Tea - History, Tales and Tips

Tea was discovered in ancient China over 5,000 years ago by Emperor Shen Nung, who decreed that all drinking water be boiled as a hygienic precaution. The legend states that in 2737 BC, during a court visit to a remote region, while resting at the foot of a bush and being thirsty he is said to have asked  a servant to boil him some water. A few leaves fell from the bush into his cup.  As the leaves and twigs steeped in the water, they all began to boil, the emperor become curious of the changing color, seduced by the sweet and restorative beverage thus produced.

The legend tells that the Emperor Shun Nung tasted the water and found it very stimulating. he is said to have ordered  this plant to be cultivated throughout the land. And as the saying goes. . . the rest is history.

• Tea arrived in Europe in the early 17^th century,when first Dutch and British sailors brought back dried blocks of the leaves for relatives and friends.
• Tea was first sold to the British public in 1657 by Garways Coffee House in London. By 1700 more than a quarter of London’s 2000 coffee houses were selling tea and sales of alcohol declined.
• During the 18 century the British East India Company established itself as the world's greatest tea monopoly. When the British Parliament passed laws to maintain this monopoly in North America, it precipitated the Boston Tea Party of 1773- one of the major events leading to the American Revolution.

• In about 1840, Anna wife of the 7^thDuke of Bedford, began the tradition of taking afternoon tea to ward off hunger pangs between the two meals of the day: breakfast and dinner.

• A New York merchant, Thomas Sullivan inadvertently invented the first tea bag in 1904 when he sent out samples enclosed in silk bag.

• Adding lemon to tea is a Russian habit, introduced to Britain during the reign of Queen Victoria

• Tea is normally divided into three categories: black or fermented; green or unfermented and oolong, or semi fermented.
• The tea plant is an evergreen and a member of the camellia family. It has smooth, glossy, oval leaves.
• India produces some 30 percent of the world’s tea. The main tea growing area is Assam, which stretch es from the Himalayas down towards the Bay of Bengal.

• Drinking tea with or without milk is a question of taste: strong tea is made less astringent by milk.
• Pouring the milk in first allows it to blend more readily with tea; if it is added later, the milk precipitates the release of tannins, which can then stain the cup.

• Connoisseurs agree that teapots should be made of glazed earthenware, porcelain or glass which hold the heat better than silver or stainless steel. Aluminium or cast –iron pots taints the flavor.
• The pot should be warmed to ensure that the water poured onto the tea stays around boiling point for as long as possible. The water should be freshly boiled , not reboiled.
• To remove stubborn tea stains from the pot soak it for an hour in a mixture of hot water and a tablespoon of bicarbonate soda.

• Darjeeling, a light delicate tea grown more than 2000 metres above sea level in India in the foothills of the Himalayas, is widely regarded as the “Champagne “ of tea, because of its quality and unique Muscatel wine type flavor. Best used as an afternoon or dinner tea served on its own or with milk or lemon.

• Early Greyis treated with oil of bergamot, which gives it is characteristic of scented flavor.

• Tea leaves strewn on the doorstep for example are said to keep evil spirits and poverty at bay.
• Professional tea tasters smell, taste and even listen to the leaves while rubbing them together to determine how dry they are.

At first it was a luxury within reach only of the rich, influential and well-to-do people. The tea –drinking ceremony is of special importance in Japan, in the West, and other parts of the world the serving of tea is accepted as the simplest, most inexpensive and most widely accepted way of entertaining.

Tea lovers, great writers and tea connoisseurs have written and spoken about their love to this great stimulant drink, here are what they say, read it in my collection of quotes about tea.

More about tea. . .

• Interesting ways to use tea

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