The quantity of tea leaves used will vary according to taste. Generaly 10g of
tea makes 4 cups. Experiment till you get it just right. Adding sugar and warm
milk will reduce the effects of over brewing.
A Cup of Tea, A Cup of Health
That cup of tea that you may have been sipping for years not only has
become a trendy habit but also healthy one for that reason.
Tea has really moved into the mainstream. Years ago one of the few places
to find green tea was in a Japanese restaurant. Now green or black tea is
everywhere; served hot or iced, at chic restaurants, supermarkets, or in
elegant department stores.
New research has shown that sipping a relaxing cup of tea, especially green
tea, may provide a number of health benefits. Studies from the United States
of Agriculture have shown that tea may pack as powerful a punch of health as
one serving of many vegetables or fruits.
It is green or black tea from the evergreen tree known as the camellia
sinesis that has been found to possess many healing properties. These teas
contain powerful substances that are classified as phytochemicals.
There are hundreds of phytochemicals found only in plant foods that are
starting a new era in nutrition. Examples of a phytochemicals are carotenoids
found in carrots, capsicum in red chili peppers and flavonoids in tomatoes.
You can see these substances clearly in the brilliant orange and red colors of
these vegetables.
Green or black tea contains a phytochemical known as epigallocatechin
gallate, that is often called EGCG for short. Emerging research shows that
this substance contains strong antioxidant potential.
Antioxidants help protect the body against the damage of free radicals.
Free radicals are natural by-products of metabolization, but may also be
formed in the body as a result of smoking, air pollution and exposure to
sunlight. Free radicals are highly reactive substances that can, if not
controlled, damage cells in some people's bodies.
It is thought that this damage can set off a chain of biological events
that can lead to the progression of some cancers and heart disease. Numerous
research studies have shown that antioxidants help protect the body against
this detrimental effect and can also reduce the risk of these deadly diseases.
In a study of the antioxidant activity of various fruits and vegetables,
USDA researchers found that black and green tea have a greater antioxidant
effect than individual servings of many vegetables such as carrots and
broccoli or fruits including apples, grapes, kiwi and grapefruit. While tea is
not a substitute for a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables it can
certainly play a part in a healthy lifestyle.
Another interesting fact is that tea is one of the few natural sources of
the mineral fluoride. Fluoride is the most successful agent against tooth
decay found to date and has changed the face of modern dentistry. Tea has been
shown to have a positive effect on preventing tooth decay and gum disease.
However, this applies to drinking tea in moderation. Excessive amounts may not
be beneficial.
Scientific research is just beginning to explore the connection between
drinking tea and it's effects on maintaining the body's homeostasis and
balance. In other words, tea is thought to be rejuvenating. Tea is enjoyed
worldwide because while it is calming it is also reviving and uplifting. It is
also thought that the act of sipping tea in itself has restorative powers.
Maybe this is one of the reasons why tea has become such a hit.
Tea has even been becoming more and more popular at coffee bars. Starbucks
offers a popular Chai Tea (which I love!), which is a spicy black tea served
sweet and creamy. For latte lovers it is just the right choice. Increasingly
people are ordering tea instead of coffee, as it is recommended for its
energizing and cleansing properties.
I live in a suburb of New York in Westchester County. Wouldn't you know
that a very cozy, warm and inviting tea shoppe opened for breakfast, lunch and
afternoon tea? I took my daughter and her friend (both six years old) with
their respective American Girl Dolls for an afternoon tea break.
The truth is that nothing will replace my super strong cup of coffee. In my
house we refer to it as rocket fuel. I find that tea, however, is becoming a
great alternative. Sometimes you can have one cup of coffee too many. There
are so many different varieties and blends of tea that it's difficult to know
where to begin. You may want to try something exotic or just a good
old-fashioned American tea blend. Here's to your good health!
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Here's how You Make a Really Good Cup of Tea for
Your Guest.
HOW MANY
CUPS....
Did you know that as many as 375 to 425 cups of tea
could be prepared from a kilogram of tea?
STORAGE
There are very important rules to observe in regard to storage of tea.
- Always store tea in a clean, dry airtight container free of foreign
odorous.
- Remember to use a dry spoon, always, and to close the container tightly
after use to retain aroma and flavor.
- Do not store tea along with other pungent grocery and toilet items such
as oils, soaps, dried fish and spices.
- Always take out the small quantity of balance tea in a container before
replenishing stocks. Place this small quantity on top of the fresh stock
so it will be used up first. Otherwise the remaining tea at the bottom
will become stale and flat and could affect fresh stocks introduced.
TEA BREWING
A good cup of tea and the pleasure you derive from it depends entirely on the
method of brewing.
- Use freshly drawn water which should be brought to boil as possible. DO
NOT USE previously boiled water that has been continuously on the boil.
- Rinse the teapot first with hot water to help retain the heat of boiling
water used for brewing. Bring the tea pot to the kettle as soon as the
water commences boiling vigorously. Hold the spout of the kettle close to
the mouth of the pot to minimize loss of heat.
- Allow the tea to infuse for 4 to 5 minutes. Strain the tea out into cups
thereafter. Use a "Tea cosy" to keep the pot warm should there
be a delay in serving.
SUGAR
Always use refined sugar as raw sugar gives a distinctly different flavor to
the tea.
MILK
Fresh cow's milk for a good cup of tea. Besides it is easily stored under
refrigeration in any quantity.
SERVICE
Use tea pots, tea cups and saucers, sugar bowls, milk jars and teaspoons which
are spotlessly clean, free from discoloration, cracks and chipping.
Place one teaspoon in the sugar bowl for the sugar to be spooned out and a
separate teaspoon for every cup and saucer.
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In the 1840 a Scotsman by the name of James Taylor read about the Jewel of an
Island called Ceylon
and the opportunities existing there for growing coffee. A few months later he
moved to the Hill Country area and planted not only coffee but also some tea
seeds from India. The "ugly little shrub" was grown next to his
acres of coffee and provided large yields. It wasn't till a couple of seasons
later that a virulent leaf disease devastated his whole plantation but the
"ugly little shrub" was immune and the Tea Industry came into being.
Soon the perilously steep mountainside of the hill country were carpeted with
the vibrant green of tea bushes. And Ceylon Tea became the worlds favorite
beverage.
The origins of Tea was with the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung who was boiling
water when the leaves from a nearby plant Camellia sinensis plant floated into
the pot. The emperor drank the mixture and declared it gave one "vigor of
body, contentment of mind, and determination of purpose." Perhaps as
testament to the emperor's assessment, tea the potion he unwittingly brewed
that day today is second only to water in worldwide consumption. The U.S.
population is drinking its fair share of the brew; in 1994, Americans drank
2.25 billion gallons of tea in one form or another hot, iced, spiced,
flavored, with or without sugar, honey, milk, cream, or lemon.
Cultivation
The Tea plant, Camellia Sansis, is cultivated variety of the tree originating
from the region between India and China.
The tea leaves are mostly hand plucked. When the plant is plucked two leaves
and a bud are cut. An experienced plucker can pluck up to 30 kg tea leaves per
day. To make one kg black tea, approximately 4 kg tea leaves are needed. One
tea plant produces about 70 kg black tea a year. In a warm climate the plant
is plucked for the first time after 4 years and will produce tea for at least
50 years. A suitable climate for cultivation has a minimum annual rainfall of
45 to 50 inches (l, 140 to 1,270 millimeters). Tea soils must be acid; tea
cannot be grown in alkaline soils. A desirable pH value is 5.8 to 5.4 or less.
Scented and spiced teas are made from black tea. "Scented teas look just
like any other tea," says FDA chemist and tea expert Robert Dick, "
because the scent is more or less sprayed on. They're flavored with just about
anything peach, vanilla, cherry. The spiced teas, on the other hand, usually
contain pieces of spices cinnamon or nutmeg or orange or lemon peel so you can
see there's something in there."
Black Tea Blends
Like coffee plants, tea likes hot days, cool nights and plenty of rain, and
also like coffee, most high quality tea is grown in mountainous regions.
During the growing season, tea is harvested every seven days. Only the two tender uppermost leaves and terminal buds are plucked by hand. After
this gentle beginning, the leaves are left in a hot room to wither, then put
into a machine that rolls the leaves and releases their juices. These juices
react with the air (oxidation) giving black teas the color and flavor we love.
The tea is then dried in ovens (fired) and graded according to size. (this
grading process is what is responsible for all of those confusing letters: OP
(Orange Pekoe), BP (Broken Pekoe), and even FTGFOP (Fancy Tippy Golden Flowery
Pekoe). Generally the more initials the better the Tea.
Herbal Teas
Not tea at all. Dried flowers, roots and bark have been brewed into a
consumable hot liquid for many centuries as folk medicines throughout the
Orient and Europe. The European tradition is to use only one main herb, such
as Chamomile. Americans, on the other hand, traditionally concoct potions
containing many different herbs and flowers such as Rosehips and Hibiscus.
The Correct Way to Make Tea
Pre-heat the pot by pouring boiling water into it. This will raise the
temperature of the pot to 180 degrees Farenheit. Discard the water and add tea to the pot. This water has
served its purpose: now use fresh boiling water. Pour boiling water over the
Tea. This saturates the tea making for perfect extraction of flavor. Taking
hot water to the table and then pouring it over tea will lower the water
temperature too much and result in poor tea. For black teas steep a full five
minutes, three for green teas. Good tea needs at least this much time to
develop its full flavor. Decant the tea.
Medicinal Effects Of Tea
The extracts of tea contains polyphenols called catechins which are
synergestic with vitamins E and C. Protective against digestive and
respiratory infections and can reduce the cancer-promoting actions of
carcinogens and ultraviolet light. The extracts can reduce cholesterol levels,
and can also reduce high blood pressure . They are also helpful with the
following with the following conditions:
· Aging
· Cancer
· Colds and Infections
· Heart Disease
· Hypertension
· Immunodepression
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