According to statistics, tea is the most common drink on earth after pure water. Today, tea drinking is the very embodiment of style and fashion, an attribute of a healthy lifestyle and warm spiritual communication. Especially if you know how to drink this drink.
It is known that catechins and tannins contained in tea strengthen the walls of blood vessels, normalize the functioning of the digestive tract and, most importantly, help to better absorb vitamin C. Theophyllines relieve bronchial spasms and have a good diuretic effect. And also tea best source fluorine and zinc. In general, tea has a beneficial effect on all organs - from hair to heart muscle. One can only wonder why, using this drink many times a day, we still continue to get sick. The point is that the composition and healing power tea is influenced by many factors: the manufacturing technology of the product and the place where the tea bush grew, when and in what weather the leaves were collected, how many sunny days there were in a year, etc. In addition, in a hurry it is difficult to do something really useful, especially to make tea. It is not for nothing that it is considered a cult drink, and the traditions of its preparation date back to the origins of Zen Buddhism. To comprehend all the subtleties of tea means to know the meaning of life. Indeed, the culture of tea dates back more than 5000 years, its composition has not yet been deciphered. Only 300 components are known for certain.
Worthy of surprise is the fact that both the Russian word "tea" and the English word "tea" originated from the same Chinese word. The difference in pronunciation is explained by the fact that in the northern provinces they spoke "cha-i", and in the south-east of the country, where tea was exported to England by sea, - "tya".
Tea is different. One costs no more than a subway ride and has almost no taste. The other can be attributed to luxury goods. There are varieties that you can try only once a year - they are produced in a few kilograms and quickly sold out. And between these poles "located" a huge variety of varieties and species. Black, green, blends, original...
Tea inspires the most outstanding perfumers. Thus, the note of tea is present in all the classic fragrances of the House of Bulgari. And one of the "hit flavors" of Elizabeth Arden is called Green Tea. The smell of tea, by the way, deserves a separate discussion. The leaf of this shrub has a unique ability to concentrate the smells of the surrounding world, and then - subject to proper and thoughtful preparation - to give them to us. Expensive varieties exude floral or fruity odors without fragrances. By the way, with essential oils, spices, pieces of fruit, as a rule, manufacturers "clog" the aroma of not the highest quality teas. And such fragrances only irritate a true connoisseur. True, the taste for tea, like the taste in general, needs to be developed. You can start small. For example, get rid of the habit of diluting old tea leaves with boiling water. Do not keep the drink in the kettle longer than recommended on the package. Drink slowly, savoring the taste and smell. And then one fine moment you will see the world with different eyes.
In Russia, tea first appeared in the 16th century - a generous gift from the Mongol Khan. But this drink really came into use by Russian people only in the post-Petrine era. True, it has always been customary for us to collect fragrant herbs, dry the berries, and then quench their thirst and be treated with decoctions. The tea that was drunk in Russia was different from English. After all, bales with him were delivered to Europe by sea. During this journey, tea absorbed the aroma sea salts, excess moisture. And he came to us by land. For many, the main attribute of Russian tea is the samovar. But more indicative is the presence in our tea culture of “brewing”, which was diluted with boiling water, and the custom of drinking tea as a bite. Moreover, at least five varieties of sugar were known. Jam and honey were always put on the table - the number of these treats was determined by the degree of hospitality of the owners and testified to the well-being of the house.
AT Great Britain tea is sacred. It is drunk at least five times a day. Unlike us, the British love fragrant and intolerant teas with a low content of tannins. Tea with milk is popular - this is how the diuretic properties of the drink are enhanced, which is very important in a cold and humid climate.
Warming grog is also an English invention. If you want to prepare it, brew 50 g of tea in 4 glasses of water, add a glass of sugar and a bottle of vodka. Incidentally, the British are generally famous for "tea" inventions. They introduced tea strainers, and most importantly, cups, by simply attaching a handle to a Chinese bowl. The usual snacks for tea are muffins, marmalade, buns and, of course, sandwiches. The most traditional sandwich is the cucumber sandwich. The peeled cucumber is cut into paper-thin circles, salted, sprinkled with vinegar and left for half an hour, and then placed between two slices of bread, greased with butter.
The historical homeland of tea is China. Wild tea groves in the southwestern provinces can still be seen today. According to the classification adopted in the country, there are six types of tea: white, yellow, green, blue-green, red and black - it all depends on the degree of fermentation of the tea leaf. By the way, for the traditional Chinese tea there are whole leaves, and for elite varieties they are twisted by hand. As a result, tea leaves acquire fanatical outlines and serve as an object of contemplation. Despite the apparent complexity of the ritual, we are quite capable of organizing a Chinese tea ceremony. The main thing is to allocate a small corner in the house where everyone will be located. necessary appliances and purchase a clay teapot (these are made only in one province of China, and they tend to “work out” over the years, like smoking pipes). Ideally, one should brew a “famous” tea, that is, a mountain or valley grown in a particular area in this case “gives” its name to the drink. Chinese teas brew quickly - in a matter of seconds. At the same time, for example, the first brew of blue-green tea is not drunk, but given to the gods. In the office, “on the run”, you can also brew elite Chinese varieties. Only for this you need to use a special dish - "chaiwan".
The main purpose of the tea ceremony- to help a person to realize all the charm of the current moment, to erase the border between the past and the future, to stop time. And it works! It is not uncommon for people to drink tea for several hours, confident that some thirty minutes have passed. The first step in making tea is getting to know each other. A box of tea is brought to the face, savoring the aroma of dry leaves and warming them with your breath. Using a funnel, pour the tea into the teapot. Then the teapot is poured with boiling water on the outside, awakening the second quality of the aroma. And finally, boiling water is poured inside. The taste of tea changes every moment. In order for everyone to get the same drink, it is first poured into the “chalice of justice”. And then poured into "heavenly cups" and turned over. Tea is drunk from the "chalice of the earth", and the aroma is inhaled from the "heavenly cup". The drink interacts with a person in an amazing way: people sitting next to each other smell tea differently...
In Japan tea is not brewed, but whipped with a bamboo whisk. And they use a special tea there - powdered. Pollen of poisonous green color is a real concentrate of live tea leaves. It is even stored in the refrigerator. This product is very popular in the Land of the Rising Sun: they make ice cream from it, add it to pastries. But, of course, during the famous tea ceremonies they drink very special - thick - tea. It is believed that a meeting for tea is a meeting of feelings. Thought out to the smallest detail, the ritual symbolizes the constancy and changeability of the world. Ceramic bowls are usually used, their thick porous walls retain heat well, and the rough bottom pleasantly massages the palm. The bowl is constantly rotated in the hand. After all, according to the ideas of the Japanese, the side from which they take a sip becomes the “face” of the bowl. And touching the lips to the face is not accepted.
Black tea
Tea is brewed at the rate of 1 tsp. per cup and plus extra per teapot. Teapot rinse with boiling water. Water for making tea should boil with a “white key”, only then the tea leaf will give you the whole bouquet of its aroma and taste. Fall asleep in the teapot right amount tea, pour boiling water, without adding to the top of the teapot by about one third of its height. It is better not to close the teapot tightly with a lid, but to cover it with a linen napkin so that the brewing tea breathes. After five minutes, the tea leaves are drained. You can pour boiling water over the rest again - and leave for about ten minutes, the second tea leaves will not have such a thin bouquet, but many useful substances will go there.
Tea with lemon
Put a slice of lemon into strongly brewed black tea, add sugar or honey if desired.
Ideal for summer heat. Pour the brewed tea into a jug, add lemon juice, food ice and sprig of mint.
Did you know that tea is the second most popular drink in the world after water? Today you will learn many more interesting things about this ancient drink:
25. In the East, tea has been drunk for almost 5,000 years, while in the West, only 400.
24. Blocks of tea were used as money in Siberia until the 1800s.
23. In 1904, the United States invented tea bag. Many still consider it the worst invention in the world.
22. Most tea in the world per capita is drunk in Ireland. The UK is in second place.
21. Tea - national drink in Iran and Afghanistan.
20. More than 1500 are known in total various kinds tea.
19. Most of the tea in the world is produced in China, according to this indicator, India is closest to China.
18. Iced tea is another American invention, although it is rumored that it was invented by a British merchant in 1904 at the World's Fair in St. Louis.
17. 85% of all tea consumed in the US is consumed as iced tea.
16. Tea is the most popular drink in the world after water.
15. In China, black tea is called red.
14. The most expensive tea party in the world can be arranged at the Ritz Carlton in Hong Kong. You will have to pay $9,000 for a tea party for two.
13. Black tea accounts for 75% of all tea consumed in the world.
12. When tea is served in China, guests need to tap their fingers on the table several times as a token of gratitude to the host.
11. After the Boston Tea Party, tea fell out of favor in the US. To date, black coffee bypasses it in this indicator.
10. Tea hasn't always been popular in the UK. He came here in 1657, but only in the second half of the 18th century began to slowly gain popularity.
9. Before that, he got into England only through smuggling and was sold in coffee houses where only men were allowed.
8. Lipton is the world's best-selling tea brand.
7. South Carolina is the only US state with a large tea plantation.
6. Many people believe that a substance called tannin, found in tea, can remove warts.
5. Tannin is also closely related to the coagulation process and is able to stop bleeding.
4. The tea trade has become a catalyst for trade relations between the West and the East.
3. Thanks to
The appearance of tea is covered with legends. The most often referred to is that shepherds in southern China were the first to use the infusion of leaves, drawing attention to animals that nibble leaves from bushes and become more cheerful. The birthplace of the tea bush is considered to be India, where wild bushes of the Theaceae family were found in the Assami area. However, the legends associated with the history of tea take us to China, where already in 2700 BC. one Chinese manuscript mentions tea. According to one of the legends in 1737 BC. the Chinese emperor was boiling water in his garden, suddenly several leaves flew from the bush into the boiling water. He tasted the water and was delighted with good taste and gentle scent. This is how tea was discovered.
According to another legend, a certain Buddhist monk, who performed the rite, could not stand it and fell asleep, and waking up in despair cut off his eyelids and threw them on the ground.
At this place, the first tea bush grew, from the leaves of which the Chinese prepared a drink that gives extraordinary vigor. By the way, the meaning of the words "vigor" and "tea" in Chinese is almost the same, since they are denoted by the same hieroglyph. Now it doesn't matter which of these stories is true. After all, today tea has become one of the most popular drinks in the world.
However, the first mention of the use of tea dates back to the 4th century AD. At the same time, scientists believe that tea began to be drunk many centuries ago in East Asia. There it was used in medical purposes, in the form of dried leaves, with the addition of onion, mint, orange, ginger. Tea was brewed with boiling water during the Ming Dynasty (14th-17th century). Thus, the use of tea in the modern sense began less than 700 years ago.
There are many interesting legends and facts associated with tea. For example, in ancient times, seekers of the elixir of youth and immortality considered it a necessary component. In many Asian countries and some African countries, the value of tea was so great that it even served as a bargaining chip. Chinese emperor Kien Long composed a poem about tea and ordered to write it on all porcelain bowls.
The drink known to everyone was not always called the way we used to call it now. In the writings of ancient Chinese philosophers, it is mentioned under a variety of names: “tse”, “tou”, “chun”, “ming”, and also “cha”, which translates as “young” leaf.
At the beginning of the 8th century, the so-called powdered tea became very popular in China. It was very expensive and rich people could afford to drink it. Only a little later, a variety of this tea became available to everyone in China.
Around 780, a tax on tea was first introduced and became a major source of profit in China.
In Europe, the first information about tea penetrated in 1584. Its distribution was facilitated by ambassadors who brought it from China.
Initially, in the 16th century, tea appeared in Portugal, then in Holland. It entered England during the time of the East India Company in 1664. In 1679, an agreement was concluded for the supply of tea from China to Moscow.
Not without incidents.
“In Europe, the fashion for tea spread quite quickly. But they literally reveled in their new hobby, conceited aristocrats must not always know in what form it should be taken, so at one of the royal receptions a salad was prepared from tea leaves. The treat was eaten with pleasure, since no one wanted to seem ignorant.
And here are some more interesting facts:
The use of tea benefited the English aristocrats not only in terms of its excellent taste and medicinal properties. The fact is that the passion for the new drink so captured the satiated lords that they preferred it to alcohol, the use of which has noticeably decreased.
- The appearance of the word "tip" is closely connected with tea. There is such a popular version: Dutch merchants brought tea to England, and its pound was very expensive, which made tea a drink of high society. So, in the 1730s, it was popular among high society to spend afternoons in special “tea gardens”. These were small flower gardens with music and dancing. They opened in May and received visitors until the beginning of autumn. On the tables were small wooden boxes with the inscription "T.I.P.S." (To Insure Prompt Service). The visitor, wanting to receive as quickly as possible hot tea throwing a coin into the box. This is how the Western culture of tipping was born. And to this day the word "tips" in English language means "tip", "money for tea".
Meanwhile, the English history of tea is closely connected with the American one. Consider the famous Boston Tea Party.
The Boston Tea Party or the Boston Tea Society is not just social organization. For such unusual name lies the bloody American War of Independence, which began in 1773. At that time, North America was still considered a British colony. The Americans, striving for independence, were dissatisfied with the fact that, according to one of the English laws, the corporations of American merchants banned the export of tea. Disguised in Indian garb, a troop of American patriots boarded a ship anchored in Boston Harbor that brought tea. Protesting against British policy, they threw bales of tea into the sea. The British were indignant and decided to bring the "Indians" to justice as having unleashed the war. However, as a result of the war for independence, England lost its colonies and the United States of America appeared on the world map.
In addition, the Americans own several inventions in the field of production and use of tea. So, for example, at the beginning of the 20th century, Richard Blechinden came up with a recipe for traditional iced tea and put it on sale, which is still sold today and is very popular; who does not like to sip on a bottle of Nestea in the hot heat, and a merchant from New York, Thomas Sullivan, around the same time, invented tea in bags, which is also incredibly popular all over the world today.
Came out with these bags interesting story. Thomas Sullivan, it was as if he were not going to invent tea in bags at all, the merchant only packed the leaves in silk bags for convenience, and unlucky customers, not understanding their purpose, dipped tea into boiling water right in the bags, they liked it so quickly, and most importantly convenient .
In Russia, tea has been drunk since the 17th century, as mentioned above.
But it turns out that tea culture in Russia began to exist even earlier, but not everyone knows about it. The Cossacks were the first in Russia to try tea in ancient times, conquering the Siberian Khanate. Most likely, it was Buryat brick tea, which came to Siberia from the same China.
In 1567, the Cossack atamans Petrov and Yalyshev visited China, where they succeeded, and described the local drink. Thus, the first written mention of tea in Russia dates back to the middle of the 16th century.
And at the beginning of the 17th century, tea began to be consumed at the court of Russian tsars. In 1618, the Chinese ambassadors (and Russia, as you know, always maintained friendly relations with this country) brought several boxes of selected tea as a gift to Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov. And twenty years later, the Russian ambassador Vasily Starkov presented the king with a gift from the Mongol Khan - 64 kg of tea. The most interesting thing is that the ambassador in every possible way refused this, as it obviously seemed to him worthless cargo, but the monarch and his entourage insisted on it and the ambassador took the cargo.
In 1787, the first tea trading company in Russia was opened, it was called "V. Perlov with his sons." They were doing very well, and by the beginning of the 20th century, she already owned 88 tea shops throughout the country. At about the same time, our compatriots guessed that it was possible not to export tea from China, but to grow it in their homeland. So far this has been just a theory pure form: and in 1817, the first tea bush was planted in the Nikitsky Garden in the Crimea.
Today, tea lovers are presented with such a wide selection of this drink, which centuries-old history has not yet known.
It's time to talk about tea. I present to your attention a selection of the most unusual and interesting facts about tea.
- Nutritionists have calculated that 4 standard cups of tea contain 21% of the calcium intake per day, 35% of the need for vitamins B6 and B1, 22% of vitamin B2, 5% of zinc and folic acid.
- Doctors agree that women who frequently use green tea, reduce the risk of esophageal cancer by 60%.
- Turkey has the highest rate of tea consumption - 7.52 kg per inhabitant per year. In second place by a wide margin is Morocco - 4.34 kg, and in third Ireland, where per capita accounts for 3.22 kg of tea per year.
- Thanks to the content of 0.006% essential oils in tea, the drink emits a pleasant aroma.
- An interesting fact about tea is that according to statistical companies, up to 40% of all liquid consumed in food on the planet is tea.
- Tea surpasses any other plant in terms of vitamin P, which protects the body from infectious diseases. The researchers also found that green tea contains 10 times more of this substance than black tea.
- Historians claim that the first tea was drunk in 2737 BC. Chinese Emperor Shen Nong. The monarch sat under a tree with a cup hot water, and a few tea leaves accidentally fell there.
- An interesting fact about tea is that a tea bush can grow and bear fruit for over 100 years.
- Tea contains great amount complex and simple substances, the total number of which has not yet been calculated. In the 90s, scientists counted about 130 elements, and now the figure has risen to 300.
- Doctors advise drinking 3-4 cups of tea a day to reduce the risk of a heart attack.
- The global tea industry brings in more than $3 billion a year.
- Analysts calculated that 96% of people in the UK brew tea from a tea bag and drink tea for about 24 minutes on average.
- Japanese scientists conducted an 11-year study, during which they found out the positive effect of green tea on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The results showed that the death rate of green tea lovers from this kind of disease decreased by 16%.
- tea drink ranks 1st in popularity in the world, pushing beer to second place. Only in England and Ireland there were fewer tea drinkers.
- Black and green tea are made from the same plant, their difference lies in further processing. Analysts calculated that 75% of all tea in the world is black tea, green tea accounts for only 25% of processed plants.
Each person is familiar with the drink personally. We love to drink tea, and as a rule, every day a person drinks about 2 cups of tea.
The drink is simple, unpretentious, delicious. We have been drinking tea unconsciously and almost instinctively since childhood, because our parents drank it, as well as their parents.
A CURIOUS COLLECTION OF FACTS ABOUT TEA
Growing tea bushes is a very profitable business, as a tea bush can grow and bear fruit for more than a hundred years.
tea played important role at weddings in China. The newlyweds passed tea to each other. It was a symbol of eternal love, since the tea bush does not like transplants.
To get the most out of your tea, do not boil it. After all, the whole aroma will come out with the steam.
Tea with lemon was invented in Russia.
Tea helps to get rid of caries.
The East has been drinking tea for over 5,000 years. And the West is just a little over 400.
Until the 1800s, tea cubes were used as money in Siberia.
Tea bags appeared in the USA in 1904. Some purists consider this the worst invention in the world!
Ireland is the largest tea drinker in the world, while Britain is only in second place.
Tea is the national drink of Iran and Afghanistan.
There are over 1500 types of tea.
China produces the most tea, followed by India.
After water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world.
In China, black tea is called red.
The most expensive tea party in the world is offered by the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong. Tea for two there costs almost 9 thousand dollars.
In China, during the tea ceremony, it is customary to thank the hosts for their hospitality by tapping their fingers on the table.
After the Boston Tea Party, tea lost its popularity in America, where the majority of the population still prefers coffee.
For a long time in England, tea was smuggled and sold in closed coffee shops where only men were allowed.
Before the revolution, Ivan-tea was drunk in Russia, and in large quantities, and also exported Russian tea to Europe in large quantities. There he was even more in demand than such Russian wealth as fur, gold.
Lipton is the world's best-selling tea brand.
Tea tannins help stop bleeding and prevent the development of inflammation.
Legend has it that tea was invented in 2737 BC when Shen Ning, the second emperor of China, accidentally dropped tea leaves into boiling water.
If you chew a leaf of tea, then nausea and vomiting will immediately pass. It even works with toxicosis or seasickness.
It has been scientifically proven that tea stimulates the brain. So before an important conversation or exam, it is best to drink a cup of tea.
Tea contains much more caffeine than coffee itself.
Until the middle of the 19th century, Moscow drank more than half of all the tea that was imported into Russia.
Ivan-tea is a unique plant in terms of vitamin content. So, it contains almost six times more vitamin C than lemon, and in terms of the amount of antioxidants, Ivan-tea competes with natural red wine and green tea! It is also worth noting that fireweed (Ivan tea) contains many substances that can bind free radicals, which gives this plant rejuvenating and restoring properties. As for its tonic properties, it is able to tone without caffeine, unlike tea and coffee.
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