Are you a fervent drinker of tea? Is there a particular kind of tea that you have a liking for? Herbal teas are all the rage, but have you ever thought of trying out black tea? This particular kind of tea contains more caffeine and has a rich, aromatic flavor. Black tea, popularly called Camellia Sinensis is in fact an evergreen shrub, widely cultivated in China, and has a spicy or sweet taste, but at times, there is a slight trace of chocolate or perhaps some floral additives. Black tea originated in China, possibly 4000 years back.

In 1773, black tea gained notoriety due to the well-known Boston Harbor Tea party. As a defiant sign of independence, colonists tossed tea straight into the harbor. The 18th century saw the rise in popularity of tea across England with the now familiar tea and crumpets being regularly served in the afternoons.

Tea thrives best in tropical climates, especially in rain forests. Generally, tea is cultivated in countries in the South American or Asian continent. Places with high altitudes are the best for the growing of tea. Black tea, which is highly popular, constitutes about eighty percent of total tea sales. Black tea retains its flavor for a long time. Although the tea shrub can attain heights of more than forty feet, it is usually trimmed to about 3 to 4 feet.

The first flush or the initial tea buds that burst forth are considered the finest quality tealeaves. After these leaves are carefully picked, others soon grow back, and this chain is maintained until the Fall. The mature leaves, found nearer to the base of the stem are not of good quality and hence are not picked.

Quite a few people like to take pure, black tea without adding anything to it. There are others, who favor the addition of lemon or milk, and sugar or perhaps may even put in cinnamon and cloves. A few have a fondness for a steaming hot cup of tea, whereas others love sipping iced tea on a sweltering afternoon.

The tealeaves are withered in order to process black tea. After that, the tea is crushed, shredded, and rolled for further processing. The tealeaves can be processed either by hand or by machines. Next, the leaves are left to ferment, followed by drying. Subsequently the leaves are separated, based on their size. These tealeaves can be intact, broken, or crushed to dust. Afterwards the tea is sent for packaging.

In general, tea is made by first bringing water to a boil, adding the tea and then letting it steep for about four minutes. Many people prefer spicing up their tea by adding nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom. A further regularly used additive is honey and most people use it in place of sugar.

Drinking tea daily helps one unwind and chill out, besides bringing down stress levels. Many people discover that tea has a calming and comforting effect and it enables them to loosen up and take things easy. Tea is enriched with antioxidants that help resist disease. According to research, tea leads to a rise in metabolism, thus resulting in weight reduction. Tea is absolutely free of calories, unless honey or sugar is added. Therefore, savor your tea without going on a guilt trip. Enjoy as many cups of tea in a day!

Just loosen up, shut your eyes, and breathe deeply. As you inhale, take in the tantalizing flavor of freshly prepared tea that you are going to sip. Now this hot beverage is really calming and heart-warming. It conveys a very invigorating aroma that helps settle your nerves as well as lets you unwind after a hard day’s work.

All it takes is black tea, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and pepper; put in hot water, honey, milk, and you have a remarkably delightful form of Chai tea. This in fact is a healthy option to your regular mug of morning coffee.

In the word Chai, the first two letters are pronounced like “church” while the last two letters rhyme with “sky”. In America, Chai is actually an abbreviated form of Masala Chai. The term “masala” denotes an assortment of spices. Tea lattes, which are actually tea with milk, are some other derivatives. In fact, Chai is in no way a particular variety of tea; it just signifies a certain way of making tea with milk as well as spices.

Now Chai tea is considered the brainchild of the Hindus, who had mastered the naturally healing technique, which relied heavily on herbs and spices, and is believed to possess natural curative properties.

Tea is referred to as Chai in Asian terminology. Generally, it is prepared by boiling water and milk along with tea. Based on an individual’s tastes, an assortment of additives like lemon, honey, and spices like cinnamon can be put in. In fact tea is more widely favored than coffee in certain countries.

The strong aroma of tea can definitely be a refreshing and a pleasant experience. Following an extremely taxing day, there is certainly nothing more inviting than settling down, unwinding and savoring a piping hot beverage. In freezing winters, snuggling cozily in front of a cheerful fire and sipping hot tea, surely beats anything.

Usually, Chai is made from black tea in combination with cardamom, molasses, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. In India, the best way of preparing chai is by boiling the tealeaves along with milk in order to obtain a rich flavor.

Now, the spices that are added to the Chai have numerous health advantages like containing antioxidants, which aid in warding off cancer. Besides, tea also assists in reducing cholesterol levels as well as reducing blood pressure levels. Further, cloves facilitate the production of body heat and hence you feel all warm in the winter months as well as during the viral infections’ season. Ginger has a favorable influence on the respiratory and digestive system. Every single drop of this particular tea has a beneficial effect and therefore drink a couple of cups of Chai and let the warm, good feeling spread all over you! A 5-ounce mug of coffee contains more than 100 mg. of caffeine while tea contains half that amount.

People who sell Chai tea are called Wallahs. The tea is prepared in very large kettles placed over the fire. Once made, the Chai tea is then served in tiny containers known as ‘kullarhs’ that are actually unglazed pots. Now a part of this Chai drinking ceremony is to destroy the container after consuming the tea.

Thus, whenever you wish to have a hot beverage, opt for a hot cup of the aromatic Chai tea. You will feel good that you went in for it!

Is cocoa tea really tea or is it hot chocolate? Or, is it a little bit of both?

Well… tea is prepared from tealeaves while this particular tea is not.

The origins of cocoa tea can be traced to St. Lucia, situated in the Caribbean. However, even though it is not actually a tea, it bears a very close resemblance to tea as it contains a cinnamon stick and a bay leaf. The stick and leaf are kept immersed in water, just the method by which tea is prepared.

The time-honored method of preparing cocoa tea may include water, milk, sugar, and vanilla. Besides, additional flavors may be added like nutmeg and cinnamon. In the good old days, floured dumplings were also included so that the beverage becomes more filling.

A simple recipe requires a cocoa stick, milk, water, sugar for sweetening, cinnamon, a bay leaf, vanilla, and cornstarch. The bay leaf and the cinnamon are added to water and boiled. It is best to boil these ingredients for about ten to fifteen minutes. Put in the cocoa stick. Boil for a further five minutes. Next, add the milk and the sugar. Slowly stir in the cornstarch and bring to boil once again. Every now and then, stir to prevent lumps from forming. Lastly, add vanilla essence and serve. To lower calorie intake, use soy or skim milk and an artificial sweetener instead of sugar.

Cocoa tea is a filling, appetizing beverage and can be relished either in combination with a meal or as a dessert. It has a distinctive taste and is not as strong as hot chocolate. However, it is the closest to hot chocolate that any beverage can get.

Cocoa has many beneficial aspects. It contains antioxidants that ward off cancer, heart disease as well as minimizes the effects of aging.

Now, cocoa tea is in fact not the regular tea nor does it even come close to it. Nevertheless, it is a lovely, appetizing beverage, which can be had for breakfast, or lunch or supper. It can be best indulged as a dessert delicacy or a taken in combination with the main course. In addition, you can have cocoa tea along with dumplings, which are quite wholesome.

According to recent studies, tea, chocolate and red wine has many beneficial properties and hence holds a lot of promise. It is believed to be good to start the day with a mug of cocoa tea, to savor a cup of hot tea in the afternoons and to round off the day with a glass of sparkling red wine. In this way, you will tend to derive from all the three drinks, their respective health benefits.

Now, cocoa plants are actually small trees and they contain seeds that are cracked open and cleaned. Then the seeds, which are very bitter tasting, are left to ferment. Later, the seeds are roasted, broken, and then ground. It is heated to dissolve the fat and generate cocoa liquor that can be formed into chocolate. Then cocoa is extracted by pressing out the fat. Subsequently, by treating the dry powder, cocoa is produced.

If you wish to try something unusual and special, then cocoa tea is the right choice. It is a remarkable, tasty beverage!

Occurring in hues of deep green, the jasmine leaves are imbued with the floral scent of jasmine. This floral perfume is a slightly dry and mild smelling one. It is suggested that jasmine tea be flavored with a little bit of a sweetening agent.

Tea, whose origins can be traced back to China, was actually made use of to lend a flavor to their bland-tasting water. The tea plant was grown more than 5000 years back. It was the Americans, who came up with the ingenious tea bag. While every single one of the tea plants comes from the very same species, the differences in soils and climates give rise to subtle changes in flavor.

Globally, China is the leading tea producer. Tea requires a tropical environment with plenty of rainfall in order to thrive.

In America as well as worldwide, tea has attained the most favored status. In fact, in certain areas, tea is mostly preferred to coffee. There are numerous tearooms and tea cafes springing up all over the country, which deal exclusively in a diverse range of teas.

Chinese green leaves, which are imbued with the scent of jasmine flowers, are used in the preparation of jasmine tea. These jasmine flowers are plucked and kept in a cool spot. The flowers blossom during the night and are then put on top of the tealeaves. Around 4 hours are required for the aroma of the jasmines to permeate the tealeaves.

More than two hundred species of jasmine plants exist. The flowers of these plants occur in colors of yellow or white. They carry a sweet-smelling perfume. It is believed that this sweet perfume heightens all the senses, leaving one with just pleasing and calming thoughts.

Now, jasmine tealeaves can be discovered in numerous places, which enjoy a tropical climate and are at high altitudes. These jasmine leaves are widely found all across the globe.

Jasmine teas come in 17 different varieties and belong to an exclusive category of teas because of their distinctive smell. Jasmine tea derives its unique taste from the perfumed flowers and not from any plants or oils. Jasmine, popularly called “queen of flowers”, imparts its fragrant perfume to add to the aroma and taste of this exotic tea.

Jasmine is believed to have medicinal properties to treat depression as well as having soothing qualities. It is an excellent remedy for dry skin.

The different kinds of tea available are classified based on grade and color. People belonging to the Middle Eastern countries prepare tea with water and tealeaves; the use of tea bags in these countries is negligible. People of these regions like taking their tea with honey, sugar, lemon, mint, or apple flavor.

The Fujian province is famous for the growing of the jasmine-flavored tea. It is in spring that the tealeaves are carefully picked and rolled into the shape of a ball by hand. Then they are stored until autumn. Subsequently, the tealeaves are imbued with the scent of jasmine and gently rolled into a tiny ball, the size of a pearl. Following this, the tea is enveloped in silken mesh and then left to dry.

Tea is naturally enriched with antioxidants and caffeine. It contains no carbohydrates, cholesterol, or fat. So relish the unique flavor of jasmine tea!

Since long, Chinese teas were believed to assist in weight reduction. There was this belief that drinking Chinese tea with your daily meals would benefit you greatly since it served to act as stimulating metabolism. When you drink tea straight, without adding anything, every serving consumed contains just four calories and is deemed to convey health benefits when no additives are put in.

Many experts advise that Chinese teas that result in weight reduction are derived from the conviction that caffeine, which is a stimulant, not only leads to a rise in your body’s functions, but also makes you burn more calories and thereby shed weight. Besides, they are of the opinion that tea also contains poly phenols, which help with the digestion of fat. Now this undoubtedly would render Chinese tea as one that aids in weight reduction.

Chinese teas are considered to assist with weight reduction and have proved effective with weight loss since they provide dieters the alternative of low calorie beverages rather than a soda or such other sweetened drinks. The Oolong and Pu-erh teas have become very popular due to their success with weight reduction. Now, we will take a closer look at these two Chinese teas that aid in weight reduction.

Pu-erh Teas
The entire media focused on the benefits of green tea and its contribution to weight reduction before the Pu-erh slowly gained prominence in the West. A vast majority is of the opinion that Pu-erh, also called in China as a ‘medicinal tea’, needs to be added to the list of teas favored by the Americans.

A number of the Pu-erh trees, in fact, are very old and the most ancient tree is thought to be more than 2000 years old. In fact they are considered an older variety of the present tea bushes and trees. Now, the way in which the leaves of this tree are processed is quite different from the way green tealeaves are processed. Generally, the leaves are subject to oxidation for a far less time than those of black tea, perhaps, in the same way as Oolong tea leaves. Now, these tealeaves are spread out to dry or the leaves can be compressed into teacakes or tea bricks. Some look like a bird’s nest when they are left out to dry. This definitely makes for a remarkable sight to witness. Several of the teacakes are let to mature in caves so that they assume an earthy flavor.

Most people speculate as to why Pu-erh is thought to be very good for weight reduction. Now the reason could be due to the decreased levels of blood cholesterol and better fat metabolism that one obtains from consuming this tea. The distinctive double fermentation is believed to produce microbes and special enzymes, including micronutrients necessary for overall good health.

With every meal, if a single cup of this Pu-erh tea is drunk, it has proved to bring about weight reduction and trim you down. It not helps balance the systems of the body but also promotes functional metabolism of the body.
Oolong Tea

This tea is an oxidized or semi-fermented tea, and is popular for its powerful flowery attributes – from a brilliant shade of green and somewhat fermented to a deeper green and strong. Oolong tea is totally dry and its flavors are sealed in. Due to the process of drying, Oolong acquires a whole host of stimulating qualities that can effectively be made use of for weight reduction as well as improving your diet.

Oolong and Pu-erh are merely two of the popular weight reduction teas. Besides these two kinds of tea, there are others, which are easily available all over the world such as compressed tea, green tea and black tea.

Dealing with a sore throat can be very difficult and very sore. However that nice warm cup of tea running down your throat seems to sooth all; but tea is a lot more than just soothing the sore throat. If is even more then comfort on a cold day. Tea has many benefits. The idea of tea giving you health benefits has been known all over the world for centuries but more people are taking notice now than ever before.

The Past Benefits of tea:

Tea has been used in many cultures for medicinal purposes for many centuries in the east in areas of china and Japan they have used its great healing properties regularly. The Chinese have used if for both pleasure and pains for over 5,000 years while westerners have used it for purely a pleasure drink.

With six different types of leaves giving us many different benefits all of the leaves come from the Camellia Sinensis plant! They are all named for the methods of processing each type goes through will being produces. There are 6 different colors like black, white and green. Black tea is completely oxidized and Oolong is only oxidized for a short time while green tea is steamed and not taken through the fermenting stage. White tea is dried and processed for the shortest amount of time. They come out in colors after processing and the darkest are processed the longest and lose some of their health benefits!

Drinking Tea and its benefits:

Tea contains anti-oxidants that help fight off some cancers. Black tea lacks the most in this area because of its longer process while other teas like white teas which are processed less are strong in these materials.

These teas (Namely White and Green) work to help other ailments like:

• Protection against infection
• Tooth decay
• Prevention of food poisoning
• Lowering cholesterol
• Reducing heart disease
• Fights against developing kidney stones

Some green and white teas also fight against damaging cells that can change into cancer. Antioxidants can give lower risk factors of some cancers like:

• Stomach cancer
• Lung cancer
• Breast cancer
• Skin cancer

Tea also gives you antibacterial and antiviral properties that aid in the benefits to your health. While the fluoride in the teas help fight to protect your teeth and newly revealed bones.

Some teas get rid of food poisoning and kills bacteria that could get you sick.

Other Benefits of Herbal teas:

In addition to the traditional teas named you can purchase other types of teas that also help treat other conditions and illnesses. They help anything from indigestion to PMS and migraines.

Though they are not really tea’s in the traditional sense; and made from plants, roots and herbs not leaves they do have some other health benefits.

Peppermint and ginger teas are used for stomach problems and ginger tea has been used for centuries in helping ailments like digestion and nausea as well as other illness. Peppermint tea also aids in healing from things like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and indigestion; also Horehound tea which is used as a natural laxative and also can suppress cough.

Then the widely used Chamomile tea is also used as a healant that will help with menstrual cramps and insomnia as well as other benefits. It has been used to relieve colic and gas in small babies by many conventional doctors and a study shows that drinking chamomile can have lasting benefits even after the cup has been enjoyed they are proven to stay in your system for a whooping 2 weeks! More than any other form of tea available this far!

The benefits of tea far outweigh the benefits of any other beverage we enjoy today and should be taken every day to maintain your health. Drink a cup a day and reap the rewards!

While many of us can’t get enough coffee, cappuccino, or mocha lattes the real beverage of choice should be tea. It has more nutritional value then any coffee ever had! So why are we so stuck on coffee? Caffeine of course it is very addictive and all the while it may be harming more than it is helping!

The Chinese have cherished the benefits of tea for many centuries and some even before Christ! That is a long time. So why do we try so hard to grab that cup of coffee when tea may sit in the shop right next to it? So with all this talk about benefits I know you are in a rush to hear them!

The Health Benefits of Tea:

“Tea” comes from Camellia Sinensis which is the Latin term for what we know as tea. The Evergreen tea bush is native to topical and sub-topical areas of Asia. There are six different types of tea:

• White tea
• Yellow tea
• Oolong tea
• Red Tea
• Black tea
• Green tea

Each tea is defined by the amount of time it is taken through the process. Tea is fermented and fired. White tea has the least amount of processing time while black tea is the most processed (i.e. Black tea).

Tea has several benefits including strengthening teeth and lowering risks of some cancers and people don’t drink it why…you say? So why is tea so powerful and how does this process work?

I will give you three reasons:

The First is:

Polyphenols- these are the 400 chemical compound which are all natural that tea contents. They act as protection for the tea bush and it young leaves.
They also protect the plant from UV lights that can damage the leaves and kill the plant. This also helps the plant’s seeds reproduce or germinate.

However for us it is the Flavonoid that are important. They are natural antioxidants that cleanse our bodies. These Flavonoids protect us from contracting things like:
• Skin cancer
• Oral cancer
• Colon Cancer
• And stomach cancers

When drinking only one cup of Black Tea daily you can reduce the chance of getting lung cancer by 50%! So why are you not drinking yet?

Flavonoid also help with things like:
• LDL Cholesterol
• Protect against heart attack
• Protect against stroke
• And enhance blood vessel performance

People are now realizing the benefits of tea and are including it more in diets around the world.

Next is Fluoride:

We all know that fluoride protects us against tooth decay but did you know that it is plentiful in tea leaves? Sure is between .5ppm-6ppm in one cup! Research is uncovering that fluoride may also protect our bones.

The last is Water which we all know is beneficial to us all considering 80-90% of our bodies are made up of water. We are recommended to receive at least 2.5-3.5 liters a day!
Water

Tea is a good contribution to your daily hydration and though tea has been categorized as not as healthy for us as it truly is you can blame it on the caffeine. However it takes 250mg-300mg of caffeine over a little amount of time to be harmful. On the flip side you would have to drink 5-6 cups at once to be detriment to your hydration.

All though many prefer coffee to tea any day, tea is far healthier for us and there is a lot of research available for you to decide on your own. So next time you go on your break make it a tea day instead of all that coffee!

Green Tea may sound like something out of a fictional book but in reality it is a very effective remedy for so many problems. Green tea was first used for its medicinal values as far back as the fourth century B.C and since then the Chinese have been using it to treat everything from depression to headaches.

Green tea and black tea all come from the same plant but it is the way that they are processed which sets them apart. Green tea is usually dried but not fermented like black tea. This permits it to hold all its beneficial chemicals intact. Beneficial chemicals in green tea are called catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and they are antioxidants. Antioxidants work by preventing free radicals which are particles in our bodies, from harming or affecting our cells. Free radicals are one of the primary causes behind cancer. Antioxidants thus hinder the growth of cancer by killing cancer cells but they do not harm healthy tissue.

Research on the effects of green tea has shown that it is quite efficient in the treatment of cancer. A lot of studies have also shown that green tea is efficient is lowering cholesterol and preventing blood which in turn may lead to strokes or heart attacks. Green tea also helps with hypertension, kidney function and arthritis at the same time. It also boosts the immune system and allows it to fight viral and bacterial infections which in turn prevent allergies as well as colds and the flu.

Free radical damage may also lead to skin again so green tea helps with skin care too. Some major skin care brands also use green tea in their current product offerings. Green tea also helps people improve their memory and slow down the onset of Alzheimer’s. Due to the fact that it boosts insulin activity in the body by more than 15%, it also tends to help with diabetes as well. It also promotes weight loss as it increases the metabolic rates of the body. Strengthening of the bones is also something it provides as well and that prevents osteoporosis. It also helps in preventing tooth decay by killing the causative bacteria responsible for plaque. Seemingly the only side effect of green teas is insomnia and this is because it contains caffeine. Caffeine which is found in green tea is substantially lower than that which is found with coffee.

Four or five cups of green tea daily will have long term benefits on the human body. The taste of green tea is fresh and light and certain people claim it is green or grassy. Certain types of green tea are somewhat sweet and others are astringent. Green tea is usually not served with milk or sugar but it is really an individual choice.

Now the word kava can be very perplexing. Kava kava, or just kava, is not only a plant but also a beverage that is prepared from the kava plant’s roots. Kava is called Piper methysticum in Latin, which translates into English as “intoxicating pepper”. The Kava plant is widely cultivated in the Micronesian, Melanesian, and Polynesian islands. The Vanuatuan Republic is the world’s leading producer and largest source of kava.

The debate whether kava tea is actually a tea or not has to be looked into. Now the actual meaning of tea generally refers to any of the many beverages that are prepared by the extraction of an infusion or placing the leaves of particular plants steeped in water. A majority of tea definitions also cover a mention of boiling the water. However, Kava tea is not prepared from the kava plant leaves or by way of boiling water.

Besides, Kava tea is definitely not consumed from a teacup, whatever the event. Perhaps, deep in the Tanna jungles of the Vanuatuan Republic, this can pass muster and considered to be the right thing. However, the kava tea that is brewed here is so powerful and rich that it is not advisable to drink more than a single cup unless you are a veteran in drinking this particular kind of tea. In case you tend to make light of this sound advice, then you should certainly prime yourself to be borne back to your dwelling place by the tribeswomen, just the way the chap on Survivor 9 was carried in Vanuatu.

Coming down to brass tacks, is kava kava tea, strictly a tea in the first place? This is definitely a fair query and needs to be resolved one way or the other.

In reality, the kava beverage can in all fairness be labeled as kava tea since a part of the tea definition covers the extraction of an infusion. Now, the infusion refers to the liquid produced as a result of soaking a desired material in order to extract the flavor. For the preparation of kava kava tea, the infusion of ground kava root in water is carried out. The kavalactones, or the active ingredients within the kava roots are then mechanically extracted by using a strainer to press out the infused kava mixture. Now, the liquid so generated is nothing but kava tea. When we normally drink tea, we are aware that the specific variety of tea that is used is actually solely extracted by means of dissolution in water and is not squeezed mechanically from a tea ball or tea bag. So, in the future, if someone inquires of you whether kava tea can be typically classified as a tea, firmly let him or her know that of course, kava tea is indeed a tea. By virtue of the tea definition, kava tea can be referred to as a tea although the recipe makes no mention of boiling the water or steeping the leaves. To those who strongly oppose our viewpoint, we wish to state that it is perhaps best to describe kava tea as purely an herbal tea. This definitely should come as some comfort to these ardent critics of kava tea.
Next, we need to address the matter of placing the roots of kava plants into boiling water just the way tea in tea bags is immersed. The kava holds active ingredients known as kava lactones. Now, these kavalactones are extremely sensitive chemicals. It is not advisable to expose them to high temperatures as is found in boiling water. If so subjected, the active ingredients tend to be destroyed. Now if the kava tea’s active ingredients are removed, then it makes no sense to consume this beverage, apart from squandering your money. It is simply mindless and there is no value to be obtained from drinking it.

Nowadays there are several kava tea products in stores that are available in tea bags. A majority of these tea products do not contain adequate amounts of the roots of kava plants, and apart from being priced high, the consumer finds no benefit in purchasing them. In addition, these products are frequently mixed with various other herbs such as Chamomile, St. Johns Wort, Valerian root, and such others that are popular for their calming qualities. In case you want to revel in totally experiencing kava tea, we suggest that you attempt preparing it just like it has been drunk for so many years and junk those tea bags, or ask for a refund from the place you have picked them up from.

Tea comes in a variety of flavors and it is nearly impossible to distinguish between them. Green, black, and white teas are all derived from the plant – Camella Sinensis. But before the leaves unfold and white hair envelops the buds, the leaves are plucked and processed. This particular variety is not commonly found and therefore is slightly higher priced as against other kinds of teas.

The tender leaves are kept away from sunlight and hence chlorophyll is not produced. When compared with green or black tea, white tea is slightly less rich and sweeter. It is a very fine tea and needs more processing.

In contrast to other tea varieties, white tea contains a smaller amount of caffeine. Usually, every serving of white tea has 15 mg of caffeine as against 20 mg in green tea and 40 mg in black tea. Besides, it is enriched with far greater antioxidants than other types of teas. In addition, it is endowed with greater anti viral and anti bacterial qualities in comparison to other teas.

It was the former emperor of the Song Dynasty, who declared that white tea represented all that was deemed refined. Ever since then, white tea has upheld its imperial pronouncement. Afterwards, white tea was designated as the finest tea.

There are five essential kinds of white tea – Darjeeling, Ceylon, White Peony, Sowmee and Silver Needle. The Ceylon white tea is quite light with just a trace of copper, honey, and pine flavors. The white tea from Darjeeling has a very subtle flavor that is quite sweet and smooth. Sowmee is a fruity and furry white tea made of tips and upper leaf, with a stronger flavor, similar to Oolong. Silver Needle tea is brilliant white and has a regular flavor. White Peony, which is a rich tea, has a mild and sweet flavor.

During the rule of the Song Dynasty, a lot of effort and time had to be invested in order to produce white tea. It was like observing a regal ritual, since the entire process was long drawn out and only ceramic ware was to be used.

It is in the initial days of spring that the leaves are plucked and then steamed. While the buds are picked by hand, the leaves are kept unfurled. The center of the buds is what is actually used. It is cleansed out and left to dry.

Once it is cut, the tea has to be fermented. Oxidization of the tealeaves takes place to facilitate the process of drying. The tealeaves are steamed or application of heat is carried out, based on the tea variety.

Today, tea has caught the fancy of everyone and has developed into a culture. There are open-air cafes, tea parties, tearooms, and afternoon tea, all created with the intention of savoring a steaming cup of hot tea or a glass of iced tea. Zen Buddhists perform the rituals of the Japanese tea ceremony. The United Kingdom, Korea, and China too, carry out tea ceremonies.

In whichever way you wish to savor your tea, you need to bear in mind that it contains cancer-combating oxidants. Besides, is has negligible amounts of fat and is extremely low in calories. Tea consumption results in no side effects save for helping you unwind and perhaps, lower stress levels while you sip your tea. Hence, just relish the cup of white tea and do little else apart from simply relaxing!