 Tea
(English)
Chai (Hindi)
Theaneer (Tamil)
Tea is said to
have been discovered in 2737 BC by a Chinese emperor when some tea leaves
accidentally blew into a pot of boiling water.
In 618 AD tea
became China's national drink and the word ch'a was used to describe tea.
There are four main types of
tea: green tea, black tea, oolong tea and white tea. All tea comes from the same plant. The specific variety of tea plant and
the way the leaves are processed after harvesting determine the type of tea that
is created
Tea plant is an
evergreen plant which can grow as tall as 40 ft, but in cultivation it is kept
down to a bush 4 ft high.
The young
shoots and leaves are picked every five days.
Once plucked,
the young leaves are spread out on shelves and allowed to dry in a current of
air for 4–18 hours.
Black teas are crushed in
rolling machines to release the essential oils, allowed to ferment, and then
dried and graded. The fermentation gives them a blackish-brown color.
Green teas are
steamed or heated and then rolled, dried, and finally graded. They are green or
partly green in color. Oolong Tea is semi-fermented, falling between black and
green.
India is the
world’s largest producer and exporter of tea.
Tea bags were
invented around 1908. The first bags were made from silk.
Research shows that moderate
amounts of caffeine, 300 mg per day (or 7 cups of tea!) are safe for most
people.
The finest tea comes from
regions at elevations 5,000 feet above sea level where the plant grows more
slowly in the cooler air and produces a more complex leaf of better flavor.
A single pound of tea will
yield about 180 cups of brewed tea!
'Chai Tea' is
the latest trendy beverage in the world market which has tea, milk and other
Indian species.
Vitamins & Minerals:
When taken with milk, four
cups of tea a day can provide you with significant amounts of the following
nutrients: approximately 17% of the recommended intake for calcium, 5% for zinc,
22% for Vitamin B2, 5% for folic acid, and Vitamins B1 and B6.
Green tea is rich in Vitamin C and low in caffeine.
Strong Teeth:
Both black and green teas
contain fluoride and they appear to control bacterial growth by reducing plaque.
Refreshing Tonic:
Tea actually contains almost
half the amount of caffeine when compared to Coffee which can give you a much
needed lift and revitalize you for a demanding and tiring afternoon ahead.
Antioxidants:
There is eight times the
amount of 'anti-oxidant power' in three cups of tea than there is in one apple
that protects against heart disease, cancer and tumor growth.
No Calories:
Tea is a
naturally refreshing drink and taken on its own it has no calories, so it's the
perfect drink to keep you looking good and feeling fit.
Drink tea with
milk and sugar as 98% of the tea drinkers prefer.
Just boil green tea in hot
water and it is good for body with no calories.
Enjoy tea with
lemon and honey which is tasty and refreshing.
Tea cookies and
scones are also available for Tea lovers.
Ice tea is a
famous refreshing bottled drink available in the market. |
