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According to legend, tea was first discovered when (get ready for vagaries) some leaves happened to fall into a boiling pot and were found to have a tasty and aromatic effect. Sounds a bit suspicious to me, but here are some actual facts and figures regarding this important beverage of my Southern upbringing, tea.
• There are three basic kinds of tea—Green, Oolong, and Black. In the U.S., 94% of tea consumed is Black, with Green coming in at a paltry 5% (as opposed to 80% Black and 19% Green worldwide). A fourth and more rare type of tea, White tea, is a Chinese tea produced exclusively from the buds or tips of the tea bush.
• Most countries have their own tales of origin regarding tea, but as far as American consumption goes, the Cambridge World History of Food tells us “One great change in American tea drinking came about in the early twentieth century. In 1908, tea merchant Thomas Sullivan, in order to reduce shipping weight, began to package tea samples in silk bags instead of miniature tins. Some of his customers brewed the tea without taking it out of the bags and requested more tea packaged in this way; Sullivan obliged, and teabags were created. Today, in America, most tea is brewed from teabags.”
• More recently, teabags have been seen in the shape of a pyramid. However, if you like brewing your tea loose leaf, you should consider learning how to read your tea leaves. [Photo courtesy of Teadrop.]
• Some of the largest world growers and producers of tea are China, India and Sri Lanka, and the bushes from which tea leaves are harvested are best grown in dense, tropical areas. Now, this sounds like a bit of Monkey News to me, but apparently now you can buy tea that has been hand-picked by, well, monkeys.
• Richard Blechnyden is credited for “inventing” iced tea (this brings me back to considering the “invention” of the chocolate chip cookie—was there really a world with out it?) at the 1904 World’s Fair. Now, 85% of the tea consumed in the U.S. is of the iced variety.
• And of course, no one can mention American tea consumption without speaking of December 16, 1773. That’s the date of the Boston Tea Party. Every American middle schooler is brow beaten to know that 342 crates of tea were dumped into Boston Harbor in protest of British Parliament’s Tea Act of 1773. (You guys remembered all that … right? Here’s a refresher.)
• Although we might guess the English, with their tradition of High Tea, to be the world’s number one consumers of the aromatic beverage, it’s the Irish who consume the most tea per capita, with an average person handling 4 cups a day (compare that to the U.S., where the average person has a mere half cup each day!)
OK, Ladies and Gents: how then do you take your average “half cup” of tea—hot or iced, sweet or unsweet? Any brewing suggestions or favorite flavors? And if you think you know all there is to know about tea, try your hand at the Tea Test.
[Previous Dietribes: Strawberries, Macaroni & Cheese, McIntosh Apples, Smoothies, Coffee, The Sweet Potato, Eggs, Cookies and Watermelon]
‘Dietribes’ appears every Wednesday. Food photos taken by Johanna Beyenbach. You might remember that name from our post about her colorful diet.
Comments (33)
Comment
Tea….I love it! I drink it all. Sweet or sweetened, ice or hot, with milk, with lemon, etc….I love it all. My favorite tea story is: I was on vacation in Kenya, Africa, up rediculously early in the morning to go horseback riding. While I waited for my turn to ride, I was offered what they called “Tea”…I jumped on it. What I was brought was a cup of steaming, mudding liquid that smelled like Spagetti’Os (I will never forget it)…like a trouper, I tried it and it was wonderful! Turns out, it was my first cup of Chai tea, full of cream and spice….I think I had about 4 cups before I even got on the horse! Now, every time I have Chai, I think of Spagetti’Os!
posted by Michelle on 4-2-2008 at 8:29 am
I only like hot tea, and I prefer it looseleaf. My favorite type is Queen B.
posted by Sarah on 4-2-2008 at 8:33 am
as a brit, i’m a bit of an oddity, love tea, but generally have it 50/50 with milk… but i also like some fruit teas, and earl grey & lady grey tea too :D
posted by Parry on 4-2-2008 at 8:39 am
Hot and with lots of sugar. Sometimes with milk, but as long as there’s sugar, I’m happy. I like mint tea and vanilla, but will happily drink almost anything.
posted by Fruppi on 4-2-2008 at 8:45 am
The Irish may drink four cups of tea a day, but I’ve got to guess that people in Asian countries drink more tea on average, especially when you consider the sheer number of vending machines with ten or more varieties of both hot and cold unsweetened teas.
posted by Andrej on 4-2-2008 at 8:49 am
I’m thinking mainly of Japan when referencing vending machines.
posted by Andrej on 4-2-2008 at 8:50 am
Hot tea = yummo! (sorry…)
Green tea is by far my favorite and of course loose leaf is almost universally better than bagged (though there are some decent bags out there).
I drink two cups every morning (coffee is nasty, seriously, even the smell of coffee sends me running).
I just got a really good deal on the Zarafina Tea Maker Suite — it takes all the guess work out of the “proper” cup of tea and it makes the best tea I’ve ever had. Even bagged teas come out of the Zarafina tastier.
posted by binarystatic on 4-2-2008 at 9:08 am
I’m a big fan of rooibos (red tea). It’s not a tea in the strict sense because the plant is not related to camella sinensis. The only place that I know of where it grows in the wild is South Africa, close to Capetown. It’s got a earthy, refreshing flavor with a natural sweetness, and it makes amazing iced tea.
posted by Ira on 4-2-2008 at 9:08 am
I’m not a huge tea drinker, but I love my green tea (with honey, not sugar!). I drink 1-3 cups per day of the stuff–it gives me enough caffeine to keep me going, but not so much that I’m jittery.
If I’m forced to drink black tea, I prefer it hot and with plenty of milk, no sugar. Fruity teas are preferred. Even though I’m from Texas, I’m not an iced tea drinker (yes, I know I should be lynched).
posted by nutmeag on 4-2-2008 at 9:28 am
I’m from Texas, and iced tea is my default drink of choice in restaurants. (I almost got thrown out of an eatery in New York City when I requested “Ice Tea” in winter.)
Mom used to shake Lipton Powdered tea into a pitcher, then hold the sink spray over it until the pitcher was topped by 2 inches of brown foam. (I shudder to think of drinking it like that now.) I take my Iced Tea unsweetened: my father broke our family of sweet tea when, one summer, he got on a health food kick and would only buy unprocessed sugar. Dumping that into your glass was like drinking tea poured over Rice Krispies.
posted by Karl on 4-2-2008 at 9:40 am
I’m rather picky about my tea. I hate all herbals, and I’m not a fan of green or white tea. But I love black tea (preferably an English Breakfast) with milk and sugar.
We also have a great family recipe for Spice Tea. It uses a basic black tea, and then adds cloves and cinnamon, and pineapple, orange, and lemon juices. My mom and I love it so much that we can drink 2 gallons in 3 or 4 days!
posted by Rae Rae on 4-2-2008 at 10:10 am
A big hot cuppa PG Tips every morning, with a little whole milk in it.
posted by Karen on 4-2-2008 at 10:15 am
I’m from the South, so sweetened iced tea is what I grew up on. I enjoy hot tea on occasion though. I like trying new flavors whenever I can. Usually no milk, just a little sugar.
posted by Marta on 4-2-2008 at 10:42 am
MMM TEA!!
I’ll try any kind and usually love them. My favorite is Sugar Plum Spice from Celestial Seasonings. Great company, it might make me a tea geek but I’ve even taken the tour of their factory. If you’re ever in Boulder CO it’s worth it, best smelling factory on earth.
posted by Em on 4-2-2008 at 10:42 am
I like tea in general, but my favorite is a cup of hot English Breakfast tea with a bit of lemon and sugar (or honey). MMM.
Unfortunately, living in Arizona, hot tea is almost unbearable half the year.
posted by gibson8or on 4-2-2008 at 10:53 am
I love sweet tea, but I am a bit of a snob, it has to have the right amount of sweetness. When I want something different at home I add a bag of mint tea with the rest. It’s especially delicious in the summer time when it is so damn hot.
posted by stephW on 4-2-2008 at 11:04 am
***
Every year I throw a tea party for my bestest friends. I’m usually not a girly-girl but I always try to make it as ridiculously dainty and femme as possible (tea sandwiches and pink mini cupcakes included).
Of course, my classy friends start spiking the tea with booze and the debauchery begins…….
P.S. This year I’m throwing a Jem themed tea party (for you 80’s cartoon fans out there). Hot pink galore!!!
****
posted by Sweet Pea on 4-2-2008 at 11:06 am
The China Pattern shown in the pictures is Old Country Roses by Royal Doulton. It is the number one selling pattern in the world and has been so since it was introduced in 1962. Several of my Aunts and cousins collect the pattern, although I must say that I broke the tradition when I selected my wedding china.
posted by Cassandra on 4-2-2008 at 11:29 am
I’m from the South, so I love sweet iced tea. In fact, that was the only way I’d ever had it until I went to China in 2004. The US Ambassadors took me and a friend to a restaurant that serves Bubble Tea - cold sweetened tea mixed with milk. And it has huge tapioca beads (hence the “bubble”). We drank it with a straw the diameter of a nickel.
I loved that tea, too. I have since found places in America that serve “Bubble Tea” but it isn’t exactly the same as what I was served in Beijing.
posted by Leslie on 4-2-2008 at 12:20 pm
I moved to England two years ago and decided to do as the Britons do. I love hot tea with sugar and milk. I grew up drinking iced tea, but only drink that plain. No lemon, sugar or anything thank you very much. I’m glad I have something warm to drink because I hate coffee and don’t really like hot chocolate. Tea’s awesome!
posted by Tricia on 4-2-2008 at 12:35 pm
I’ve never liked hot tea much. I’m an iced tea fan. I make it myself, with regular black tea, plus some jasmine tea, and when the water is hot, I add honey to make it sweet. It’s heavenly. I could drink gallons of it.
posted by Jenny on 4-2-2008 at 1:03 pm
I love tea! When I was younger I only had iced tea, but now I absolutely love green tea in most forms… I especially enjoy it with honey… I’d love to branch out and try other teas… I’ve never had black tea, but I hear amazing things about it… Anyone have any suggestions?
posted by Christine on 4-2-2008 at 2:01 pm
TEA! :D I own that very teacup! Also, you should do a companion post to this one on Tisanes.
Other tea facts:
Darjeeling tea is known as the Champaigne of teas both because of it’s light color, sweet taste, finicky preparation process and because on teas from the Darjeeling province may be labeled as Darjeelings, much like the Champaigne region of France.
Americans often confuse light, low teas with the meal of high tea. Low teas are served with vegetarian sandwiches, scones and pasties, while high teas usually include meat and are closer to what we would call dinner.
Unlike Coffee, most of the caffine on tea is water soluble. If you’re concerned about your Caffine intake you can simply pour out the first steeping and serve or drink the second steep which will have most of the taste of the first steep with much less caffine.
Most teas are good for 3-4 steepings, and in several asian countries there is actually a tea ceremony that specifically appreciates the nuances and subtle differences of each steeping.
posted by Ashley on 4-2-2008 at 2:46 pm
My girlfriend loves tea-bags!
posted by David on 4-2-2008 at 2:47 pm
I drink 5-6 cups daily, hot or cold both,never sweet, never milk…just straight tea!
posted by fifi on 4-2-2008 at 3:04 pm
Earl Grey, hot.
Make it so.
posted by Dave on 4-2-2008 at 5:44 pm
I love absolutely love tea! I drink it in the morning with a pastry and the paper. I usually put semi processed sugar in it because it kind of enhances the flavor of the tea. And since I live in the Philippines, the most common brand here is Lipton. I would really love to get the looseleaf variety but its kind of hard to find here. The closest I could get to looseleaf is my recently purchased Earl Grey teabags from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. They come in pyramid shaped bags (like the one on top)and it tastes absolutely wonderful! However, the $10 pricetag is a bit steep (no pun intended)for just 20 bags.
posted by Leizl on 4-2-2008 at 9:44 pm
Sweet iced tea is my water. But I drink lots of hot tea too, all varieties. Preferably sweet, though.
posted by Aemi on 4-3-2008 at 6:59 am
those little flowers are tasty. and they are fun to watch open up in your mug!
last summer i made my own sun tea, and it became the summer-time drink. (chill and mix with white wine–reisling works best)
i take mine hot, cold, wine-spiked, but never sweetened.
posted by the creature on 4-3-2008 at 12:13 pm
What about rooibos (red tea)?
I am a huge fan of hot tea and oddly particular about how and when I drink it.
Black tea in the morning with sugar and milk. Green tea (flavored or not) in the afternoon, plain. Herbal tea anytime, with honey and not sugar as sweetener.
posted by Katie on 4-3-2008 at 7:55 pm
Bah…iced tea…a desecration. Do anybody but Americans drink it?
posted by Susanna on 4-3-2008 at 11:41 pm
English Breakfast, 2 sugar cubes and milk! My roommate experimented with refrigerating Early Grey though, and that was strange & surprisingly good. Pu-erh is good too if I’m in a very introverted mood (not sure why that is required, but in my head it is).
posted by Johanna on 4-4-2008 at 3:04 pm
I was astonished when I recently read in an article that one could also put tea leaves in cold water instead of brewing with hot water.. It takes longer to let it “brew”, but this iced tea is a (positively) surprising culinary experience =) I usually put about 2 table spoons of green tea leaves into 1 liter of cold water and leave it in the fridge overnight.. In the morning I flavour and sweeten my iced tea with homemade lemon balm syrup and take a bottle to the office - very refreshing !!
I couldn’t believe it worked in the beginning, but just try it out!
posted by Felicitas on 8-5-2008 at 2:42 pm