Some Interesting and Less known facts about Tea

A Piping hot cup of Tea in the morning is a perfect way to kick start my day. It’s not just a cup of tea, it’s almost a ritual. I am sure most Tea Lovers can relate to it. It is one drink that connects people and is treasured beyond limits. A hot cup of tea is loved not only in the morning, but is also an energy booster for many of us on a hectic day. And of course, nothing beats the combination of a hot cup of tea with a platter of hot Pakoda’s on a rainy day. Sipping a hot cup of tea with your family/ friend is a perfect way of spending time together.

So, Let’s find out some interesting facts about our daily companion.

• • Let me first run you through the story of “How Tea was Discovered?” Tea is believed to have emanated from ancient China almost 5000 years ago. According to legend, in 2732 B.C. Emperor Shen Nung discovered tea when leaves from a wild tree blew into his pot of boiling water. He was immediately interested in the pleasant aroma of the resulting brew and drank it. It is said that the emperor described a warm feeling as he consumed this intriguing brew and felt as if it was investigating every part of his body. The emperor named the brew “Ch’a”, the Chinese character which means to check or investigate.
  • Tea is now grown in almost 52 countries, with China being the largest producer in the world. It is followed by India which is the second-largest producer of Tea.
  • There are about 3000 different types of Tea in the world. It is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water. For centuries Tea was used as a medicine before it became a daily drink. It takes about 2000 tiny leaves to make just one pound of Tea.
  • All types of tea like Black Tea, Green Tea, White Tea come from the same plant, that is Camellia Sinensis. The difference lies in how the leaves are treated after they are harvested. All tea leaves are withered, rolled, and heated. Different varieties are created depending on the steps.
  • Earl Grey tea is a tea blend that is flavored with the addition of bergamot oil. The rind’s fragrant oil is added to black tea to give Earl Grey its unique taste. This Earl Grey blend is assumed to be named after Charles Grey (2nd Earl Grey), British Prime Minister in the 1830s.
  • People in Tibet consume butter tea made out of Yak Milk. The butter floating on top of the tea helps to grease the lips and prevent them from getting chapped. This tea is consumed to keep the body warm in extremely cold climates. This preparation of Tea is called “Po Cha”.
  • Somewhere near the 18th century, tea was very expensive and hence was kept in a locked chest. The containers used were often very decorative and expensive.
  • In 2019, United Nations (UN) recognized the importance of one of the world’s oldest beverages. Accordingly, May 21st has been designated as International Tea Day. Before this, December 15 was observed as an international tea day by most tea-producing countries like India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia. The reason for the UN celebrating May 21st as the International Tea Day is that the season of tea production begins in May in most of the tea-producing countries.
  • The London Tea Auction was a great tradition that lasted for almost 300 years. Starting from the year 1679, the London Tea Auction was a regular event that made London the centre of the International Tea Trade. In the auction, tea was sold by the candle. Rather than allowing bidding to go on for an unlimited time, a candle was burnt at the beginning of the sale of each lot and when an inch of the candle had burnt away, the hammer fell and the auction for that lot ended.

World’s most expensive Tea

The Da Hong Pao Tea, a type of Oolong tea, grown in the Wuyi mountains of China is considered to be the world’s most expensive Tea. This tea is considered as the holy grail of Teas. It’s history can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty. 1 gms of tea leaves costs approx. $1400. This tea is so expensive because the leaves are harvested from plants that have grown in the mountains for more than 300 years. Many companies sell a cheaper version of Da Hong Pao grown from newer tea plants cultivated in nearby locations of Wuyi mountain, thus making it an affordable way of enjoying the flavor of the tea.

A Word of Advice for all the Tea Lovers

• • Always store Tea properly to avoid any degradation by heat, moisture, and light. Never store Tea near Coffee, Spices, or other strong aromatic stuff in your kitchen as these can impact the delicate flavor of your tea.
  • Tea doesn’t have an expiry date. However, its best consumed within six months from the date of packaging because it begins to lose  Catechins. These are a class of antioxidants that make tea healthy.