Oolong, Black tea, Green tea, White tea...Next to water, tea is the second most popular drink worldwide. People enjoy tea first thing in the morning with their breakfast, during their breaks at work, in the afternoon with friends, and in the evening to relax. Many specialty tea shops have been popping up all over the place during the last few years as more people have found the joy of preparing and drinking loose leaf tea.
According to legend and a few historians, the origin of tea in China can be traced back to Emperor Shen Nong around 2737 B.C. The wise Emperor believed that drinking boiled water was very important to one’s good health. He required that all his subjects and servants boil water before drinking it. One late summer day, as the legend goes, the Emperor was travelling and stopped to rest. He asked his servants to boil some water for him. While the water was boiling, some leaves from a camellia bush fell in the water and turned it brown. The Emperor, curious by nature, decided to taste it and quite enjoyed the flavour! He had his servant harvest some of the dried camellia leaves to take along and use during their travels. He felt that it gave him vigor and energy. That is how tea drinking for medicinal purposes came about.
Tea, as a common drink, took a little longer to become popular, that happened around 300 A.D. But it wasn’t until 780 A.D. that tea became part of Chinese tradition. By 900 A.D., tea drinking reached Japan and Chanoyu, the Japanese Tea Ceremony, was created. It was around 1669 that tea was introduced to England. It was an aristocratic drink as it was very expensive. Soon Britain started to import tea in larger quantities and eventually all classes were able to afford it.
The word “tea” comes from various Chinese words used to describe it “Tay”, “Cha” and “Tchai”. It is indigenous to China and India. Two main varieties are cultivated as well as many hybrids.
There are various grades and types of tea:
White Tea
White tea is the purest and least processed of all teas. It has very little caffeine. It is mostly grown and harvested in the province of Fujian. White tea comes from the buds and leaves of the Camellia plant. These are left to wither in natural sunlight before they are lightly processed to prevent oxidation or further processing. Its’ name comes fro the fine silver-white hairs on the unopened buds.
Green Tea
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea, or wu long tea, is full-bodied with a flavorful fragrance and sweet aroma. It is semi-fermented. It is the most common tea served in North American Chinese restaurants.
Orange Pekoe or Black Tea
If you would like to find out more about Chinese tea and sample some, join us on January 30, 2013 on a Chinese Tea Tasting mini adventure. Huku’s Chinese Bistro’s owner, Andy, has brought back several teas for our Cravings event from his last trip to China. We will be sampling various green teas and enjoying Chinese delicacies at 7 p.m. Purchase Tickets.
~Monique
~Monique
References: Chinese, Historical and Cultural Project http://www.chcp.org/tea.html
The Ivy Keep http://blog.ivykeep.com/?p=68
Teavana http://www.teavana.com/tea-info/types-of-tea
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_tea
