It's Time To Learn About Tea!
They're many different kinds of tea.
Before we talk about them why don't we start with where tea came from.
It is said that tea started in China of course.
Yunnan Province has been known as "the birthplace of tea."
It is said a Chinese Emperor was drinking a bowl of hot water (it was a decree to boil water before drinking it) and a leave from a surrounding tree fell into the water. The leave chanced the color and flavor which the Emperor found to his liking. He then tried other leafs and plants, some poisonous. Some where use as medicine, some leafs where even chewed.
So the tea was used as medicine,
calling the tea "Kia". China has the oldest records of tea consumption.
Later in 16th century the tea came to Japan. Thanks to Japanese priests who were sent to China to learn the culture of the tea. Later becoming a religious drink.
Around the 6th Century they changed the tea name to "Cha." It wasn't until it reach the west that the tea was called Te'.
Green tea is made from the "FRESH" leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.
Green tea can be process in different ways,
to get maximum amount of antioxidants for a healthier benefit.
It helps with blood sugar, head aches, digesting and more!
Green tea can be harvest three times a year.
April to early May, June to July and July to early August.
Tea can be brewed one spoon of Green tea to 5 oz of water.
Green tea should not be brewed too hot, since it will release chemicals that can make the tea bitter.
Fun fact: Peppermint tea can reduce heartburn, acid reflex, stomach pains and vomiting. Peppermint tea is caffeine free and gluten free.
Most known Green Tea:
Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls Green Tea
Black Tea for example, is also made from Camellia sinensis
leaves that are aged first.
It has a much higher caffeine content and is stronger in flavor than
Green tea or other teas.
Other teas have a shorter life, where they can spoil
and loose their taste and properties.
Black tea can last for years!
It is use for treating blood pressure and heart attacks. It helps reduce
many types of cancer like lung, colon, breast and type 2 diabetes.
Fun Fact: Basil Tea, never thought to use Basil has a drink hu? Well get this, it's an anti-stress tea. Also helps with meditation, has strengthening effect on the kidney and is used has a remedy for bronchitis, asthma and other respiratory problems.
Well known Black Tea:
Earl Grey Black Tea
Another Fun Fact: Mad Hatter Tea is made of both Green and Black Tea, making it extremely healthy and super delicious!
White Tea is made from the same leaves but they mostly use the buds.
This tea is loved for it's natural sweetness.
White tea's name comes from the fine silvery and white unopened buds of the tea plant.
The highest quality white tea also known as "Silver Needle" consists only of these buds.
Is made entirely from buds picked within a two day period in early Spring
Because this tea is so early in the natural stage of the leaves,
it's is known to have the most anti-oxidants which help to kill cancer cells more than any other tea.
Best known White tea:
Silver Needle White Tea "creme de la creme" of white teas.
Oolong Tea is produced through a unique withering under the strong sun
and oxidation before curling and twisting. Some leaves are rolled into long curls,
while others can be wrap-curled into small beads.
Depending on the process and horticulture the tea's taste can be sweet and fruity with honey aromas, also woody and thick with roasted aromas, even green and fresh with bouquet aromas.
Some people use this tea to control high cholesterol, skin allergies like eczema and also to boost the immune system.
Well known Oolong Tea:
Monkey Picked Oolong Tea
(They use real Monkeys to go up the teas to get the tea)
Red Tea (African Red Tea), or better known as Roobios. Is known to be prepare in the same manner as black tea. Rooibos tea grows on high mountain ranges
in South Africa.
Roobios is a caffeine-free tea. It got it's popularity during WWII when tea supplies from Asia forced drinkers to find a different alternative. You can add milk and sugar to taste.
This tea is well known for it's fruity and nutty flavor.
Best known Roobis Tea:
Blueberry Bliss Rooibos Tea
(one of my personal fave)
Herbal Tea, is a word used for the decaffeinated teas made from herbs,
spices and plants.
We all know the most famous herbal tea Chamomile tea. It's made from fresh and dried Daisy flowers. The main ingredient in chamomile is known as bisabolol, which has a number of anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Making it good for stomach problems such as menstrual cramps, stomach flu, and ulcers.
Fun Fact: Chamomile tea is known to relieve eye fatigue and dark circles. Make 2 chamomile tea bags in warm water then after 5 minutes, remove the tea bags from the water and let them cool to room temperature. Then place them on your eyes as a compress. (I usually place the bags in a cup in the freezer for 5 minutes then use them).
Please Note: Chamomile is not good to be use during pregnancy since it contains a substance that induces abortion. Also it is not to be use if you're currently taking blood thinners, since it contains a substance that is a blood thinner.
Another well known Herbal Tea:
Honey Bush Vanilla Tea
(One favorite by yours truly)
Mate' Tea comes from Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay
and it's known for it's bold flavor.
Lost of amazing fruits are use with this tea to give you an amazing taste.
It is prepared from steeping dried leaves of yerba mate in hot water.
Mate' is served with a metal straw from a shared hollow calabash gourd. The straw is called a bombilla. This straw is usually made of silver, or stainless steel. The submerged end has small holes that allow the brewed liquid in, but block the chunky matter that makes up much of the mixture.
Best known Mate' Tea:
Yerba Mate Tea
To Sugar or not two Sugars!
They're many ways to sweeten your tea.
Plain milk, honey or the well known (and my personal favorites) Rock Sugar.
Rock sugars are unrefined sugar crystals,
one of the best way to enhance the natural flavor without changing it.
Loose tea or tea bags?
The difference of loose tea and tea bags is mostly the size of the leaves.
Loose tea will have fuller leaves which have more of the oils, properties and benefits.
Some tea bags will have broken down leaves that sometimes would of lots most of it's greatness.
Another thing is, loose tea most likely last longer well stored, tea bags will have
a shorter life. Loose tea can be use several times when it comes to brewing.
Make sure you educate yourself in the product you're buying.
Another thing is, you most know how to brew your tea.
Some teas like Basil cannot be brewed in boiling water or it will ruin the tea.
One way to help you with heating water is a thermometer, it will help you
brew your tea in it's proper hot or warm water.
America contributed to helping tea become what it is today by introducing iced tea at the World's Fair in St. Louis in 1904 and then again in 1908 with the introduction of tea bags.
You may drink tea in the morning or evening. Maybe you drink it cold or hot, with honey, sugar or milk. Tea is healthy and delicious. Make sure you enjoy it and always share a cup of tea. Remember, it's always time for tea.
Thank you for stopping by....more tea?
Special Thanks to Sounds of Steam online Steam punk radio show, please visit their site:http://SoundsOfSteam.com and follow them on twitter at https://twitter.com/SoundsOfSteam
Mad Hatter Tea is used with permission.
For information on Mad Hatter Tea please visit https://www.facebook.com/#!/MadHatterTea.UK
or visit their site at: http://www.madhattertea.co.uk/
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