Recently I read on another’s blog his puzzlement about tea viz. what does anyone see in it? Being a tea nut fanatic drinker, I feel obliged to rush to its defense. Most people have never tasted real, good tea. What goes into iced tea, or the nasty powdered bits in tea bags can not be compared to the real stuff. It is like comparing jug wine to first growth
Bordeaux. “Real tea” means loose leaf tea, properly steeped, according to their properties. And there are many different types and proper brewing instructions. The tea industry is not unlike the wine industry that there are ‘good years’ and terrior and white/red styles.
Tea has the advantage of being mild to moderately stimulating, relatively inexpensive, with lots of medicinal properties. It is actually good for your health as well as enjoyable. How can you beat that? (No comments please from any of my brothers who are reading this and drinking nasty espresso)
There are 5 beverages that changed the world – beer, wine, tea, coffee, and coca-cola. The history of tea is fascinating as it shaped world history.
The English probably would not have gone to China and India as much as they did if there was no demand for tea. Did you know it was so important a commodity that the English traded opium for it?
At first they used silver in exchange for tea. But with revolution in the New World, silver was cut off. The demand for tea accelerated. There was not enough silver. The solution emerged to exchange tea for opium.In 1758 Parliament gave the East India Company the monopoly on the production of opium in India. The British increased the export of opium by a 1000x up until 1830. All efforts by the Chinese government to curb the opium import failed. The Chinese burned the opium. War was declared. The “Opium War” of 1839-42 ended with Great Britain forcing China into all sorts of concessions including Hong Kong. The cumulative efforts of the mass addiction to opium and the political instability evolved into the massive mortality of the Taiping rebellion and later the Boxer uprising. Millions died.
For a pot of tea, Chinese culture was nearly destroyed.
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April 12, 2007 at 1:09 PM
Doug
Being a fellow tea addict, I waqs quite taken with your posting. Among other things, it reminded me of some of the conversations that we have had over cups of tea while travelling, which is always a pleasant memory.
To your list of beverages that have changed the world, I would add one more: chocolate. There is a great discussion of the history of stimilant drinks and their export in a really cool, funky book called Wild Fermentation. A friend recommended it after learning of my cheese making activities. It’s a good read, although I enjoyed the title of the author’s second book more. It’s called The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved.
Urspo-thank you for the book recommendation! I did not include chocolate as it did not continue on as a beverage per se.
April 12, 2007 at 2:51 PM
Lemuel
I saw a tv show on the history of tea that echoed your points. The English did not come out of that show looking very good and noble.
Urspo – the empire of Tea does was not pretty. No empires are I suppose. I wonder if coffee has a similar history of conquest?
April 12, 2007 at 4:31 PM
tigeryogi
I shall never look at another bag of Lipton the same way again! (Not that I did anyway, nasty stuff! Give me my herbals, green teas and chais any day of the week!)
April 12, 2007 at 4:52 PM
Mark
Ah, I see….association by paranoia! IF your readers don’t convert to tea, the U.S. Empire ambitions may be in danger. I kid. Nice to see others appreciating the delicate appreciation of fine teas. Two complete kitchen drawers of our neighbors are devoted to world teas. The range of tea moods is far more broad than many folk know. The Tea List at Portland’s finest Thai Restaurant numbers in the hundreds, and some of those offered are as exotic as any wine could possibly think of being. Go Peach Black Tea by Stash for a most often daily favorite! What’s yours?
Urspo – thank you for stopping by – I get my ’stash’ from http://www.distinctlytea.com
April 12, 2007 at 5:49 PM
Bigg
I myself love the energy drinks. So full of caffeine, B-vitamins, ginseng, guarana… not to mention artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives… but I will take your directions on tea to heart and try some of the good stuff!
Urspo- Tea helps the cardiovascular system, and may help prevent stroke.
April 12, 2007 at 7:41 PM
sortedlives
I love white tea with a mix of green tea. I love a cup when I need “relaxation” time. Puts me in another state of mind.
April 12, 2007 at 7:53 PM
Steve
Chris is a big tea drinker. The only time I’ll get near it is if it’s iced.
April 12, 2007 at 10:06 PM
Maggie
I agree, tea please.
I grew up with loose tea and my grandmother. God help you if you made it weak.
April 13, 2007 at 12:17 AM
laurie
I am a coffee person, please don’t hate me…
Urspo – hohoho the smell of coffee beans is one of the best aromas on earth. Then again so is tilled soil…..
April 13, 2007 at 1:00 AM
Zeph
Ok. So tea is more addictive than opium and causes wars? Interesting. I guess we should all avoid it, then. Err… somewhere in there, I think you missed making a point about why it’s good to drink.
Urspo – research is in progress to see if tea helps with cholesterol, colon cancer, stroke, and the immune system.
April 13, 2007 at 2:40 AM
Daniel
I enjoy white and green tea, and the occasional cup of really good quality black tea. I enjoyed this post, although I did have to stop for a few deep breathing exercises when I got to the scurrilous remarks about espresso, interpolated, no doubt, by an anonymous editor with an agenda.
Tea… I guess I should feel better that our wars of aggression are iin pursuit of oil.
NOT!
April 13, 2007 at 3:28 AM
Robert
And a Random Thought this is – I like the THIS particular banner you have now! heh!
Hope you’re having a lovely Thursday night.
April 13, 2007 at 4:56 AM
Tony
But dear ol’ chap….would you oblige me with a spot of tea.
I love tea and you’re right…there are good teas and proper ways of preparing it. Give me a good chamomile and lavender tea!!! mmm!! MMM!!!
April 13, 2007 at 5:07 AM
rodger
I love a good tea as much as a good coffee. I have a nice selection of loose leaf teas in a drawer at work. People know where to come when they need a pick me up or a little peace. (That’s PEACE not PIECE) I also use teas in my bath but that’s another story.
Of course if you want to talk beer….come visit me in Portland. We know our beer!!
Urspo-I would love to come to Portland for beer, tea, jam -and most of all – you!
April 13, 2007 at 9:54 AM
foxystone
Gouda for you. Chedder to be prepared for the worst than have it happen out of the bleu. Swissing you a speedy return.
April 13, 2007 at 1:57 PM
Will
Oh, I think i’m in love with foxystone. Anyone who can field a string of really bad puns is a friend of mine.
The problem, as most “real” tea drinkers are aware is that you have to get your supply source in order. Fritz and I do tea for breakfast and we both grew up with some version of afternoon tea in the English tradition. Most supermarkets are in the process of eliminating any loose tea leaf brands from their shelves if they haven’t done it already.
We have several favorites, lichee tea very much among them, for which we have to go to the gourmet shops in the Harvard Square area–and even there consistent supply is a problem. When I move into the new house in southern NH, I’ll probably become established with one of the internet tea suppliers and will check out yours ASAP
April 15, 2007 at 7:41 PM
maddog
I’ll stick to my coffee and Diet Coke, although I do have to admit in the summertime a big glass of Iced Tea sometimes hits the spot.