We live to drink tea. We socialise over tea. We bond over tea. We chill over tea. Yes tea has become the National beverage of Pakistan.
Tea is an obsession, an addiction and it is the second most-loved thing, first being cricket off course.
The craze of tea is so much wide that a day has been kept for the celebration of tea. On 15 December, it is celebrated as International Day of Tea. It has been celebrated since 2005 in tea producing countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Uganda, India and Tanzania.
The main aim of celebrating International Tea Day is to draw global attention of governments and citizens to the impact of the global tea trade on workers and growers.
Tea is one of the most consumed beverages of the world after water. It is pocket friendly and affordable.From breakfast till supper in the night, one beverage that can go with any meal is perhaps, is tea.
With every sip, body seems to drain out all day long fatigue, worries and anxieties. Mere aroma of tea is sufficient to stimulate their senses.
There is a famous Japanese proverb “a bath refreshes the body, and tea refreshes the mind.”
VARIETIES OF TEA
There are only two varieties of tea:
Camellia sinensis var. sinensis
Camellia sinensis var. assamica.
The former is from China, and the latter from India, though they are both grown in many regions.
Tea beverage is an infusion of the dried leaves of Camellia sinesis, native to East, South and Southeast Asia, but now cultivated across the world in tropical and subtropical regions.
Leaves and leaf buds are used to produce all types of teas. Different names are given to tea on the basis of processing.
Tea beverages are known to possess high amounts of polyphenols, especially flavanols which are responsible for antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and hypolipidemic properties associated with tea.
Types of Tea Available in Market
- Green Tea
Green tea is prepared from the fresh tea leaf which are not fermented. Leaves are steamed, roasted, or pan-fried almost immediately after being picked
Green tea was originated in China as a natural remedy and in religious ceremonies. Latter on, people started taking it as beverage.
Green color is due to lack of fermentation (oxidation) during its processing.
- Black Tea
World’s most consumed tea type is the Black tea, which is fully dried, fermented leaf of the plant camellia sinensis.
Prepared through the oxidation, curing process of maceration and exposure to atmospheric oxygen.
Theaflavins contribute to the taste, the bright red orange color of black tea.
3.Herbal Tea
Actually not teas in true sense.
These blends do not contain leaf Camellia sinensis in any form.
Herbal teas contain various ingredients, including flowers, roots, peels, seeds, barks, berries and spices.
- Oolong Tea (Strong black tea)
Oolong tea is semi-fermented to permit a moderate level of enzymatic oxidation during processing.
Sometimes the oolong leaves are potent and can aid in the reduction of cholesterol levels, formation of strong bones, preservation of heart health, and strengthening the immune system.
- White Tea
The purest of all teas.They possess the highest antioxidant properties of any tea.
- Mate Tea ( Tea like coffee)
Mate teas are made from the leaves and twigs of the yerba mate plant, Ilex paraguayensis from South America.
Famous popular tea consumed in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
It is the one tea that tastes just like coffee.
Have five times the antioxidant qualities that of green tea.
- Tea Blends
Tea blends often have the best of both worlds since they combine more than one type of premium tea. Mixing teas in a blend is one of the best ways to get great flavor.
There are many other famous ones like doodh Patti,Kashmiri tea etc.
