Food: The Joy Of Tea

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The Joy Of Tea
Friday, November 10, 2006

Tea, just the name of this beverage invokes for some a picture of a cup of hot tea with lemon and honey as a cure for a bad cold while others would picture a nice steaming cup of tea with a small scone type biscuit which is served around four pm the afternoon. It is a beverage that has caused wars and skirmishes and until recently, was a highly prized commodity! It would seem that in some areas of the world, tea has always been the popular beverage of choice and it is a drink that most of us associate with England (it only arrived in England during the 1600s, definitely much later than I first thought). Here in North America, it has always been a cuppa Java that has got people moving in the morning, but it tea edging out the popular drink? According to Wikpedia, tea is the second most popular drink in the world, next to water.

Coffee here in North America has been a staple drink since the turn of the century but certainly since the last 20 years or so, that morning cup of coffee has gained greatly in popularity. Here in my neck of the woods, there is a coffee and donut joints on almost every corner of every major intersection. But it would seem that more people are turning to tea for that morning cup and for a hot drink throughout the day and this is so much so that even big name coffee bars such as Starbucks are expanding their tea menus and people are becoming more health conscience and it would seem that green tea is the drink that assists with the health and nourishment of our bodies.

Tea has been a staple drink of choice for many centuries in many countries. The story of the origin of tea begins like this. Thousands of years ago, the second emperor of China, Shen Nung discovers tea when tea leaves blow into his cup of hot water. Well, whether you believe this story or not, tea found its beginnings in China. Tea is first mentioned within the country of China around 350 AD and was used mostly as a medicinal beverage to aid in a plethora of illnesses. As time progressed, tea became wider known and wider appreciated. In 593, tea found its way to Japan through trade and in 1597, tea is first mentioned as a beverage in an English translation from a Dutch manuscript. Shortly there after, tea became popular all over Europe and is brought over to the new world in 1664 by the Dutch and in 1680s when it was taken over to Scotland. Around the same time was the first mention of milk being used in tea as well. Tea mania had not only spread through France and Europe, but finally in England as well. Milk was added much later and sugar as well. And of course, we all know the story of when the British taxed the American tea. On a very hot summer day during a stretch of hot weather in 1904, an Englishman by the name of Richard Blechynden created the first iced tea at the St Louis World Fair. In 1908, the modern tea bag was invented.

There are approximately three thousand types of tea to choose from around the world. Here are a few that you will recognize and some you will not.

Green tea is catching on in popularity here in North America. Coming to us from China and known for its healing properties there (it was used to treat anything from depression to treating headaches, it is catching on in popularity and is beginning to be known in North America for its healing properties.

Black tea, the original type of tea.

Ceylon tea comes from Sri Lanka

Darjeeling tea comes from India

Oolong tea is literally translated dragon tea and is a very popular type of tea in China

Earl Grey, an English tea

Russian Caravan, English breakfast and Irish breakfast tea are popular.

Flavoured teas such as teas that have fruit or spices or herbs and are blended with tea leaves.

Herbal teas such as peppermint or camomile actually have to tea content at all therefore making the name herbal tea an oxy moron.

There are so many different types of teas to be had. Some boast healing properties and some are drunk just for the pure joy of drinking tea. Whatever your reason for drinking tea, enjoy it!

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