Benefits of Tea

Benefits of Tea

Tea is a ritual enjoyed for nearly 5,000
years. The origin of tea is attributed to many a legend but one, which
has stood the test of time, is that tea originated in China. There is
story of a saint who, while meditating, fell asleep. On waking he
decided to punish himself by cutting off his eyelids. The place where
his eyelids fell to the earth a strange plant grew. The leaves of this
plant if brewed could banish sleep. These leaves were later to be
identified as tea. According to available sources the first book of tea
was written by Lu Yu in 780 A.D. and the green, black and Oolong teas
made their first appearance under the Ming Dynasty, circa 14th century.
The chinese were sole suppliers of tea to the world till the Japanese
broke their stranglehold in the 9th century and the first business
rivalry was kicked off. Since the fourth century AD, tea has been an
integral part of life in China where it is a major feature of any
important ceremony. In Japan too, the famous tea ceremony evolved from a
social ritual into an art from central to Japanese culture. Therefore,
it is not surprising that tea drinking started to spread, following the
caravan routes to Mongolia, Iran, Muslim countries and finally Russia.

Up
until the nineteenth century, China was virtually the sole supplier of
tea. Traders broke the chinese monopoly, by the establishment of tea
plantations in India and Sri Lanka, followed by Asia, Africa and Soth
America. The growing market led to intense competition between
ship-owners for the speediest transportation of tea. The age of the tea
clipper bagan. This romantic period (1840 to 1886) was famous for the
tea clipper races along the shipping routes in which many of the
fastest, most beautiful sailing vessels ever built, participated.

Europe
only began enjoying the delights of tea on a large scale when the
French East India Company introduced tea to Holland in 1610, France in
1636 and England in 1650. Tea quickly acquired great popularity in
France and the Marquise de Ia Sabliere was supposedly the first to begin
the custom of taking tea with milk.

In eighteenth century
England, tea drinking was already well established by London society who
frequented elegant teahouses. However, it was only when queen Victoria
established the great tradition of 5 o'clock tea in the nineteenth
century, that tea acquired the status of the British national drink.

In
the new world, tea was so popular with the early colonials and such a
valuable source of income to the british government, that early
Americans were obliged to pay a tax of 100% on tea. As an act of
protest, a British tea cargo was dumped in the ocean by angry taxpayers
in 1773, in the famous `Boston Tea Party`, the first act of the American
Revolution.

Tea cuts risk of heart disease and slows cancer
growth considerably

Tea drinkers take heart. Starting with your
heart teas of all the three varieties have a plenty of health benefits.
Drinking four or more cups of green tea a day may help stave off skin
cancer and the substance could be similarly effective if incorporated
into skin care creams, researchers say. The brew, which is especially
popular in Asia, where cancer is rarer than in the west, contains
antioxidants that are known to prevent skin cancer in humans, a report
on green tea research has said. Research has suggested substances in
green tea called polyphenols can kill tumor cells and may starve
cancerous growths by as much as 90%, by limiting blood vessel growth
around them. The leaf and bud of the camellia plant are the basis of
both green and black tea. But unlike black tea, which is fermented,
green tea is steamed dry immediately after harvesting, which leaves it
with larger amounts of polyphenols. Research also states that as tea
lowers the rate of cell replication and thus the growth and development
of neoplasms, it may also diminish the risk of specific types of cancer.

People
who drink tea each day significantly reduce their chances of
atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, according to a study
published in the Archives of internal medicine. Tea polyphenols are
powerful antixidants that may play a role in lowering the oxidation of
LDL-cholesterol, with a consequent decreased risk of heart disease. The
polyphenols in tea have beneficial effect on two long established heart
disease risk factors- high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Those
who drank one or two cups a day lowered their risk of circulatory
disease by 46 percent. For those who drank four cups a day, the risk
dropped by 69 percent.

Tea is also known to have a positive
effect through its ability to modify the intestinal microflora in the
stomach and so reduce the undesirable bacteria and increase beneficial
bacteria in the stomach. Components from black and green tea extracts
can after the expression of genes known to play a role in the process of
cancer formation and may therefore have significant cancer prevention
properties in pancreatic and prostate cancer.

Oolong tea extract
is thought to enchance noradrenaline induced lipolysis in adipose tissue
and inhibit pancreatic lipase activity, therefore suggesting an
anti-obesity action of tea consumption. Tea has also been proven to
express a cardiovascular protective and lipid-lowering effect.

While
Japanese research has found that three cups of Oolong tea daily can be
beneficial in stubborn eczema, women seem to benefit more by drinking
tea. Some findings show that drinking certain types of tea containing
high concentrations of a particulr amino acid may help strenghen the
body's immune system responce when fighting off infection. And adding
milk, honey, lemon or suger do not diminish the positive health effects,
experts say.

Benefits of Tea
Tea catechins
help in easing the discomfort joints and limbs
Tea accelerates
the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats and thus is good for slimming
Tea
catechins help in reducing the incidence of cancer of organs viz.
Pancreas, prostrate gland colon, oesophagus and mouth; it also helps
reduce tumors and oxidation by free radicals.
Tea acts as a
diuretic - it clears urine and facialitates its flow.
Tea
catechins inhibit the increase of blood cholesterol and blood sugar.
The
Gama Amino Buteric Acid (GABA) in tea helps regulate blood pressure.
Tea
is 'Liquid Confidence'. It freshens your breath, and is a rare source
of natural fluorides which help prevent tooth decay and dental cavities.
Tea
has vitamin C, reduces stress, battles infection, and adds to the
resistence of the body.
Tea flavor acids strenghen blood vessel
walls and prevent halitosis.
Tea is a rich source of vitamin B
complex.
Tea is calorie-free.
Tea has right amount of
caffeine necessary for human body. The caffine in tea removes fatigue,
stimulates clear thinking and mental alertness
Tea is a potent
antibacterial which fights carcinogenic bacteria and kills the influenza
virus.
Tea rejuvenates and adds a glow to skin and hence used
in cosmetics.
Tea assuages thirst and beats the summer heat.
Tea eliminates toxic substances from the body. Antioxidants in tea
slows down ageing.
Tea aids in digestion and better absorption
of proteins and fats.

How tea is served in different
parts of the world

Africa - Rooibos tea (tisane) is given to
infants (mixed with milk)

India - Black tea is steeped in a
mixture of hot water and milk

Japan - Green tea (Macha, Konacha)
powder is mixed with hot water then stirred and consumed in its entity.
Chado (The way of tea) is Japan's traditional tea ceremony.

UK
- Tea is steeped very strong. Milk honey or suger are added.

Russia
- Tea is simmered for up to 30 min to make tea essence and then is
mixed with warm water

Tibet - Tea bricks are boiled and yak
butter is added

U.S - Cup of cold water and any tea bag is
microwaved - this custom is changing with availabity of higher quality
teas. Increasing number of US consumers are switching to loose teas.