A Cup of Tea. A Cup of Peace.

The history of tea began in 2737 B.C. Legend has it that the Emperor Shen Nong accidentally discovered tea. A leaf from a wild tea tree  drifted into his pot, when he was boiling water in a garden. It is believed that he enjoyed the infused water so much that he was willing to research the plant further, and thus discovered the medicinal properties of tea.

The monk Lu Yu composed the “Classic of Tea” with the classification, preparation and benefits of tea in the Tang dynasty. A Japanese monk Saichō introduced tea to Japan in the 9th century. As traders, missionaries, and explorers traveled back and forth between Europe and the Orient, they were exposed to the tea tradition, making the appearance of tea in the West gradually.

Nowadays, tea is an irreplaceable source of caffeine and antioxidants, alongside coffee. Yet, do we understand tea in a comprehensive way? In fact, all tea stems from only one plant which is called “camellia sinensis”. Based on the type of tea leaves picked and the level of oxidation or processing, tea can be classified into five main types:

Black Tea	・fully oxidized ・with darker appearance, stronger flavor, and higher caffeine ・account for over 85% of total tea consumption in the west
Green Tea	・unoxidized ・heated after picking to destroy the enzymes causing oxidation ・preserves a high level of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals ・better consume without any additives
Oolong Tea	・semi-oxidized ・sit for 2 to 4 hours, before being heated up to halt oxidization ・longer oxidization results in a darker appearance, similar to black tea; while shorter oxidization makes it similar to green tea
Pu-erh Tea	・originated from the Yunan province of China ・known for earthy flavor ・can be either black or green based on the level of oxidation  ・made out of tea plucked from wild trees, rather than cultivated bushes ・go through microbial fermentation by pressing the raw leaves together and storing them for maturity
White Tea	・a high level of antioxidants, with lower caffeine content ・the least processed tea ・use unopened buds and young leaves covered in silver fuzz, merely withered and dried ・better consume without any additives
Flavored Tea	・create by adding flowers, herbs, fruits, and other natural flavors to tea ・common types including Jasmine Tea (with jasmine blossoms), Earl Grey (with bergamot), as well as Masala Chai (with Indian spices like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger)
Herbal Infusions	・aka tisane or herbal infusion ・common types including chamomile, peppermint, and rooibos

How to elevate our experience of tea tasting? First of all, inspect the dry tea, from their shape, color, to the texture. Feel the tea between our fingers, to see if it is crunchy or not, as a signal that it has not absorbed any moisture or flavor in the air. For black tea, white tea and green tea, there should be some golden or bronze flecks on the young leaves called tippy.

Observe the physical appearance of the tea. Whether it is crystal clean or has vibrant color tells the story of this piece of art. Take a deep breath or a closer sniff of its aroma. Over 90% of flavor is perceived through smell. A combination of the neural messages from the tongue, olfactory gland as well as gustatory receptors allow us to build a profile of the tea we are drinking.

Pay attention to the head notes, body notes as well as the tail notes (i.e. the aftertaste). Try to describe the overall impression and character. The longer the aftertaste, the better the quality. Remember the bitterness is present in the majority tea due to the tannins. Make sure we do not over-squeeze our tea bag, otherwise this can release deep-rooted tannins.

Not only is tea a kind of traditional beverage, it is also a spiritual aesthetic that reflects Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian religious thoughts. Lu Yu embodied these teachings into the tea ceremony, as a way to express the simplicity and harmony throughout the entire universe. No wonder some always said, “tea is a gentle reminder to slow down and savor the moment”.

IMG: https://raicesdelatierra.com/en/teas-to-reduce-stress-and-relax/