Events in history happen and are then recorded. The tale of tea was steeping long before being recorded in 2737 BC by the Chinese. Somehow, tea didn’t find its way along the Silk Road, then to Egypt until the 16th century. I find it bizarre, that of all the lightweight things to pack, tea didn’t travel.
Maybe it wasn’t of interest. Have you ever tried karak chai tea? Tea has been a part of Emirati culture for a long time because alcohol is so strictly renounced in their beliefs. A favoured tea in Dubai is karak chai. It has roots in Bedouin history when herbs were boiled and served with sugar. I like the rich milky, spiced combination and the warm hospitality of the people.
Read also Buying an Apartment in Dubai: A Guide to Palm Jumeirah and Beyond
I am writing this in Thailand. Thai tea, bubble tea, and matcha tea are popular here. The coffee culture has exploded in recent years. Entire villages are changing crops to grow organic coffee. Another oddity in history is how recently Thailand has gotten into tea. Tea has been served very sweet and creamy for just 80 years.
Tapioca is a popular agricultural crop in Thailand, and the semi-chewy pearls at the bottom of bubble tea are tapioca pearls. Tapioca flour is only starch, unlike other flour. They serve it here with a large-diameter straw so you can get to those beauties off the bottom.
Matcha tea is also popular in Thailand, has 10% of the global market share for tea revenue, and is projected to reach USD$5.5 billion in three years. Do you like matcha tea? I do. Many people associate matcha with Japan. I would say the Japanese perfected it, as they do many things, with attention to detail and all things with purpose. However, matcha also has its origins in 7th-century China.
Billy, Nerada and bush tea have their own flavours. Recently the coffee culture has been growing in Australia. Coffee seems to be more of an addition to, rather than a replacement for, tea. Which do you prefer? I answer that question with “It depends”.
I like white tea when I want to warm up or relax. Green tea gives me more of an energy boost than black tea or coffee, generally. Espressos are in a category of effectiveness all their own. Caffeine has many benefits, and many of us bloat our cups with sugar, dairy products, or chemical substitutes, negating benefits.
Natural teas are loaded with diverse combinations of polyphenols and phytonutrients (poly/phyto). These essential nutrients reduce blood pressure, prevent diabetes, contain anti-cancer properties, and clean your liver to process more wine. Do I need to give you more reasons to get the sugar and milk out of your cups?
Not convinced? You have the resources of the internet at your fingertips. Read the first ten articles on the benefits of, and where to find poly/phyto. Other than caffeine and tea, there are heaps of vegetables we can choose from to add more poly/phyto to our diets and the diets of those we love.
