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The tea story begins in China around 5,000 years ago. Legend has it that the emperor Shen Nung was a scientist and lover of the arts.

One of his proclamations required that all drinking water be boiled as a hygienic precaution. One day while visiting in the countryside of his far-reaching realm, he and the court stopped to rest. In accordance with his law, the servants began to boil water for the court to drink. Dried leaves from a bush fell into the boiling water, and a brown liquid was infused into the water. As a scientist, the emperor became intrigued by the liquid, drank some, and found it very appetizing. The bush happened to be a tea plant and this is how tea was created.

The Chinese

After the creation of tea, consumption spread throughout the Chinese culture. In 800 A.D. Lu Yu wrote the first book on tea, the Ch’a Ching. Utilizing his vast memory of observed events and places, he classified the differing methods of tea cultivation and preparation in ancient China. His work was so explicit and complete that it projected him into near sainthood within his own lifetime. Supported by the emperor himself, his work clearly showed the Zen Buddhist philosophy to which he was exposed as a child. It was this form of tea service that Zen Buddhist missionaries would later introduce to imperial Japan.

The Japanese

The first tea seeds were brought to Japan by the Buddhist priest Yeisei, who had seen the value of tea in China in enhancing religious mediation. As a result, he is known as the “Father of Tea” in Japan. Because of this partnership, tea in Japan has always been associated with Zen Buddhism.

Tea was heightened to an art form resulting in the creation of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, Cha-no-yu.

Irish-Greek journalist and historian Lafcadio Hearn described this ceremony: “The Tea ceremony requires years of training and practice to graduate in art…yet the whole of this art, as to its detail, signifies no more than the making and serving of a cup of tea. The supremely important matter is that the act be performed in the most perfect, most polite, most graceful, most charming manner possible”.

As more people became involved in the excitement surrounding tea, the purity of the original Zen concept was lost. The tea ceremony became corrupted, excessive and very elaborate. Three great Zen priests restored tea to its original place in Japanese society:

Ikkyu, a prince who became a priest and was successful in guiding the nobles away from their corruption of the tea ceremony, Murata Shuko, the student of Ikkyu and very influential in reintroducing the Tea ceremony into Japanese society and Sen-no Rikkyu, a priest who set the rigid standards for the ceremony, largely used intact today.

Corine Graham is the creator and webmaster of The-Zen.fr

An online boutique that offers over 170 varieties of teas, herbal teas, rooibos and tea accessories as well as interesting facts on the history of this wonderful beverage.

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Coffee tea, similar to numerous other tea-type knock-offs is, in point of fact, not a tea in any way shape or form. Coffee tea is comprised of a mixture of both coffee and tea, and from there is combined with each other so that it makes a radically distinctive beverage then either tea or coffee does alone.

It is not likely that you will find Coffee tea being served in every cafe, however it can quite easily be made either out or in a person’s own home. This article gives some details on what coffee tea actually is how you may choose to enjoy this unique beverage.

Coffee Tea – What is it?

Coffee tea is an invention who’s origin is now known and is made from the integration of, obviously, both tea and coffee into a singular delicious treat. One of the best ways of serving this drink is hot, however is may also be enjoyed cold with ice. You can incorporate any of the four primary assortments of tea, which are; white, red, green, black, or oolong.

As a matter of fact, combinations of these four basic selections can be integrated, the knock-offs are those that are in fact not actual teas but that are often addressed as though they actually are, and they as well may be utilized in this combination. For example, herbal teas as well as chai can be a part of coffee tea as well.

Coffee tea can also have included coffee of numerous assortments and flavors. Coffee’s of stronger flavors which are created through a different roasting process may also be included. For example, a person may use a aromatic French roast of even-keeled darkness that has been threw the brewing lungo-style so that it tones down the greater full bodied quality of the roasts that are stronger.

Ways to Enjoy Coffee Tea

Coffee tea is a distinct beverage because it has the ability to be enjoyed in numerous different ways, and on top of being able to savor this drink in cold or hot coffee tea break, it can also be spruced up or down in numerous unique way. Coffee tea, similar to other types of teas can be lightened up with cream or milk.

Additionally, it can even be thinned out and made less potent by being watered down. Some individuals might also prefer the addition of particular spices such as cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg.

Some of these additions can very much add a new flavor and dimension to coffee tea, in addition, people may prefer to add some sweetness to this drink with the use of pure cane sugar, raw sugar, or possibly honey. different people demonstrate very unique likes and dislikes, so it is up to each one to create their own special version of the coffee tea treat.

Listen to Korbin Newlyn as he shares his insights as an expert author and an avid writer in the field of food and drink. If you would like to learn more go to Wu Long Tea advice and at Benefit of Green Tea tips.

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Green tea is becoming more and more popular, especially among health conscious people in Western countries. I am one of those who started drinking green tea as a result of wanting to have a healthier lifestyle. Many books and magazines speak warmly of the antioxidant properties of green tea, and I thought I would try.

I did not meet with instant success. The health benefits notwithstanding, I had some trouble with the taste. People often describe the flavor of green tea as “grassy” and “vegetal”, but to me is was like drinking a cup of liquid spinach, never one of my favorite vegetables.

The health benefits kept me going, though, and I soon learned to tolerate the taste. Barely. A few months later, I discovered white tea, which has three times the antioxidants, but does without the soaked spinach taste. In fact, the flavor of white tea was so weak, I went back to green tea soon after.

That was until I learned about yellow tea, which is a lot like green tea, but is manufactured specifically to get rid of the grassy taste. Yellow tea starts out as leaves from the same plant that green tea is made from, but the leaves are harvested earlier in the spring, and they are not cut or ground.

While green tea is very lightly fermented (or more correctly, oxidized), yellow tea is oxidized for slightly longer, and in several steps. It is dried sequentially, often between sheets of a special paper.

The process is more time intensive and painstaking than making green tea, but the result is a delicate, yellow tea leaf. And even better – the tea brewed on the leaves of yellow tea has no grassy taste. I would describe the flavor as flowery and fresh, but stronger and less subtle than white tea. Also, it seems yellow tea can take more steepings than green tea before the taste gets too weak.

Green tea is healthy because of the antioxidants, and yellow tea appears to retain the same health benefits. Or possibly even better ones: Yellow tea leaves are picked early in the spring, while they are still buds. This means that they are chock full of antioxidants, just like white tea, which is harvested at about the same time.

Yellow tea is still not widely available, since most tea farmers in China will manufacture more cost-effective green tea instead of yellow tea. But the supply is steadily increasing to fill the rising demand, and many internet vendors carry yellow tea in several varieties.

There is much to like about yellow tea, as far as I’m concerned. It looks great, smells good, has at least as good health benefits as green tea, and it tastes much better, at least to my palate. Yellow tea is well set to become the next great success story in the world of tea.

Joshua Montello is a journalist, a longtime tea connoisseur, and the webmaster of Yellow Tea Guide, the first ever website dedicated to the emerging success of yellow tea. Just by browsing the site, you will be a leading expert on yellow tea. Beat the rush, and learn all there is to know about yellow tea now, before it takes off for real!

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Tea drinking eases the mind, relaxes the body and encourages social life. It is a simple pleasure with a long and rich tradition. More tea is consumed than any other beverage in the world. Rituals focusing on tea are very common in the East and West. The Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu) has existed for over 500 years. Afternoon tea, formal or informal, is a fixture of English life.

There are many kinds of tea:

Besides herbal teas, all teas come from the plant Camellia sinesis. Most are grown in India, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Africa. Teas fall into categories according to their degree of fermentation. Green tea is unfermented and mild, pale in color; it is ceremonial in Japan and often served in Oriental restaurants. Drinking green tea may cut the risk of cancer and heart disease. Oolong tea is semifermented; it brews light brown and has a distinctive flavor. Black tea is completely fermented and requires a good deal of attention during the process.

Distinctive blends and flavors include:

Assam – from India, a strong, wake-up tea.

Black Currant – Oriental teas with black currant.

Darjeeling – fruity taste, the ‘Champagne of teas’ from India.

Earl Grey – blend of black China and Darjeeling, with oil of bergamot.

English Breakfast – blend of teas from Ceylon and India.

Flowery Orange Pekoe- a black Ceylon (Sri Lanka) tea with subtle flavor.

Formosa Oolong – brown tea with a peachy taste.

Gunpowder – very delicate Chinese tea.

Jasmine – green or black-green blend, with jasmine flowers.

Keemun – a delicate tea from China.

Lady Londonberry – black blend.

Laspang Souchong – from China, smoky and rich.

Rose Pouchong – Chinese tea with rose petals.

Russian Caravan – China and Taiwan blend

Yunnan – strong but subtle Chinese tea.

KiyaSama is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers

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Even the most casual visitor to Hong Kong cannot help but notice what a uniquely vibrant Asian city it is. Hong Kong is exciting, different, exotic and welcoming – all rolled into one. It is basically Chinese (the majority of the residents are Cantonese) but most people speak English and almost all are engaged in some form of commerce.

For most visitors, Hong Kong is a place of beauty and excitement and wonder from the time they arrive until the time they leave.

Hong Kong consists of three parts: Victoria Island and surrounding islands, Kowloon, located on the tip of the peninsula leading up to mainland China and the rest of the peninsula known as the New Territories. Between Victoria Island and Kowloon was a world class harbor that placed Hong Kong on the map as an entry point into China.

The main beverage of choice is tea in one form or another and all meals are usually accompanied by pots of steaming hot black, green or pu-erh tea. Hong Kong has over 13,000 restaurants and tea is the main beverage in almost every one of them.

Tea is more than a beverage in Hong Kong – it is a way of life ingrained in the very essence of the culture. But it must be noted that Hong Kong is not a producer of tea, nor is it merely a consumer of fine Chinese tea.

Hong Kong however, played one of the most important roles in the introduction of Chinese tea to the west in general and Britain in particular, but this role was won at a very high price.

Chinese Tea, Hong Kong and the British Empire

During the 17th century Dutch and Portuguese traders introduced Chinese tea to the European mainland and British traders soon followed this trend.

Tea imports grew slowly in Britain because of high taxes on what was considered a luxury item and monopolistic trading practices of a small number of importers like the John and East India companies. Tea was so popular and demand was so high, however that smuggling and adulteration of tea supplies became rampant.

Eventually, enlightened tax policies and opening of the channels of distribution occurred, smuggling evaporated and all classes of the English population increased the demand for tea, Supplies increased dramatically and tea drinking has been part of English culture until present day.

In the 19th century, China was the main supplier to the British and by 1830 annual imports of Chinese tea into Britain amounted to 30 million pounds of tea or an average of 2 pounds of tea for every citizen.

In addition to its place in British society as the most popular beverage, tea was critical to British wealth because of the tax revenues it generated and the wealth provide to powerful British merchant companies.

British Trade

By the middle of the 19th century Britain was considered the premier mercantile empire and British manufactured goods were sold and traded throughout the world. As a leader in the Industrial Revolution, Britain produced high quality consumer goods that served as trading items through outposts strategically located throughout the world.

Many of these outposts were established and supplied by the quite formidable British army and navy in what would become the key element of British Imperialism.

Because of the imbalance of trade caused by the ever increasing level of tea imports, Britain was anxious to expand trade with China to equalize trade and solve its balance of trade deficit. China was seen by most trade experts as the world’s largest untapped market.

Cultural Differences, the Demand for Bullion and the Opium Wars

While Britain was anxious to trade using its supply of manufactured goods, China was not. Based upon a differing cultural view whereby merchants and traders were viewed as part of a lower caste and with distrust. Foreign traders were particularly suspect. These traders were restricted in what goods they could sell and where they could sell them. High duties were imposed by China and traders were extremely limited in their business activities.

Add to this fact that China was basically a closed society and the result was a Chinese demand that tea sales required payment in silver bullion rather than trade goods. Since Britain did not have enough silver to meet the demands, a conflict arose. To overcome this problem, Britain devised an aggressive strategy that included the importation of opium and eventually outright warfare.

In an attempt to reverse the trade balance, the British imported increasing amounts of opium into China. Opium, a highly addictive drug produced in the Bengal region of India, was controlled by Britain as a result of the British annexation of Bengal in 1757.

As more and more Chinese became addicts, the balance of trade reversed. To pay for the rising volume of opium imports, silver started flowing out of China into British coffers. Britain was still at risk however, because trade was still conducted in mainland China under the control of the Chinese Emperor and bureaucracy.

In the late 1830s, to curb the damage caused by opium on the Chinese population, Chinese officials confiscated and destroyed thousands of chests of opium stored in the English merchants’ warehouses in Canton China. Because of these events on the mainland, Britain required an offshore base of operations under British control and Hong Kong, then a sleepy fishing village whose main export was salt, was an ideal candidate.

Under the directives put forth by Queen Victoria, Britain sent a naval expeditionary squadron to China. This action resulted in the first Opium War (1839-42), which China, faced with overwhelming military force and troops reinforced from India, lost.

The Treaty of Nanking, which ended the war, forced the Chinese to open five ports to foreign commerce, abolish the cohong (state trading monopoly system that restricted imports), sharply limit the amount of customs duty they could charge, pay an indemnity of 21 million silver dollars, cede the island of Hong Kong to Great Britain and grant not only Great Britain, but also its allies, extraterritoriality, which made Westerners immune to Chinese law.

As a result of the First Opium War, Britain not only opened trade with China, but established a base of operations in Hong Kong that would remain until the island was returned to China in 1997.

These terms affected the common people adversely. Unemployment increased substantially, particularly in Canton where tea trading was a major business. Smaller, locally owned industries, unable to compete against the imported factory-manufactured piece goods, declined, depriving many peasant households of an important source of supplementary income. Taxes soared as the government tried to raise sufficient funds to pay the indemnity. And as opium continued to pour into the country, the number of addicts multiplied. Millions of lives were affected and often ruined.

As the British foothold on Victoria Island and Kowloon was consolidated, the British sought to expand their advantageous position and fought the Second Opium War in 1856. Given the overwhelming technological advantage of the British the Chinese were defeated and were forced to accept a humiliating peace.

By the terms of the Treaty of Tientsin (1858) the Chinese opened new ports to trading and allowed foreigners with passports to travel in the interior. The remainder of the Hong Kong peninsula (the New Territories) was ceded to Britain and Christian’s gained the right to spread their faith and hold property, thus opening up another means of western penetration. The United States and Russia gained the same privileges in separate treaties.

Notwithstanding the dislocation and tragedy on the mainland, Hong Kong grew and prospered in a capitalistic world. China continued to suffer under various war lords and revolution and remained a third world country until recently. Hong Kong however became a world center for trade and finance and its citizens prospered. Hong Kong remained under British rule until 1997 when it was returned as part of mainland China.

Hong Kong’s prosperity continues until present day but it got its start with the import and export of tea.

Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea recently placed first and second in the best tea competition at the prestigious World Tea Expo in Atlanta Georgia. For more information about tea, green tea and black tea go to goldenmoontea.com

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There are many varieties of tea one can discover and enjoy. From silver needle, to dragon well, along with sencha, gyokuro, wuyi oolongs, assam, darjeeling, ceylon, white peony and more just to name a common few. There are literally thousands of varieties of tea throughout the world, with probably hundreds more still that can be processed to uniqueness. However, whatever the variety a tea may become, it is generally broken down into four main types which are white, green, oolong, or black.

What usually is interesting to newcomers of tea is that all tea comes from the same plant. This plant is called Camellia sinensis, and is the mother of all traditional tea. Herbal teas such as rooibos (also known as red bush) and chamomile, do not come from this plant and are classified as tisanes. So how does one plant give us so many varieties?

Well, Camellia sinensis is cultivated throughout the world by different cultures in different growing conditions like altitude, climate, and soil compounds. It is because of these various conditions that give us so many kinds of tea since any change in weather or altitude, for example, can strongly influence a teas outcome.

A look at the four main types of tea.

First we will look at white tea. This type of tea, which is harvested in early spring, is the least fermented (or cooked) out of the other types with the only processing it goes through is either left to dry in the sun or a special climate controlled room. This tea produces a lightly colored liquor that has a sweet aroma and taste. A very calm tea with studies like one from the Linus Pauling Institute suggesting that it can act as a possible cancer fighter and deterrent, as well as also destroy disease causing organisms.

Green tea is a common type and also offers great health benefits as well. Once you become accustomed to the sometimes vegetal taste, a fantastic beverage with many varieties to satisfy awaits. The tea, like white tea, is picked early in the spring (with the exception of certain varieties), but is allowed to ferment a little longer before being fired to stop oxidation. Japanese types like sencha, which is grown in the sun, and gyokuro, which is grown in the shade are popular green teas. Some of these teas can be quite expensive too, and it is not uncommon for one to pay hundreds for just a few ounces!

Oolong (or wu long), and black teas are the last two types which are let to oxidize even longer before being baked. Oolong tea is a cross between green and black teas, with the highest quality coming from Taiwan. Some oolongs yield a flowery taste, while others give a more woody taste. Black tea, which is the most consumed world wide of the four types, is the most oxidized. The leaves are left to dry until they turn a dark copper-like color.

The Assam region of India harvests the most, while Sri Lanka closes in second place for total world production. Black tea is common in average tea bags, like Tetley or Lipton, and is used quite often to make iced tea.

While tea bags offer convenience for steeping, in order to achieve the best flavor from this type, or any type of tea, is to brew it loose leaf style!

Explore More Common Types Of Tea And Varieties

David Carloni is the creator and webmaster of The Color Of Tea.com

An online resource guide that offers information, tips, facts, varieties, and the introduction to the simple pleasures of brewing and enjoying loose leaf tea.

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Thyme Tea is most often used to aid in treatment from the common cold, brochitis, and coughs. It has the abilities to dry mucous membranes and relax spasms of the bronchial passage to provide relief from coughing. It is also known to treat infections and has antiseptic abilities. It is used frequently as an ingredient in toothpastes and mouthwashes and as a gargle to treat gum disease.

As a result, Thyme Tea can be effective for the following chronic conditions:

Bronchitis
Emphysema
Asthma
Hay Fever

As a digestive aid, thyme is known to combat such parasites as hookworms and tapeworms. For digestive health, mix thyme with equal amounts of red clover, sage and rosemary. If you are treating naseau, add a little ginger to the tea. Boil 1 cup of fresh water and add 1 tsp of the dried herbs and a slice of ginger root.

This herb has also been effective in reducing pain associated with rheumatic arthritis and arthritic pain in joints. Thyme Tea is a great herbal remedy for many conditions.

The most common variety to use for tea is Thymus Vulgaris, however Thymus Serpyllum contains a sedative property and can make you sleepy. It is a great tea prior to bed time.

Also, it is has been proven effective in increasing perspiration which is why it has been recommended to bring down a fever and help sweat out a cold.

Externally, a strong tea tonic made of Thyme steeped in boiled water, double or triple a standard thyme tea recipe, can be used as an antiseptic on external cuts and wounds. This Thyme Tonic also makes a good gargle or rinse for chronic gum problems.

For more information about Thyme Herbal Tonic visit http://www.crazyfortea.com/thymeherbaltea.html

Visit http://www.crazyfortea.com to find out more about different herbal and medicinal teas!

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Start your own business by selling afternoon teas. Check your state laws on it, because you might have to prepare the tea at the hosts’ home. Create a menu and let your customers choose from a wide variety of teas, as well as a variety of snacks. Hold these relaxing tea parties for a minimum of 10 people for $100 (even if there are less people, still charge $100), and a maximum of 20 people or more. Charge $10 per person. This would be a local business for you, so focus on your community.

Sometimes, working continuously from morning to night proves to be rather difficult and tedious. Homemakers, office workers, and business people all need a refreshing break to relax and unwind, to get on with the day. These afternoon teas prove to be rather refreshing and reviving. So, you can bank on this want or need, and start a business of selling afternoon teas.

If you intend to start a business selling afternoon tea, it is always better to check state and local laws on the running of this business. This is because there is always the probability of having a need of preparing tea at the hosts’ home. Tea proves to be refreshing only if you drink it freshly brewed and hot. If the host intends to relax and unwind by spending some time chatting with friends, it is better to provide boiling hot tea for them. Just make sure that the law permits you to prepare tea in their home or office.

You not only serve just tea to the host and friends; you also offer them a variety of teas for them to choose. At the same time, also give them a variety of snacks to choose from too. This is so that they not only get refreshed and relaxed after their afternoon tea, but also have a small amount of food that will hold them over until they eat a full evening meal. Give an idea of what you can serve them, by offering a menu that you have created for them, so they can place an order while ordering the evening tea party.

To make things easier and more profitable for you, you could charge them a minimum of $100 for 10 people. Even if there are less than 10 for the gathering, charge them $100 so that you are able to make a profit from the business. Setting the maximum number of people you can cater to depends on you, and your work force. If you can cater to a maximum of 50, let them know this is okay. However, if you do not have the needed help to cater for more than 20 people, it is better that you mention this point in the beginning. With larger groups, maybe you could charge something like $10 per person. This proves to be convenient and reasonable for the host and clients. This price also depends on the cost of the tea and food items that they choose to offer their guests.

As this will be a local business, it is better that you concentrate on your community. You could create some pamphlets to distribute in your community and neighborhood so that people will be aware of your services. Make sure you include all your rates, the amount of time you need to prepare the dishes and the minimum and maximum number of people who can order for an afternoon tea. You could also place some ads in the local yellow pages and local directory listings.

There is not much of an investment required for this service; you will need some utensils, different types of tea, various sugars and of course, cream, creamer, and milk (regular and low-fat or non-fat). You can prepare snacks, if possible, or place orders with someone who can prepare reasonably priced snacks. Also, decide if you choose to pick these snacks up or have them delivered at the right time and place. Once these things are set up, and the state laws followed, you may as well start on your business providing enjoyable afternoon tea.

Here are 10 things that we should know about tea. It’s not just a thirst-quenching activity when we drink a hot cup of tea but instead tea leaves functions in so many different ways. Things we never knew that can be done by simply sipping a tea. Here are the reasons why we should include drinking tea everday.

• Tea fights free radicals

The tea contains high levels of antioxidants like polyphenols, flavonoids, and catechins that fights the free radicals and prevent it from harming the healthy cells.

• Keeps your heart healthy

It actually improves the function of the endothelia which is the lining of the blood cells like arteries and veins, so it helps lower the risk of a heart disease.

• Boosts your immunity

The tea has this amino acid called theanine that activates the cells that is involved in the first line of defense of the body reducing the risk of infection. So when you feel like getting a cold, get a cup of hot tea.

• Acts as an anti-inflammatory

Catechins contained by the tea may act as a prophylactic for arthritis and in bone injuries. This happens by reducing swelling and slowing cartilage breakdown. That is why this is good for patients with bone injuries and arthritic patients.

• Helps fight the Big C

Since the tea has the antioxidant properties, it keeps our cells healthy by inhibiting the enzyme which the cancer needs in order to grow. This is one of the best cancer preventing drinks.

• Makes your bone healthy

The flavonoid, a substance found in tea, actually helps build a strong bone and helps increase the bone mineral densities. So pack up a bag of healthy bones.

• Stronger teeth

Tea contains fluoride that benefits your teeth. It kills the bacteria and control bad breath or halitosis, and prevents plaque formation. Want to get a perfect smile, you can’t get that from toothpaste but instead tea can offer you that.

• Boosts energy level

When the heart and the respiratory systems are stimulated by the caffeine found in tea, it supplies more oxygen to the brain increasing your alertness and improve your concentration. That it is why it also can help increase memory level.

• It keeps you slim

Want those extra pounds out? Tea can actually help you. It burns fat and calories, and it also increases your body’s metabolism. So shed those extra fats out!

• Keeps you hydrated

We all know that we adults should consume about 8 to 11 glass of water a day. We can use 2 to 3 cups of tea everyday and this will help satisfy our daily water requirement.

Wow! Tea can actually do all that. I never knew that until I read about it. That is why I wanted to share this new found knowledge to all of you. I wanted everyone to be as healthy as I am. Try it; it actually will help you feel good about yourself too. Enjoy!

I am Suzanne Harvey, and I was born December 27, 1975 in California. I love it here so I planned to stay here for the rest of my life. I have two kids, namely Holden and Anya. I love spending time with my kids and kids in school as well. I am a teacher in a middle school here in California. You can know a lot of me and read my article about 10 things you don’t know about tea at my site.

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More likely than not, a layman’s idea of brewing good tea would be to dump a teabag into a cup and then pour hot water on to it, and voila, a few minutes of immersing the teabag later, you would have of cup of hot tea! However, if you consider the fact that what is usually contained in a typical teabag are actually tea fannings(the tiniest pieces of broken leaves usually of the lower grades), you are really losing out on the enjoyment of savouring quality teas that can only be brewed from loose leave tea!

Granted, I’m not saying that all teabag teas are made from poor quality teas as some excellent teas can also be found in teabag form, but nevertheless, there are other mitigating factors that makes tea brewed from loose tea leaves superior.

One factor I can think of is that the brewing of good tea require space for the tea leaves to expand. If you have ever brewed Dragon Pearl Jasmine tea before, you would have witnessed the tiny rolled balls of tea unfurling in the hot water, which allow all surfaces of the tea leaves to steep and release its essential chemicals and oils, the basis for the enchanting flavour of tea. However, in the constricted space of of a tea bag, the process of expanding of the tea leaves is largely restricted, hindering the release of its full flavours!

Other than missing out flavour-wise, brewing tea from teabags also means that you miss out on the experience of watching poetry in motion as the tea leaves unravels in a beautiful dance. There are many kinds of quality chinese tea that are rolled into various forms(some are even handcrafted and tied up into various interesting shapes), and viewing how the different tea leaves unfurls can heighten the experience of enjoying quality tea as much drinking the tea itself!

Also, in a typical tea bag, although quality tea might be used, it would usually contain broken up pieces of tea leaves rather than whole tea leaves due to the size of the teabag. This increases the likely hood that the tea leaves might be stale as there is greater surface for the essential oils found in the tea leaves to evaporate leaving the tea lacking in taste and nutrition when it is brewed.

With the above factors in mind, next time you think of relaxing over a cup of good tea, try brewing from quality loose leave tea rather than settling for just a tea bag. Check out our premium loose leaf teas once, and I’m sure you’ll never go back to your usual teabag teas ever again!

More tea knowledge at Essential Brew!

My Personal Blog on Success is at Prospecting LIFE.

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