Whether you drink it hot or cold, chances are you enjoy tea at least on occasion. However, you might not think twice about where it comes from or how it’s produced. Read the information below to learn all the background information about tea you might have missed.
History of Tea
Tea has been cultivated and brewed for thousands of years. It is much more ancient than coffee. The exact time and place that tea was first cultivated is difficult to determine, but most scientists estimate that is was first used in the area of Northwest India and Southwest China about 3,000 years ago.
The Chinese have an interesting myth regarding the origin of tea. According to legend, Shennong, the mythical emperor of China, was drinking hot water one day when the wind blew some leaves into his bowl. The emperor enjoyed the flavor of the leaf steeped water, so began making it himself. He told his people about the new drink, and its popularity spread.
Tea moved out of Asia slowly. It is supposed that it reached the Middle East sometime between A.D. 500 and 1000. Europe didn’t import tea until after 1600. In fact, tea did not gain a presence in England until around 1650, although the country is stereotypically associated with the product.
Types of Tea
True “tea” is all made from one plant, Camellia sinensis. Varieties of tea can be produced depending on the age of the leaves and buds. For example, white tea consists of young tea leaves and buds that are not at all wilted or oxidized. The other extreme is black tea, which is made of fully oxidized leaves that are sometimes crushed.
What we think of as herbal “teas” are not really teas at all since no tea plant products are used. Instead, herbal “teas” are infusions of fruits, herbs, and other plant products.
Brewing Tea
Traditionally, tea was made by simply adding loose leaves to hot water. The mixture would steep until it was concentrated enough to drink. Nowadays, tea bags are common in many Western countries. Although tea bags are convenient, they don’t yield the best flavor. Instant teas are also available.
Storing Tea
Tea can be stored for a few months to a few years in a cool, dry, place. It loses its flavor when exposed to oxygen, so it you want to keep your tea longer than the recommended time, vacuum packing is a good idea. As a general rule, the more delicate a tea, the shorter its shelf life will be. That means black teas will be fine in the pantry long term, but floral teas and white teas will need to be consumed almost immediately.
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