Tea: A Cultural Infusion
May 13th 2007 11:33
Many people drink tea because of its health advantages. Tea promotes digestion, is rich in vitamins, and brings a feeling of relaxation when you drink it. Overall, tea is consumed more than any other drink besides water worldwide.
We all love tea in some form - be it with lemon, ice, green, milk and so on... Here's a quick look at the more popular types of teas we can find in today's world:
1. The Chinese Tea
The varieties of Chinese tea are extensive with many different types grown during each Chinese dynasties in China. The more known ones being the green tea, Oolong tea and the black tea. Chinese tea doesn't quite solely involve the bitter freshness of a range of chinese herbal teas. Infact, it involves a whole experience of the "tea culture". Chinese tea culture refers to the methods of preparation of tea, the equipment used to make tea and the occasions in which tea is consumed in China.
There are several special circumstances in which tea is prepared and consumed.
a) As a sign of respect
b) For a family gathering
c) To apologize
d) To connect large families on wedding days
2. English Tea Breaks
Now, we all know that the English tea drinking originates from Britain. Tea break as opposed to a coffee break. The English Breakfast tea is a black tea blend usually described as full-bodied, robust, and/or rich. It is usually black tea served with milk (not cream) and sometimes with sugar.
For much of the time in Britain tea drinking is not the delicate, refined cultural expression that the rest of the world imagines—a cup (or more often a mug) of tea is something drunk several times a day quite unceremoniously. This is not to say however that the British do not have a more formal tea ceremony alike the Chinese - British Tea Ritual.
(Would you like that with one or two lumps of sugar dearie?)
3. Indian Tea
Yummy, sweet, spicy and oh so satisfying... The Indians strive and live on "chai" (tea). An essential part of their daily routine, just as us yuppies start up our engines with a cuppa Starbucks, the Indians sip on freshly brewed masala "chai". This is normally made by bringing to boil fresh milk, adding in the tea leaves, dissolving generous amounts of sugar and a dash of spice - crushed cardamons or masala ground powder spices. This gives it the added oomph that makes or breaks a cup of "chai".
4. Moroccan Mint Tea
One of my personal faves and THE tea in Morocco. It is served strong, sweet and very minty. The Moroccan tea culture involves the method of preparation - Atai, which is relatively complex compared to methods used elsewhere. A large quantity of hard sugar cones or lumps (5 tea spoons for every spoon of tea) is used, and fresh mint is also an essential ingredient.
Tea (exclusivey green tea) is cleaned with boiling water before being dried, this removes dust from shipping and supposedly makes the tea less bitter. Tea is then added to boiling water. After that, sugar and mint are added and mixed into a teapot with a long, curved spout. This allows the tea to be poured into tiny glasses from a height of approximately half a meter to form a foamy head. It is then returned once or twice to the teapot for a good mix.
(Mmm-mmm-licious!)
5. Taiwan's Bubble Tea
Bubble tea, pearl milk tea or boba milk tea is a tea beverage mixture with milk, which includes chewy tapioca balls. Originating in Taiwan, the Bubble tea phenomenon exploded into Asia's scene and became an instant hit with the locals, specifically the teens. And most importantly, it transcended through all cultural groups. It became an overnight must-have thirst quencher. Bubble tea stalls were set up on almost every corner of a mall, street or neighbourhood area, and the lines kept on forming!
To keep up with demand and competition, these stalls ventured further than offering only milk tea versions, There are now various fruit flavoured versions, those made from frozen yoghurt and replacing the traditional tapioca balls with other chewy bits. Making it all very more exciting and in-sync with the hip-ness of the Bubble tea era.
At present, like every overnight hit, the phase of the Bubble tea has dissipated. There are only a handful of stalls available but there are still the loyal drinkers. I have to admit though, it is a nice drink to have on a hot day. And crunching on those chewy tapioca balls can be kinda fun
We all love tea in some form - be it with lemon, ice, green, milk and so on... Here's a quick look at the more popular types of teas we can find in today's world:
1. The Chinese Tea
The varieties of Chinese tea are extensive with many different types grown during each Chinese dynasties in China. The more known ones being the green tea, Oolong tea and the black tea. Chinese tea doesn't quite solely involve the bitter freshness of a range of chinese herbal teas. Infact, it involves a whole experience of the "tea culture". Chinese tea culture refers to the methods of preparation of tea, the equipment used to make tea and the occasions in which tea is consumed in China.
There are several special circumstances in which tea is prepared and consumed.
a) As a sign of respect
b) For a family gathering
c) To apologize
d) To connect large families on wedding days
2. English Tea Breaks
Now, we all know that the English tea drinking originates from Britain. Tea break as opposed to a coffee break. The English Breakfast tea is a black tea blend usually described as full-bodied, robust, and/or rich. It is usually black tea served with milk (not cream) and sometimes with sugar.
For much of the time in Britain tea drinking is not the delicate, refined cultural expression that the rest of the world imagines—a cup (or more often a mug) of tea is something drunk several times a day quite unceremoniously. This is not to say however that the British do not have a more formal tea ceremony alike the Chinese - British Tea Ritual.
(Would you like that with one or two lumps of sugar dearie?)
3. Indian Tea
Yummy, sweet, spicy and oh so satisfying... The Indians strive and live on "chai" (tea). An essential part of their daily routine, just as us yuppies start up our engines with a cuppa Starbucks, the Indians sip on freshly brewed masala "chai". This is normally made by bringing to boil fresh milk, adding in the tea leaves, dissolving generous amounts of sugar and a dash of spice - crushed cardamons or masala ground powder spices. This gives it the added oomph that makes or breaks a cup of "chai".
4. Moroccan Mint Tea
One of my personal faves and THE tea in Morocco. It is served strong, sweet and very minty. The Moroccan tea culture involves the method of preparation - Atai, which is relatively complex compared to methods used elsewhere. A large quantity of hard sugar cones or lumps (5 tea spoons for every spoon of tea) is used, and fresh mint is also an essential ingredient.
Tea (exclusivey green tea) is cleaned with boiling water before being dried, this removes dust from shipping and supposedly makes the tea less bitter. Tea is then added to boiling water. After that, sugar and mint are added and mixed into a teapot with a long, curved spout. This allows the tea to be poured into tiny glasses from a height of approximately half a meter to form a foamy head. It is then returned once or twice to the teapot for a good mix.
(Mmm-mmm-licious!)
5. Taiwan's Bubble Tea
Bubble tea, pearl milk tea or boba milk tea is a tea beverage mixture with milk, which includes chewy tapioca balls. Originating in Taiwan, the Bubble tea phenomenon exploded into Asia's scene and became an instant hit with the locals, specifically the teens. And most importantly, it transcended through all cultural groups. It became an overnight must-have thirst quencher. Bubble tea stalls were set up on almost every corner of a mall, street or neighbourhood area, and the lines kept on forming!
To keep up with demand and competition, these stalls ventured further than offering only milk tea versions, There are now various fruit flavoured versions, those made from frozen yoghurt and replacing the traditional tapioca balls with other chewy bits. Making it all very more exciting and in-sync with the hip-ness of the Bubble tea era.
At present, like every overnight hit, the phase of the Bubble tea has dissipated. There are only a handful of stalls available but there are still the loyal drinkers. I have to admit though, it is a nice drink to have on a hot day. And crunching on those chewy tapioca balls can be kinda fun
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