English Teas and Ceremonies; History of origin of tea

English Teas and Ceremonies originated early at the time of British. They consumed unprocessed green tea processed in boiling water. This was very beneficial for the human body to keep fit and healthy. English tea is a hot drink which is enjoyed at home as well at the working place. It keeps people fresh and energetic as it changes the body temperature. Tea is used as a medicine as well and as a manner to celebrate an occasion.

Tea enhances learning capacity and helps in sharpening the memory. It also becomes one of the reasons to keep the people in touch with each other. This is one of the essential drinks taken along with the breakfast. Some people are just crazy about it they love to have it and enjoy it with great joy and happiness. One of the essential items to celebrate any occasion is tea. The beverage was introduced by the British in India and from that time it has become part of lifestyle.

At that time the British used to have unprocessed tea. This possessed many antiseptic qualities and cured people from many diseases. This hot beverage is liked in cold days as it gives warmth and helps in controlling body temperature. People even drink about 2-3 cups in a day to keep themselves energetic and active in order to perform their tasks nicely.

Top 7 brands of tea

•    Wagh Bakri is one of the famous brands. The company blends the finest leaves and sells them under many brands which are worldwide famous and well liked.
•    Society brand is mostly liked among the people during functions.
•    Duncan’s double diamond tea is one of the famous brands among the leading one.
•    Brooke Bond red label tea is one of the high revenue products of Hindustan Unilever and a popular brand name.
•    Taj Mahal is also of the high segment revenue product of Hindustan Unilever and gives a satisfactory taste to the people.
•    Tata tea is one of the in demand products from the House of Tatas.
•    Lipton’s famous product is Lipton tea but as compared to the above mentioned product it’s not that popular.

Different types of tea

Tea Ceremony is one of the reasons to invite someone home or to go out with friends and relatives. Different brands of tea are available in the market which can be consumed according to one’s taste. Different age groups of people like different types of teas with different brand names. There are various types of this beverage like chai, ice tea, green tea, bubble tea etc. These are available and made in home as well as in market.
Tea has become the drink during celebrations and gives happiness to number of people.

Tea Additives

Every cup you sip appears to be the same but is that so?. The World of this wonderful hot beverage appear restricted in terms of flavor and taste. But this is not the truth the tea consumed on various Eastern Countries is diverse in taste and flavor.

The additives play a major role in the flavoring in tea leaf. The leaf is highly receptive to flavors and additives in many forms. Hence many aromatic elements are used as additives. 

Some of the popular ones are mentioned below:

Flowers

Kewda

Rose

Jasmine

Chrysanthemum  

Herbs

Lemon Grass

Kewda

Mint

Pandan

Spices

Nutmeg

Cinnamon

Cardamom

Ginger

Cassia

Black Pepper

Clove

Anise

Fennel

Bay leaf 

Vanilla

Mace

Special spice mixtures are also sold in India which contain many healthy spices.

Some citrus peels are also added like in the Earl Gray Tea popular in UK. Some essential oils are also added to the brew for flavor. In India jaggery is also used in place of sugar which accords it a distinct taste.

Goat's Milk and Camel's Milk are also used instead of cow and buffalo milk in many places.  On many instances rum and scotch whiskey are also added to tea. 

Tea Flavors

Most talked about beverage in the World tea comes along in thousands of flavors. The diversity in flavor and aroma arises out of many factors. This in spite of the plant being the same with little species variation. The major factors that determine the two aspects are the soil, climate, altitude and cultivation method adopted. 

The other factors that influence the flavor and aroma are the processing and blending with minor role being played by the storage or packing. Since a large variety of teas are grown and processed in tea gardens blending becomes important. The other reasons for blending are to obtain a said flavor or to manage the costs. Expensive teas like the premium Darjeeling tea are often mixed with regular black tea in order to reduce the cost.    

The brewing method also influences the flavor and aroma. In many countries brewing is a ceremonial ritual that is on vogue since many centuries. Masalas or spices also play a great role in the way the tea tastes. Nevertheless black tea finds the greatest popularity among the masses. Darjeeling tea is most popular as a premium beverage along with some varieties of green teas. Some of the leaf cultivated in China, Japan and India are popular as premium blends. The flavors are usually defined as strong, mild and light. Black tea is usually consumed a strong with strong flavor of tannins and other aromatic chemicals. High quality Darjeeling tea  has a slight bitter astringent flavor with very strong aroma.   

The hot tea beverage is not to be confused with herbal teas. These are a concoction of many herbs and usually do not contain the tea leaf.

Chai Wallahs

India is a unique and diverse country with amazing characteristic styles that lean on brink of being bizarre. The ubiquitous road side scene is large number of people on road, shanty shacks, and tea shops. The roadside in case of Indian baazars are dotted with pan shops, kirana stores, chaat wallahs and the chai wallah. 

The chai wallah may be nothing but a rickety hand cart or a small shop tucked away in a row. The latter may also be selling a wide variety of Indian fried snacks.  Thee hand carts selling tea in India are most numerous. In Southern India they may  also be selling coffee.   

The daily draws have a well set rapport with the chai wallah. Local business persons, office workers and visitors frequent these stalls and spend reasonable time listening to the chai wallahs banter or just gape at the World go past. 

The brewing style is as mesmerizing as the ensuing aroma is. The boiling liqueur is literally tossed in the air and collected back in the pan with acrobatic ease. In between sugar, spices and leaf are added algorithmically.  Each chai wallah has a unique way of brewing and serving the final concoction. 

The usual medium is small cheap glasses that do not cause any concern if broken or lost. These are briskly washed with murky water and steaming stream of tea poured into them. The liqueur is a thick extract of all the aromatic as well as non aromatic constituents of the tea leaf and the masalas. Nevertheless you get a flavor that does not distill during the brewing at home. The flavor and aroma is addicted and hence tea makers in the offices rust within a short period of disuse.  

The chai wallah and his masala tea are irreplaceable for the masses in India. Everywhere you go there is one serving the magic brew...hot and steaming. Be careful or you will end up with scalded oral cavity.  

Green Tea The Okinawa Observations

Okinawa is a Japanese Island renowned world over for healthiest older people on Earth.  The older generation in this Island has a life span of eighty years and above. They are known for their agility and active lifestyle in spite of their age.  

After many conjectures it was discovered that this attribute was due to a type of tea consumption known as Jasmine Green Tea.  This is also known as San Pin Tea in local lingo and the elderly consume large amounts. The health benefits accrue from this consumption and decrease if the consumption is reduced. This has been noted amongst the Okinawa population that has moved away from this island.   

The clue to this amazing fact is quality green tea as in the case of San Pin. The tea contains the youngest leaves picked from the plant. The plant is cultivated seasonally at moderate heights and has limited fluoride contents.

For those not in habit of consuming the wonderful brew green tea extract is the answer. The extract accords all the benefits that arise out of the green tea. The antioxidants, poly phenols and ECGC are all present in the magic leaf.  This leaf is known to benefit in cardiac ailments, diabetes, cancer and help reduce weight. 

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Popular Chinese Varities of Green Tea

All teas come from one single species of plant scientifically referred as Camillia Sinensis. The types arise from the way the processing takes place and in some cases the way cultivation is done.  The other factors that fetch a change into the leaf are the region, climate and soil type. 

Some of the popular Chinese variants are: 

Gun Powder

Rated as one of the most popular in China. The tea leaf  is pellet shaped and is cultivated in the Province of Zhejian.

Dragon Well Greet Tea or Long Jing

The characteristic Jade color is a feature of this flat leaf tea. This is also very popular in China. This is also cultivated in Zhejian Province.

Snowy Mountain Jian

Grown at high altitude in the Province of Yunnan the tea is more like black tea. The processing brings about a change that makes this green tea full bodied and aromatic more like black tea.

Monkey Tea or Hoi Kui 

Cultivated in Anhui Province of China this green tea is grown in the vicinity of orchids. The leaves during growth absorb the flavor of orchids and deliver the flavor to processed leave.


Kai Hua Long Ding 

This green tea variant is grown in Tiantai County of Zhejian Province of China. The leaves are thick and short which is a unique feature of this tea. 

Green Snail Spring - Pi Lo Chun

This is a rare product of Camillia Sinensis grown in Zhejian Province of China. It is cultivated amongst the fruits which accord it a characteristic fruity flavor. The rolled leaf has a snake like appearance hence the name. 

Other popular varities are:

Hyson Lucky Dragon
Xin Yang Mao Jian
Tian Mu Qing Ding

About Tea Bags

When you travel on a long journey you need tea bags if you are a regular drinker. This is most visible on a railway journey whence the vendor does a quick job dipping the paper bags containing tea leaves. The bag is made of a porous paper from which the brew enters the boiling water.  The material used is mostly tissue paper or food grade plastic.Vegetable matter is also used.

Once the infusion has leaked out of the pores the bag is pulled out using a string which is attached to it. The technological improvements are leading to more hygienic and safe bags. The bags are used mostly for convenience especially during travel. 

A wide variety of blends of finest teas are available in tea bags all over the World. In India Waghbakri tea Company is one of the leading manufacturers of these bags. These can be bought from many stores in malls and retail shops in the neighborhood. The filling and heat sealing is done using a machine made in many countries. The invention credit goes to William Hermanson but the rectangular shaped tea bag was first used in Year 1944. The tea bag was first made out of silk and patented in 1903. It was commercially marketed by Thomas Sullivan in New York State.

The bags are packed in a carton usually containing about twenty five. The product has a long expiry period but quick consumption will accord the taste of freshness and aroma. The products can be bought online as well at Waghbakri Website.  

Green Tea Cancer Fighting Ability

It has been known since ages that tea has disease prevention abilities. In ancient times the brew was consumed for its health giving properties. In recent times lot of attention has been paid towards the beneficial aspects of  tea.    

The chemicals in the hot tea brew contain antioxidants that fight cancer by neutralizing the free radicals. Free radicals induce mutation by damaging the DNA inside the human cells. A polyphenol known as ECGC is effective in preventing the development and proliferation of cancer cells in the human body. The compounds assist the cell to die out which the cancer cells are unable to do. This activity shrinks or completely reduces tumors in various parts of the body. ECGC also increases vascular elasticity and hence improves cardiovascular health. A daily dose of tea extract is effective in this role.

Free radicals are also responsible for aging. The consumption of three to four cups of this beverage brings in the anti aging effect. Other chemical compounds in green tea play a proactive role. Green tea also contains anti viral compounds which help tackle infections.     

The beneficial chemicals in green tea are known as flavonoids, catechins and poly phenols. These chemicals have a synergistic effect in conjunction and benefit human health by fighting serious disease. Major benefits accrue when organic green tea is consumed which  is devoid of harmful substances. Organic tea plant cultivation is done without the use of pesticides and fertilizers.      

History of tea in brief

Tea has been consumed in many countries since thousands of years. First creditable records appear from China dating back to the 3rd century AD. The use in earlier period may have been for medicinal purpose and its use as beverage may have been accidental.  

The tea may have been used similarly in Eastern India but there are no records. The tea was introduced into India during the 19th century by the British. They used Chinese Seed and cultivation technique on large scale of lands cleared for tea plantation. Some local Assamese variety was also cultivated. Today India is the largest producer of tea leaf after China and exports a substantial amount in bulk and packets. Several varieties of tea is grown in many countries now but not on very large scale.  

Eventually tea become popular among the Indian masses as late as 1950. This was due to aggressive promotion by the rulers. Today it has become a lifestyle product with it being consumed daily in the morning and evening. Tea is served almost any time of the day to visitors and business associates etc. 

The number of varieties of this wonderful brew is mind boggling with Assam Black and Darjeeling Green being the connoisseurs choice. The leaf after blending by experts is available in many kinds of packing. The carton is most popular followed by tea bags and plastic jars. Tea leaf is also available in loose bags or big cartons. 

The brew is consumed without milk in many countries. In India it is prepared with milk and sugar. Another Indian brew that is very popular is the Masala Chai or Spiced tea. This is actually a mixture of tea leaf with suitable spices offering additional flavor to the taste. A vast variety of spices are used to blend with the leaf. Some of the spices added have medicinal properties along with a distinct aroma.          

For more information read History of Tea
 

Tea Lounge - Doorway to a relaxed cheerful ambiance

It is a bar no it is a coffee shop no you buy snacks here. Well it is a tea lounge. These places comes in various shapes and size. Some are created out of a barn or a garage while the rest are upmarket posh restaurants that serve tea in various flavors. 

Wagh Bakri Tea Company has established to upmarket lounges one in New Delhi and other in Mumbai. These are bars where you can relax and sip the hot beverage. The choice is yours the tea company specializes in blending the finest leaves from all over India. These are processed and packed in hygienic conditions to be marketed in India and many other countries.    

The five star lounges are plush with warm interiors and located uptown. They serve hot tea beverage ranging from Darjeeling to finest black tea from Assam. You can order instant premix, iced teas and masala chai the latter being a ranging concept all over the Globe.    

In college days I used to frequent the coffee houses in Jabalpur. These were community places where you could sit for hours gossip, chat or fall into an intellectual discussion over a cup of coffee. Hence these houses were frequented by regulars mostly retired people, recluse and people who had nothing much to do. Well it was fun for us and we still do it but not most often. 

This is what the tea lounges promise - a community place with an added advantage of modern decor and stylish ambiance. In things is what you would refer them as well more are to come. These are for those who like cheerful places with delicious hot beverages and not the murky dingy alcohol bars.