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THE MEANING OF TEA: TRENDS & TYPES
THE MEANING OF TEA: TRENDS & TYPES
What is tea-drinking all about? When introduced to one’s rst cup of tea, the initial
sense might be one of a strong or even bitter avor. But, there must be something
quite unique and especially good about tea, as it is the second most-consumed
liquid globally, coming in just behind water in recent studies. To determine where
the practice of preparing and drinking tea started, an historical check must span
several countries, many decades and numerous di ering accounts of where the
practice of drinking tea leaves rst started.
One story often told is that tea was discovered in 2737 BC by the Chinese Emperor
Shen-Nung, who was also known as the “Divine Healer.” The legend says that tea
leaves accidentally blew into the Emperor’s pot of boiling water and thus, hot tea
was born. One veri ed discovery noted: In the third century AD, a reference to tea
was made by Hua Tao in a medical text. These rst few accounts give us a clue to
the true purpose of tea: to help and to heal.
For hundreds of years, tea was obtained only through Asian channels and that
made it scarce and exotic, so much so that it was used as a monetary form in
various countries. In the early Industrial years in Europe, only the best East India
tea graced the tables of genteel men and women, while more common black
teas were consumed in working family households. In Asia, tea has long been
an established ritual, signifying much more than the preparation of a simple
beverage. The serving of tea designated the social status of the upper class
families and allotted an improved social standing to those who served tea with
impeccable taste and grace.
In today’s world, tea is still a much-beloved beverage, trending in popularity
more than ever, as people around the world long for the simple relaxation of a
comfortable chair and a hot cup of tea. The practice of brewing loose leaf tea
continues to spread globally with great enthusiasm by millions of tea lovers.
What are the properties of tea that make drinking it so desirable? The ve senses
can quickly answer that question: the warmth in holding a tea cup can heat
chilled ngers, the taste of sweet tea brings energy, the sight of a steaming cup
of tea encourages the heart, the smell of mint tea soothes the stomach, and the
sound of tea being poured into your glass carafe brings pure anticipation.
Many people wonder about the health bene ts of drinking tea and whether or
not tea is a good-for-you beverage. To answer this question, you’ll want to note
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