Tea

All great! All genious! But no one to drink tea with

                                                   “Iosif Stalin”

History

People first drank tea in China about 5000 years ago. Originally it was used as a medicine, then as a daily drink. It spread to Japan in the 3rd century A.D. Dutch and Portuguese traders brought tea from eastern Asia to Europe in the 1600s.

Types of tea

The most common types of tea are black and green tea. They come from the same plant but are processed differently.

Workers take the leaves and spread them out on shelves where they can dry. Next, they are rolled and broken into pieces and put into a room where they absorb oxygen. Chemical reactions change the taste and character of the tea. Finally, the leaves are dried with hot air until they turn brownish-black. Most black tea comes from Sri Lanka, Indonesia and eastern Africa.

How People Drink Tea in Countries Around the World

1.    Taiwan

f you walk down the street in pretty much any city in the U.S. you'll find cafés selling bubble tea. This trendy and delicious drink was born in Taiwan in the 1980s. Usually bubble tea consists of a sweetened, milky tea mixed with fruit and chewy tapioca pearls (aka bubbles).

Japan 

There are two types of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies: chakai and chaji. A chakai is informal, with the host serving some treats and maybe a small meal with green tea. A chaji can take several hours and is usually accompanied by a very formal meal, two styles of tea, and desserts.

Britian 

Tea was first introduced to Britain from China in the 1600s. Anna the Seventh Duchess of Bedford started the "tea time" tradition of having finger sandwiches, cakes, and tea in 1840. And after 170 years, it seems the Brits have their tea down to a tee.