Tea is perhaps the most preferred beverage and is thought to be a British drink. According to legend, in 2737 BC, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung was resting under a Camellia sinensis tree while his maid was brewing water. A puff of wind blew some leaves into the boiling water, and fortuitously the most aromatic refreshing beverage, tea, was discovered. There is no proof of this story, but legends are legends. Camellia sinensis is an evergreen shrub belonging to the flowering plant family Theaceae containing polyphenolic molecules such as catechin and epigallocatechin -3-gallate (EGCG).
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Hang Dynasty (206BC -220AD)
Tea is mentioned in many ancient Chinese texts, and drinking the beverage was restricted among nobles and emperors. Drinking tea was an act of classiness in China, ages before it was introduced in Europe. In tombs of the Hang Dynasty (206BC -220AD), teapots were found, but during the Song regime, tea drinking became an integral part of Chinese culture. There are a hundred and twelve diversities of tea grown in China, which is also the largest exporter. As of 2018, the country produced around 2.5 M metric tons, which is 42.6% of total global tea production.
2 Major Variants of Tea
The two important variants of cultivated tea are C. sinensis var. sinensis as well as C. sinensis var. assamica. The first one is fermented to produce green and black China tea, and the latter is Assam (India) black tea. Tea was introduced to Japan from China in the 8th Century during a diplomatic visit. Initially, it was offered at Buddhist monasteries to monks, priests, and aristocrats attending special events. During the Heian regime, tea was nurtured and consumed by the elite class. Gradually (1806-1868), tea time and parties became a social norm in Japan. In a civilized society, a cup of tea was appreciated and acknowledged as a substitute for the wilderness of alcohol. The opulence of tea was transcended into a staple Japanese beverage.
India
India is the second largest tea producer globally (900,000 tons) and contributes 12.6% of world tea export as of 2022Tea was not widely harvested across the country till 1850 when colonial British started commercial plantations. Darjeeling tea is the most renowned Indian tea variant due to its light texture and floral aroma. It is grown on terrace fields at the foothills of the Himalayas, the altitude, given the ecosystem’s slow growth of buds and leaves, gives a delicate taste and flavor. Darjeeling tea is harvested (flush) three times a year, first from mid-March to May, second from June to mid-August, and third from October to November, also known as autumn flush. At the same time, Assam tea comes with a stronger and malty brew and tastes best when drunk with milk and sugar.
Europe
Tea started to emerge from Asia to Europe in 1610 by Dutch. As the British and Dutch started trading with China in the 17th and 18th Centuries, the popularity of tea increased manifolds. The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are among one the largest per capita tea consumers. Tea time soon became a trendy break which was around four in the evening. Low and high tea was derived from the height of the table, low tea was served on coffee tables, and high tea was for the privileged class. It is noteworthy to mention North American independence started with the Boston Tea Party of 1773 in protest of the high tax on tea.