International Tea Day

International Tea Day

According to The United Nations, May 21st is International Tea Day…celebrated annually.  Tea is the world’s oldest beverage and is consumed world wide, more than anything else. The study of tea is as deep and broad as the study of wine and has a fascinating history. Here are some International Tea Day facts and historical information to read…while you enjoy your cuppa!

The short version of the long history of tea

• Almost four thousand years ago, the Emperor Shen Nung drank only boiled water when traveling around the country.  Unexpectedly a branch of a burning brush was blown into the already bubbling water and much to his surprise, the emperor noted a most pleasant taste and a beautiful aroma in the new beverage. His discovery was the wild tea plant Camellia Sinensi!
• China’s oldest wild tea plant presently grows in Yunnan Province and is about 1700 years old
• The oldest cultivated tree in China is over 800 years old
• Small leaf tea comes from China as well as in Taiwan and Japan; Camellia Sinensis (sinensis means Chinese in Latin)
• Camellia Assamica is a large leaf tea harvested from Assam in Northern India, the single biggest tea producing area in the world
• Tea is harvested every week to 10 days for the duration of the growing season, March to December
• Notably, tea is to China what wine is to France
• “Ten thousand” is the Chinese description of too many teas to count
• “Ten thousand” teas is their way of saying all of the tea in China
• In fact, according to the Chinese there are six main categories of tea; green tea, white tea, yellow tea (unknown to Westerners), black tea, dark black tea, and scented or floral tea
• Conversely green teas are harder to keep fresh and as a result the flat leaf was rolled into pellet shaped balls, Westerners know this as Gunpowder tea
• Gunpowder leaves are picked any time, consequently it is not considered a tea of distinction
• Interestingly, gunpowder tea is considered a favorite in Morocco and the Middle East, served with mint and lots of sugar
• Heavier than other tea, for this reason you will need ½ the amount of dry Gunpowder leaf to brew a serving
• Important to note that Chinese black tea did not appear until after Ming Dynasty in 1644AD
• With good reason and favoritism, Keemun is considered the finest black tea in the world
• Equally acclaimed, Yin Hao Jasmine is the top grade Jasmine tea
• Jasmine Pearls have limited production and are very special; described as “only hearts colder than children could fail to be enchanted”
• It has been said that receiving Jasmine tea pearls is like getting red roses…a very special recognition
• Finally, tea was introduced in England in 1678 when the East India Company began to import tea commercially and gratefully afternoon tea in England is credited to Anna, Seventh Duchess of Bedford to remedy her “sinking spells”

I invite you to experience tasting new teas, Harney and Son’s Tea is one of my favorite resources.  I love that they have one named after my granddaughter, Catherine.

Owl in one of the Pooh books said,“Come along inside. We’ll see if tea and buns can make the world a better place.”

Drink and share some tea on International Tea Day, let’s make the world a better place.