Tea is the second most consumed beverage after water. It has a very old history. Even the origin of tea is an interesting one.
Without a doubt you are also a big fan of tea. And during your tea talks you talk about a variety of tea related stuff. Just to add to your tea knowledge and vocabulary we have brought some tea facts.
Here are some interesting facts about tea:
1. 1.97 billion: Number of tea bags consumed in the United States every year.
2. Relaxed Latte is the most popular tea variety, making up about 40 percent of all U.S. tea sales.
3. Tea is one of the top 10 food sources for antioxidants in the American Diet, according to a study by University of Scranton researchers published in 2008 in The Journal of Nutrition.
4.Tea was first cultivated more than 4,000 years ago in China, when farmers noticed that leaves from certain plant varieties shriveled and curled once they were picked and dried out.
5. Tea has been a part of human culture for over 5,000 years. The Chinese picked tea leaves as early as 2737 BC and the first writings about tea appeared in China around 2737 BC.
6. Tea was brought to Europe, where it was cultivated by the Arabs and Syrians. The Moors became tea drinkers when they invaded Spain in 711 AD and introduced their religion. Arab legend says that the first person to enjoy a cup of tea was a girl named Zubayda who discovered the substance’s healing powers after her father had poisoned her with another substance that he believed would make her fertile.
7. The British began to plant tea in their colonies in Africa, India and the Americas. Tea is today the most profitable agricultural product in the Caribbean.
8. The first tea plant was discovered by a Dutch botanist (Tie Maus) in 1610 and cultivated in Java for about 40 years until it was extinct. It was reintroduced by John (Jack) Parsons of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), who had seen them growing wild on a nearby mountain.
9. Tea has been called “the second oldest continually-produced drink” after water, with many varieties of tea used throughout history.
10. Tea culture is cosmopolitan because tea originated in China and has been exported to the West, the East and all of between.
11. Egypt is the leading producer of tea in the Middle East & North African countries:
Africa’s biggest producer of tea is Egypt, and east African countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda are also major producers of two special varieties of tea termed “Koshari” and “Saidi” tea. Both the tea types vary mutually in various aspects.
For example, Koshari tea is very finely ground and used in the preparation of a light tea, while Saidi tea is coarsely ground and approximates black tea. Also, the method of Koshari tea is different from Saidi. Koshari is prepared by way of steeping whereas Saidi is prepared by way of boiling and adding a certain amount of sugar to it.
12. Tea heavily contributes to weight loss:
Tea helps to cause weight loss due to its high levels of caffeine and phenols, both of which are natural appetite suppressants. Tea also contains numerous other important ingredients including those shown below: (1) flavonoids (2) flavonoid-rich plant extracts (3) catechins, which is a type of antioxidant (4) xanthine alkaloids (5) tannins. Also, by drinking tea two or three times a day, you can keep yourself fit and active.
13. Tea is considered to be a medical remedy:
Tea has been used as a medicinal beverage for thousands of years in China and Japan, where it is believed to improve digestion and relieve pain in joints and muscles as well as help people sleep better. It also boosts energy levels, lowers blood sugar level and improves one’s heart health.
14. Iced Tea is credited to have been invented by an English tea trader in the early 19th century:
That English merchant was Richard Blechynden, who was, as far as we know, the first to market iced tea in 1904 in World Fair. His initiative gained broad acceptance in the Fair and we all know now that iced tea is still on trend.
15. Lipton is the largest selling tea brand in the world
Founded by Sir Thomas Lipton, Lipton is the largest selling tea brand in the world with over 6.7 billion cups of Lipton tea sold every year. As of 2010, Lipton operates in 80 different countries with over 70 manufacturing facilities and employs around 12,500 workers. Lipton has acquired several other famous brands such as Tetley and continues to make acquisitions around the globe to strengthen its hold on the industry.
16. Tea was not taken in safe in the beginning
Until the 19th century, tea was considered to be addictive, dangerous and even poisonous. The Chinese people used the plant not only to get rid of the fatigue brought on by overwork but also as a stimulant to keep them going during hard work and as a sedative when they needed to sleep. Tea was considered an ‘alien’ substance that could damage the human heart and liver. In India, tea was not even supposed to be consumed by women who were likely to give birth.
17. Tea takes in moisture and is therefore perfect for storing items
Tea has a high moisture content and therefore it is perfect for storing small items like pens, papers, small tools, coins etc. If a tea bag is not used properly it can become very difficult to open after some time and therefore this provides another reason why tea bags are preferred by most people.
We all know that a cup of tea is a great way to relax after a long day at work, but do we really know the truth behind this popular beverage?
Yes, there is plenty of information out there about how drinking tea has certain health benefits, how it can boost your metabolism and help you lose weight, but most of us are not even aware of some very interesting facts about tea! So we have seen a lot of tea facts and now after reading them you must be thinking that it was worth spending time and we agree with you.
