Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water. An average three billion cups of tea are consumed daily worldwide.Tea, and in particular white and green tea, is praised for its many health benefits, including antibiotic effects, anti-cancer properties, boosting of the immune system, lowering of cholesterol levels and improvement of cardiovascular health.One cup of white tea contains the same amount of antioxidants as 10 cups of apple juice.Even the used tea leaves can be beneficial as fertilizer for the garden or to absorb odors in the refrigerator. CHINA IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF TEA AND PRODUCES SOME OF THE FINESTVARIETIES OF WHITE AND GREEN TEA. There are six categories of tea (green tea, white tea, yellow tea, oolong tea, red or black tea and Pu-erh) and hundreds of different types. However, all types of tea come from the same plant, the Camellia Sinensis.The Camellia Sinensis is native to most of Southeast Asia but it is cultivated in other regions such as Japan and India. The tea plant is an evergreen, which can produce tea for 50 years and reach a height of over 9 metres if left to grow in the wild.What determines a type of teas colour and taste is the way the newly picked leaves are processed. Black tea is exposed to air and its dark colour is the result of complete oxidation of the leaf; the leaves of green teas, on the contrary, are quickly heated to prevent further fermentation, hence its green colour and refreshing milder flavour. White, yellow and oolong teas are in-between, according to their different grades of fermentation.The water source and temperature, the brewing time and the type of tea ware used for each type of tea all bear an important effect on the final taste of tea.Half a kilo of loose tea can make about 200 cups of tea.In only one day, an experienced tea picker can collect over 30 kg of tea! Enough tea to produce 12,000 cups of tea!Until the 19th century, solid blocks of tea were used as money in Siberia.It is believed that the Irish drink more tea per head than any other nation in the world.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 04:57:13 +0000
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