"Thank God for tea!  What would the world do without tea?  How did it exist?  Thank God I was not born before tea!"
Rev. Sydney Smith

 
The Pleasures of Tea

TEA…the word alone has the power to warm your heart and lift your spirits!
The tradition of having Tea is one of life's most wonderful pleasures. Taking time for tea, whether it's for two or for a party, is a time for reflection, conversation, enjoyment, and a release from the stress of everyday life. 

History and Tradition of Tea

Far more than just a beverage, tea has a rich and important history that goes back nearly 5,000 years. Tea has a tradition that can be credited with everything from opening trade from the East to the West, to being the impetus for freeing America's colonies.

Tea is so ancient that we have no way of knowing its certain origins. It has always had definite spiritual and decorative associations, but how men thought to brew it evokes some argument.

According to legend, the year was 2737 B.C., and Chinese Emperior Shen Nung was boiling drinking water over an open fire, a regimen he followed because he believed those who drank boiled water were healthier. A few leaves from the branches of a Camellia sinensis plant fell into the pot of water. The emperor, known as the "Divine Healer", drank the mixture and from then on, declared it gave one "vigor of body, contentment of mind, and a determination of purpose."

Tea Around the World

Tea, native to China, is grown in thousands of tea gardens or estates around the world, resulting in thousands of flavorful variations. Like wines, each tea takes its name from the district in which it's grown, and each district is known for producing tea with unique flavor and character. The altitude of the farm makes a difference in the flavor of the tea, as do such factors as soil type; when the tea is picked; whether buds, leaves or both are picked; how the tea is withered, rolled, sifted or otherwise handled; and whether it is fermented. Tea is also divided by grades,  which is determined by leaf size. Smaller sized leaves are used in tea bags while the larger sized leaves can be found in packaged loose tea.

Types of Tea

If tea is new to you, don't be overwhelmed. Although there are about 2,000 varieties of loose leaf tea available today, all teas come from one species of plant, the Camellia sinensis.

The way in which the leaves are processed gives us 5 basic types of tea, from delicate to robust.
  • White Tea - Made from tips of emerging buds picked at the beginning of harvest season, this type of tea is rare and expensive. The buds are withered naturally and then dried. They have a silvery appearance and give a very pale brew.
  • Green Tea - These leaves aren't oxidized at all but steamed, rolled and dried shortly after being harvested. Green teas can also be scented or flavored with flower petals, fruits and/or essential oils.
  • Oolong Tea - For oolong, the leaves are left to wilt naturally, but to reduce their moisture content until only the outer edges of the leaves have dried. The tea is then fired to stop this oxidation, rolled and dried. This tea offers a nearly infinite spectrum of colors, aromas and flavors.
  • Black Tea - Whether machine picked or hand picked, the process for black teas undergoes the longest oxidation process, about two hours. During the final processing of black tea, flower blossom petals, whether whole or pounded into a powder, are mixed with the cut or curled tea leaves. For fruit-flavored black teas, essential oils and dried fruits are used.
  • Pu-erh Tea - During the withering process some of the leaves are allowed to rot to produce a bacteria. These teas are prized for their medicinal qualities. From China, Pu-erh teas can be loose leaf or compressed into cakes.
"Women are like tea bags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water."   Eleanor Roosevelt

Herbals or Tisanes - Also called infusions, do not come from the Camellia sinesis, but are edible flowers, herbs, leaves, roots, bark, or berries of other plants. Most often tisanes are naturally caffeine free and are soothing and relaxing to drink. Traditionally, they were used as medicine.

High Tea, Afternoon Tea, One lump or two?
There are distinct differences between High Tea and Afternoon Tea. High Tea, served with meats and cheeses, was the evening meal for the English working class. Afternoon Tea, an upper-class ritual, takes place in the afternoon, around 3 or 4 p.m., and includes scones and other sweets.

How to Prepare Tea

What temperature should the water be?  Water temperatures are important to obtaining the perfect cup. Different types of tea do require different water temperatures. The following guidelines are offered:
  • Black tea, the water should be brought to a 'rolling boil'- 200 to 210 degrees
  • Oolong tea, the water should have just 'reached a boil' - 180 to 190 degrees
  • Green or White tea, the water should be just 'below the boil' - 160 to 180 degrees
How to store your teas -  When purchasing teas, it is always best to purchase in smaller quantities. Tea is vulnerable to air, heat, light and moisture. Store your tea in air-tight, sealed tins or ceramic canisters and the quality should be retained up to two years.
 
Why loose tea over tea bags? Tea in teabags is generally made from the lowest quality leaf. This tea does not consist of leaves, and is referred to as "dust" or "fannings". Because of these fine siftings, tea bags produce an infusion far more quickly and with more caffeine than loose leaf tea. 
 
Making the perfect pot of tea
  1. First, fill the tea kettle with cold water. Do not use warm water as the brewed tea will not have enough oxygen in the water and don't let the water boil too long or the flavor-releasing oxygen will boil away and you will end up with a flat tasting cup.
  2. Warm a clean teapot by filling it with hot water. Allow the water to stay in the pot for a few minutes. Swirl it around and pour out the water. A warm teapot helps keep the water hot so the tea will brew properly.
  3. As a general rule, use one rounded teaspoon per 8 ounces of water.
  4. Allow the water to come to the correct temperature. Pour the water from the kettle over the leaves in the teapot. 
  5. Put the lid on the teapot. Allow the leaves to steep 3 to 5 minutes for black and oolong teas, Green and white teas from 1 to 3 minutes. Tisanes may steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Your taste will determine the ideal time. The longer the leaves steep, the stronger the brew.
  6. When the tea is ready, use a strainer positioned over the tea cup and pour the tea. If using an infuser, lift it out as soon as the tea has reached its desired strength.
  7. Placing your tea pot on a warmer, or in a tea cozy will keep the tea nice and hot.
  8. Sit back, relax and enjoy your perfect "cuppa".

Tea and Health

Tea and a healthy lifestyle
Recent research exploring the potential health attributes of tea is leading many scientists to agree that tea, both black and green, may contribute positively to a healthy lifestyle. - "Fruits, vegetables, and tea all contain important antioxidants. Research suggests these phytonutrients may contribute substantially to the promotion of health and the prevention of chronic disease. For example, resent research studies reveal the antioxidants in tea may inhibit the growth of cancer cells and support cardiovascular health," stated Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., F.A.C.N., Chief of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at the Jean Mayer UDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.

Tea & cardiovascular health
For years, research in populations has suggested that tea drinking is associated with improved cardiovascular health. Recently, both clinical and population studies have found similar positive cardiovascular effects among people who include tea as a part of their daily diets.

Research presented at the American College of Cardiology 50th Annual Scientific Session revealed:

  1. A combined analysis of 13 published studies found an average estimated 11 percent lower rate of heart attacks among study participants who drank three or more cups of tea per day. According to the researcher, Dr. Lenore Arab of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, that 11 percent could translate to a potential preventive impact for 100,000-110,000 people were all persons at risk to increase their intakes by 3 cups/day. This estimate is based on an average number of 1.1 million heart attacks per year in the United States.
  2. A study involving people diagnosed with coronary artery disease reported that subjects who drank four cups of black tea per day showed improved blood vessel function. These results suggest that drinking tea may improve an important underlying abnormality of blood vessel function that may be related to coronary artery disease.

Sipping tea for your health

  • Bone Health - Although high caffeine intake is reportedly a risk factor for reduced bone mineral density (BMD), a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that older women who drank tea actually had higher bone mineral density (BMD) measurements than women who did not drink tea. Depending on the tea blend and brew strength, tea (with approximately 40mg. Per serving) contains, on average, less than half the caffeine of coffee.
  • Oral Health - Drinking one cup of tea a day - either black or green - may contribute to oral health. Some experts believe that the flavonoids in tea may inhibit the plaque-forming ability of oral bacteria and that tea's naturally occurring fluoride may support healthy tooth enamel.

Tea has half the caffeine
Caffeine is a natural component of tea and generally considered safe when consumed in moderation. A serving of tea usually contains less than half the caffeine of coffee (or 40mg.). Actual caffeine levels are dependent upon the specific blends and strength of the tea brew.