When we think of tea, we associate it with Japan, England or China, and some of us even with cold or even warm weather. Yet you can drink this wonderful flavoured beverage all year round. The reason is not even important, but simply because the pleasure of a cup is just great.
"If you are cold, tea will keep you warm. If you are hot, it will cool you down. If you are depressed, tea will cheer you up. If you are excited, tea will calm you down." - William Gladstone (British politician).
Where does the tea come from?
The origin of tea is shrouded in myths and legends. From Chinese emperors to Portuguese princesses, its history is as rich as its taste. It is believed that green tea originated in China 5,000 years ago. At that time, the highly developed civilisation was ruled by an emperor named Shen Nung. He demanded that drinking water be boiled for health reasons.
The legend of the journey of the Chinese emperor
On a windy day, when the emperor stopped with his entourage to rest and refresh himself, a few dry leaves from a nearby bush fell into his cup of boiled water. The water turned dark brown. The emperor did not want to taste it immediately, but first gave it to his soldiers and waited to see the result.
He was fascinated by the strong smell and finally tried the new drink himself. The Chinese emperor was delighted by its aroma and soon felt the refreshment brought about by the "new discovery". And so, according to legend, the first cup of green tea was drunk.
The magic of green tea and its preparation
Green tea was originally prepared in a very different way than today. The leaves were steamed, kneaded in the oven, formed into small bricks and dried. These "bricks" of tea were later cooked together with rice, ginger, salt, orange peel, spices, milk and sometimes onions. This type of preparation still exists today in Mongolia and Tibet.
Tea was brought to Japan from China by Japanese monks in the early Middle Ages. It immediately became a popular drink among priests and aristocrats. The preparation was characteristic of the time of the Chinese Sung dynasty. At that time, the tea leaves were ground in small stone mills, the powder was then poured over with hot water and mixed with a small bamboo whisk.
Based on this ritual, the Japanese later developed their special ritual of tea drinking and preparation. Since then, green tea has enjoyed great popularity in Japan and has become a semi-religious social tradition.
In Japan, there are still schools today where children learn how to prepare and serve green tea. Centuries later, the use of this plant spread and became popular worldwide. The Turks, for example, like to drink the black variety, as do the Indians, with the difference that they usually take it with milk or various aromatic spices.
If history is the teacher of life, it clearly shows us that tea is a special and beneficial kind of drink. Tea was revered by emperors, drunk by nobles, but also by the common people.
Wars and battles have been fought over this wondrous drink. And finally, today we have Various tea blends and flavours are available for us to choose from. We just have to decide which one we like best.
A few rules to get the best for you
- Do not put the green tea directly into boiling water. This will destroy its beneficial Catechins destroyed.
- Refrain from using the decaffeinated variety: decaffeination means that further nutrients of the green tea are lost.
- Add some lemon: it helps absorb some nutrients.
- Don't save at the wrong end! Go for good premium tea: it contains more nutrients!
What is the best time to drink green tea?
When it comes to drinking green tea, some times of day are more optimal than others. Here is an overview!
Tip 1:
Drink green tea between meals: One cup green tea between meals is very digestible. If you drink it about two hours before or after a meal, you can also maximise nutrient absorption and the absorption of iron.
Tip 2:
Drink green tea before a workout: As we already know, it can boost our metabolism. It can also give you an energy boost due to its caffeine content. All this makes it a great drink to have just before a workout.
Tip 3:
You should never drink green tea that has stood overnight.. This can promote the growth of bacteria and mould, which can lead to serious health problems. It also loses its flavour. So it's better to keep your hands off it!
Fun facts about green tea
Did you know that the popularity of green tea started with a really bad hangover? Centuries ago, a Japanese shogun named Sanetamo (1192 - 1219 AD) suffered from such a terrible hangover that everyone around him thought he was going to die.
A monk named Myoan Eisai made him some tea and "saved" him. After that, Sanetamo became a tea lover and he began to spread the drink throughout Japan.
So if you still don't have green tea in your kitchen, after this story you should get some! And for those of us who aren't fond of its taste but still want the benefits it offers, there's another option - green tea. Green tea extract supplements!
"As we wash ourselves outside with water, so we wash ourselves inside with tea." - Ancient Chinese proverb
Photos by Shutterstock-1770462452, JodieWangss
Pic by Shutterstock-265400270, grafvision
