Tea has become a quintessential part of most cultures in the world. Here are some interesting facts about tea to read while you sip on your favourite freshly brewed goodness.
The discovery of tea
According to the Chinese legends, tea was discovered by the emperor Shen Nong in 2737 BCE. The discovery was accidental; it is said that while the emperor was boiling water in his garden, a tea leaf had fallen into it. As he was also a herbalist, he was curious. So, he decided to drink the infusion. He proceeded to research the plant and discovered many medicinal properties. Tea was then considered to be a more medicinal concoction rather than a simple beverage.
It is popular
Tea is the second most popular drink in the world; the first being, water. The tea market is worth more than $40 billion. Out of this, the Turkish population contributes to the majority of the tea market, with each Turkish individual consuming an average of seven pounds of tea annually. They also produce about one-fifth of the world’s tea supply. The second-biggest tea consumers are the Irish, whose average consumption is about five pounds per year, per person.
Tea culture differs in every country
One of the most interesting facts about tea is the diversity present in every country.
- China- The Chinese have a traditional tea ceremony called the Gongfu tea. This is an event that involves the ritualized preparation and presentation of tea.
- India- The popular variant of tea in India is known as the which includes a mix of spices like cinnamon, ginger and cardamom to the black tea.
- Malaysia- They are known for their “pulled” teas which involve transferring tea from two mugs back and forth from quite the height! This process helps aerate the tea and form the characteristic foams on the tea.
- Russia- Tea is traditionally brewed in a samovar, which is a heated metal container. This helps to keep the tea warm for hours.
- America- Americans love iced teas. In fact, about 85% of the tea sold in the USA are from iced tea.
