How did tea originate?
Legend has it that nearly 5,000 years ago, the Chinese emperor Shen Nong was sitting peacefully beneath a tree with his usual cup of hot water when a leaf, carried by the wind, fell into it. The emperor tasted the fragranced water and found it delicious. The tree was a wild tea plant. Tea was born.
Who drinks tea?
Tea is the second most widely consumed drink in the world after water (and therefore the leading hot drink). Global tea production amounts to more than 4 million tonnes, or nearly 130 kilos every second. An estimated 25,000 cups of tea are drunk every second worldwide, with around 1 trillion cups consumed each year.
Can hot tea cool you down?
It may seem paradoxical, but hot tea really is an excellent way to cool down. Why? Because drinking hot drinks raises body temperature. By sweating, the body then has less energy to expend regulating its temperature. It is easier to understand why the Tuaregs drink hot drinks in the middle of the desert!
Why does tea come in different colours?
All teas come from the same plant, called Camellia sinensis. Once picked, tea leaves are dried. The longer they remain exposed to the air, the more oxidised they become, and the more the colour of the tea changes from green to black. The liquor changes from pale yellow to coppery orange.
Why should tea water never boil?
The water poured over the tea leaves to infuse them should be simmering, not boiling. Why? Because water that is too hot (above 90°) would burn the tea, diminishing its flavour. Aromas are volatile substances that evaporate with the water. What is more, boiling water loses oxygen; yet it is precisely the oxygen molecules that carry the aromatic notes. Ideally, water should be heated to around 70° for green teas and 85° to 90° for black teas.
Theine vs caffeine: what are the differences?
Theine and caffeine are the same molecule. But they do not interact with our bodies in the same way. In tea, theine is associated with tannins, which delays its absorption by the body. With tea, you therefore do not experience the same instant boost as with coffee. The stimulation caused by theine is “spread out” over the three to six hours of absorption.
What is the most expensive tea in the world?
Da Hong Pao (Great Red Robe) is a prestigious oolong tea from the Wuyi Mountains. The older the tea plant, the higher the price of the harvest. It can reach $1,250,000/kg! Of course, this price applies to the rarest Da Hong Pao, and it can be found for much less. As you might expect, Da Hong Pao tea trees are kept under constant close surveillance.
Tea, at the origin of the United States War of Independence?
After the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Townshend Acts of 1767, tea became a heavily taxed product between the British Kingdom and its colonies. At the same time, the English East India Company was accumulating considerable debts. It found it difficult to sell its stocks because of smuggling that escaped taxation. In 1773, the British government passed the Tea Act, a law allowing the Company to sell tea to the colonies without paying taxes. This decision led to the ruin of independent merchants and the anger of the English colonists in America. They boycotted tea, and on 16 December, around sixty Bostonians threw more than 300 chests of tea into the sea. This event, known as the Boston Tea Party, heralded the coming American War of Independence.
Do you have other questions about tea? Or information and historical anecdotes to share? Then do not hesitate to let us know on Twitter (@KusmiTea); we will be delighted to write another article to answer you.