About Tea
The Legendary Origins of Tea
The history of tea extends so far into the past that its very origins are shrouded by legend. It is said that Emperor Shen Nung, who ruled China in 2700 BC, used to enjoy relaxing in his garden with a cup of hot water. It was during one of these respites that a tea leaf happened to float down from a nearby bush, and land directly in the Emperor's cup. The new drink quickly became the Emperor's favorite, and a taste for tea quickly spread throughout the aristocracy, and it wasn't long before tea was the favored drink throughout all of China.
It was in the 16th century that Portuguese missionaries were seduced by tea's flavor and the intricate customs which surrounded it. A demand for the drink quickly arose, and the Dutch East India Company began importing it into Europe.
Different Types of Tea
There are four major types of tea: White, Green, Oolong and Black. Interestingly, all these teas come from the raw leaves of the same tea plant, Camellia sinensis. What distinguishes each category is the method used when processing the tea leaves. The way the leaves are processed-steamed, fermented (oxidized), dried, or bruised-gives the tea the special characteristics of its category.
A woman is like a tea bag, you can not tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water. — Nancy Reagan
The Teapot
The best sorts of teapots for making tea are made of china or earthenware. Metal tea pots such as enamel, copper or silver can make the tea taste metallic. If you are going to use a metal teapot, stainless steel teapots are the best.
Health Benefits of Tea
Beyond great taste, a cup of tea is beneficial to your health. Numerous books and articles have been written about tea's health benefits, some in depth and some in simple terms. But the bottom line is, studies have shown tea promotes good health in many ways.
