tea possessed in enhancing his religious meditation. Because of this religious influence tea was accepted by not only the imperial and royal courts but also other parts of Japanese society.
The introduction of tea in Japan lead to it becoming an art form. Tea in the Japanese culture became more than just a beverage. An art to tea service was created here. Special buildings were erected to be used to perform this elaborate and deeply religious ceremony. Years of training were required to perform this special tea service. In fact women known as Geisha’s were trained to perform this art form of serving tea. It became so popular that the religious aspects became lost and society began holding tea tournaments where elaborate prizes could be won. The tea service would return to it original roots with the help of three Zen Priest beginning in the 14 century.
Tea would not be introduced to the rest of the world until 1560, although word of this delightful beverage had been carried back by caravaner’s to Europe long before this time. Father Jasper de Cruz was the first European to bring first hand knowledge of this beverage to Europe. It was the Portuguese who first brought tea to the European countries. Later Holland would also begin trades with East Asia. Holland first introduced Tea to the America’s. It was introduced in 1650 to the colonist of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam (modern day New York). Tea was not introduced to England for two more years, making them the last of the major nations of the time to partake in this highly popular beverage.
England would have a huge influence over tea, resulting in several wars including the American Revolution. The infamous Boston Tea Party was the result of the taxation of tea by the English on the American Colonist. The American Colonist especially the women had favored tea as their beverage of choice. When England began putting heavy taxes on this staple the colonist began getting contraband tea from other nations to avoid the taxes. The American Revolution was begun not only over tea but the American coloniest freedom to acquire tea from where ever they wanted.
Tea today has become just as popular. Tea houses and little girl tea parties have sent the tea industry into a booming business. The consumption of tea is only second to the consumption of water. This is a profitable highly sought after product. It is still mainly grown in the Eastern part of the world. It has easily out beaten the consumption of coffee and even popular beverages such as sodas. The health benefits associated with the consumption of tea will promise to only push this delightful beverage further into the history books as a great beverage that is also great for you.
The Health Benefits of Tea
Tea has been thought to hold medicinal uses for centuries by cultures such as Japan, China and India. Even England has seen tea as a health benefit for many years. It is just in the last few years that tea has been looked at for it’s medicinal and healing benefits here in the United States.
From 1635 to 1657 there was a great debate at the positive or negative effects of tea on the body. These debates called the Tea Heretics took place in Holland as the consumption of tea skyrocketed. The debates among these doctors and university scholars were mainly ignored by the general public as tea consumption continued to soar. Tea has been proven to not be harmful to one’s health but the current debate is what healing or health benefits does tea really provide.
Tea has been credited for the prevention of certain cancers such as stomach and esophageal cancers. Teas are also credited for having the ability to reduce high blood pressure, lower bad cholesterol, prevents blood clotting and even promotes a healthy immune system. Research has shown that the healing or health benefits of tea comes from a compound called polyphenols which are found in teas. These are commonly known as antioxidants. These antioxidants protect the bodies cells from oxidative stress. This is caused by free radicals that damage the cells of the body and can lead to all types of health problems including heart diseases and even Parkinson’s disease.
Tea also contains amino acids that are unique only to tea. Tea also contains vitamins, minerals and methylxanthines. All of these components of tea help to promote a healthy immune system and can help the body fight diseases and viruses.
The benefits of tea are found to be most effective when 2 to 4 cups of tea are consumed each and everyday. Tea also contains fluoride and contains half the caffeine as a cup of coffee. Tea also contains no calories and can be a great item to add in a low calorie diet for weight loss. In fact tea has been prescribed over the years as a weight loss aid. The idea is that tea has no calories but a great taste. The only calories that tea has is what is added to it. If you are adding tea to a diet regimen it is important to leave out the calories associated with sugar or honey. Try using a sugar substitute to sweeten your tea or add nothing at all.
Currently the research has been inconclusive as to the direct effect of tea antioxidants on cancer cells. The idea at hand now is that the consumption of tea can help prevent cancer cells from ever forming. There is also no research on whether decaffeinated tea has the same effects on one’s health as caffeinated teas do. It is thought that the decaffeination process may also remove the antioxidants as well as the caffeine. Both of these are natural components of the tea leaves and there is not evidence as to what effect this process has on the tea as a health benefit.
The idea is to drink as much tea as possible. It does not matter what types of tea you enjoy just enjoy as much tea as possible. The idea is that the life expectancy of the Chinese and Japanese is enhanced due to their over whelming consumption of tea. Tea has been found to not harm the body and as the debate is still open as to the effectiveness of tea improving one’s health, why not drink up as much tea as you can for the possible added benefits.
Secrets to Make the Best Cup of Tea
Just as brewing the perfect cup of coffee there are simple rules to follow to steep the perfect cup of tea. Steeping the perfect cup of tea has been turned into an art form in many cultures. In fact the perfect tea service in the Japanese culture is a practice that takes many years to master. Steeping the perfect cup of tea is in part a science and is also part of an art form for individual preferences.
To steep the perfect cup of tea you must first begin with high quality water. Artisan water is preferred for the perfect cup of tea but is not necessary. If you use tap water be sure to allow the water to run for at least 30 to 45 seconds before filling the tea kettle. This will ensure that the water is fresh. It is also important to begin with cold water. Even though you will be heating the water in the tea kettle for the perfectly steeped tea you will need the freshest, coldest water possible. You will also always want to begin with an clean, empty tea kettle, never use water that has been sitting around in a tea kettle.
While you are waiting for your tea kettle to come to a boil you will want to preheat your tea pot. You can preheat your tea pot by adding hot water to the tea pot. Preheating the tea pot does two things, first it will prevent your tea pot from cracking when the boiling hot water is added to it. This can occasionally occur when a room temperature tea pot has boiling water added to it. This process is especially important if your tea pot is stored where it is below room temperature. This is also an important process to ensure that the tea is kept at the perfect temperature. Putting the boiling water into a colder tea pot will cool the water too fast not allowing the tea leaves to properly steep. If you are only making a single cup of tea this process should be applied to your tea cup prior to steeping your tea.
Once your water has come to a boil, remove the water heating your tea pot or cup. You will need to measure out your tea leaves. The amount of tea to use per cup depends on the type of tea you are using and your personal preference. For a stronger cup of tea you will use more tea leaves or tea bags for a weaker cup of tea you will use less tea leaves or tea bags. This is the art form that must be perfected by the drinker for their own perfectly steeped tea. The average tea drinker will use one teaspoon of tea leaves per cup. If you are using loose tea leaves you can add them directly to the pot or use an infuser that can be placed directly in the tea pot. If you are using tea bags you will want to use one tea bag for one to two cups of tea. This will also depend on the size of tea bags you are using.
Once your tea kettle has come to boil you will want to immediately remove it from the heat. Over boiling your water can cause your tea to taste flat. You will want to immediately pour the water into the tea pot and cover allowing it to steep. If you are using green or white tea you will want your water to cool slightly before pouring it over your tea bags or tea leaves.
The time your tea is required to steep depends on how strong you want your tea. Typically smaller leaves steep faster only requiring two to three minutes, medium leaves should steep for three to five minutes and larger leaves no longer than six minutes. No tea should steep longer than six minutes. If a tea is allowed to steep longer than six minutes it will taste bitter.
Once your tea has steeped to the desired strength then it is time to remove the tea bags or tea leaves. If they are allowed to remain in the pot, the tea will continue to steep and will become bitter. Use a tea cozy or other device to keep your tea at the desired temperature. A tea cozy works well to keep the tea warm while you are enjoying it.
Following these secrets will allow you to brew a perfect cup of tea every time. To add sugar and lemon always add the sugar first and the lemon second. In English tradition you should always add the milk to the glass first before pouring the tea. You will be able to provide yourself and your company the perfectly steeped cup of tea every time.
What is Green Tea?
Green teas have always been popular, especially in the Japanese cultures but have made their impact in the western world as well. Green tea has been used in many aspects in the last few years not only as a well brewed beverage but also added to supplements and other dietary items because of the rich antioxidants that this tea possess.
You maybe asking what exactly is green tea. Well really it is no different that your typical black tea. The only difference is the process that the green tea goes through that makes it different from the the traditional black teas. Black teas are highly processed, this is what gives them the darker color. A green tea is processed less and in some instances is grown in a different environment. Some high quality green teas are grown in the shade rather than the direct sunlight.
Green teas are made from the same tea plants as red and black tea but they undergo a very minimal oxidation process. Green tea originates from China although it has become the common tea of Japan. In fact in Japan green tea is commonly just called tea as this is the main type of tea of the Japanese culture.
Green tea has many special features to it that are not present in other types of tea. Green tea typically has a lower amount of caffeine than your typical cup of black tea. In fact green tea only has a fourth of the amount of caffeine as a equivalent sized cup of coffee. That is also about half of the amount of caffeine that a normal cup of tea contains.
To brew the perfect cup of green tea you will want to use a slightly cooler water than you would for your typical tea. The water used to brew green tea should be between 140 degrees F and 190 degrees F. The higher the quality of green tea used the cooler the water should be and the shorter the brewing time. The less expensive green teas will need to be brewed longer and at a higher temperature. Green teas typical use one teaspoon per cup of water and can also be steeped multiple times. You can typically steep a single serving of green tea leaves two to three times before discarding.
Green tea has become very popular in the Western World as it has been for centuries in the Eastern World. The health benefits that it provides and the great taste is just a few of the reasons for it’s popularity. It’s use in medical supplements and creams which have just begun to be approved by the FDA are also part of it’s popularity. The antioxidants in green tea are thought to be helpful in reducing the effects of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. It is also thought to help reduce the bad cholesterol and high blood pressure. Green tea has been used to increase metabolism and has been used in diet control supplements. Green tea has become the natural cure and remedy for many of the health care issues plaguing the nation. Research suggest that drinking 4 to 5 cups of green tea a day can greatly improve one’s health.
