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The Perfect Cup of Tea Three cups a day keeps the doctor away. |
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"The Merchant's Wife at Tea" 1918 |
A legend tells us tea was discovered in China in 2737 BC. A few tea leaves drifted down from an overhanging branch into Emperor Shennong's large pan of boiling water which was on a fire in the open air
Shennong, an herbalist, sage, and scholar, discovered tea's curative powers. Soon tea became a popular herbal remedy.
The Chinese tea trade is a large part of its history. As long ago as 138 BC, ships sailed regularly to India, Ceylon and other Asian destinations.
Between the seventh and ninth centuries, trading expanded to Korea, Japan, Afghanistan and Arabia was active
By the 1800s Britain was trading opium (grown in India,
which they owned), for tea.
In 1823 the first plantations of tea had been established in
India.
In 1838 the first Indian tea was shipped to Britain.
In the 1840s the shipping of tea was expedited with the launch of the first clippers Clipper required only 7 to 8 months, rather than a year to 15 month, to sail from China to Europe or North America.
The "Invention" of the Tea Bag
In 1908, an American names Thomas Sullivan shipped samples of tea in silk bags to customers. Sullivan expected the silk to be cut and the tea poured in boiling water. Instead, the recipients simply seeped the neat little silk bags in boiling water.
In the 1920s silk turned to gauze and the production of tea bags took off.
By 1935, the familiar tea bags, with a string and a tag (for advertising purposes) were widely available in both cup and pot size.
The Perfect Tea
The "perfect cup of tea," is made with loose-leaf Assam tea,
with one rounded teaspoon per cup, no extra for the pot. (Britain's Royal
Society of Chemistry ).
The Perfect Water:
Freshly drawn and boiled water should be used. Previously boiled water
loses dissolved oxygen, which is important to bring out flavor)
"Soft" water is preferable to "hard" water, as hard water contains calcium and other minerals which detract from the pure taste of the tea. Some recommend fresh spring water
The Perfect Brewing Time:
The tea should be allowed to brew for three to four minutes but no longer,
to avoid bringing out the dreaded "higher molecular-weight
tannins" which have the "flavor of stewed cardboard" http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030625/od_afp/science_lifestyle_tea_030625165521
Perfectly Rich Mosaic of Flavor and Taste
Premium tea leaves are the most tender, young leaves. These young
leaves are more tender and flavorful than the older leaves.
Differences in weather conditions and altitudes also affect taste, with
superior premium teas predominating the higher
altitudes..
The perfect way to enjoy tea:
with friends & biscotti
Invite your best friend to tea. Lay out
your best dishes on a lace tablecloth, with fresh-picked flowers and
immerse homemade biscotti in freshly brewed tea.
The following is an old Italian biscotti recipe that melts in your mouth:
Biscotti
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. grated lemon peel (or lemon extract)
2 tsps baking powder
1 ½ to 2 cups chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds or filberts)
¼ cup anisette
¼ cup rum
When well mixed, add nuts. Remix.
Divide mixture into two.
Bake at 350 F for approximately 35 to 40 minutes (till light golden brown)
Remove from oven.
Let
it cool completely.
Slice in approximately ½” strips (or slice before serving).
Health benefits to drinking tea
Tea is an antioxidant, meaning it helps to combat the oxidation of body cells that can lead to cancer. Antioxidants in tea are vitamin C and polypheonis
Adagio
teas reports paraphrases the BBC May 2003 report on beneficial
effects of tea:
"Chemicals in tea can destroy bacteria and viruses that cause
throat infections, dental cavities and other dental conditions. It
raises the prospect of adding tea extracts to toothpaste and mouthwash to
protect the teeth."
Adagio
teas reports The
Wall Street Journal touted tea's healing powers in April
2003:
"White-tea extract cream effective at boosting the immune
function of skin cells."
Adagio
teas also cites U.S.
News & World Report, May 20, 2002
"Tea flavonoids may be bone builders."
I recommend a visit to Adagio Tea's Health Page highlights and summarizes reputable articles regarding tea's healthful attributes.
In the third century BC, tea was referred to as the "elixir of life." Certainly there was some truth to that.
Trivia
Interesting tea ware
Visit the Hong Kon Museum of tea ware
Tea and American Freedom:
Remember the Boston Tea Party. On the night of December 16,
1773. colonists , dressed as Native Americans, dumped the entire
cargo of three boats into the harbor in protest of the import tea
taxes. This highly symbolic act fueled the American Revolution!
Regarding Teabags:
"Teabags are a handy convenience but they do slow down infusion, and
favor infusion of the slower-infusing but less desirable higher
molecular-weight tannins," Loughborough University chemist
Andrew Stapley.
Some information on tea is paraphrased from Pettigrew's book Tea and Infusions.