Chinese Tea is Top Beverage After Water

There is splendid story attached to this centuries old drink that is believed to have started brewing in China. There is a largely told ancient tale that tea was first concocted by the Emperor Shennong, a great ruler in 2737 B.C. One particularly windy day, a Camellia Sinensis leaf found its way into the Emperor’s boiling pot of water. He found the taste to be so inviting that from then on, tea became part of Chinese culture and tradition.

The role that tea has in the great Chinese customs cannot be denied. In regular and festive occasions, this aromatic beverage is sipped by all factions of the gathering. Young and old alike can be seen having a cup of tea. Meal times would not be complete without a cup of tea in hand. The elders whisper that the drink symbolizes unity, friendship and provides a long and healthy life. China loves tea so much that it is considered as one of the seven necessities in their country. The dark liquid is cited amongst rice, soy sauce, salt, firewood, vinegar and oil. Chinese tea selection is wide and varied. Some of the types include Green, Black, White, Red, Herbal and Oolong.

Color, taste, or aroma may be different from one another, but all these variants come from only one source. The famed Camellia Sinensis. The plant can be found in China and goes by the name tea tree, the tea plant or the tea shrub. It sprouts flowers in certain seasons and is a beautiful tree quite valuable to the residents of china for its magical tea producing properties. Tea types are produced by a simple altering of the processing time. The varied time yields different oxidation levels, thus producing the assortment of teas in your grocery.

Named as the second most popular beverage in the world after water, tea is fast rising in its popularity. Chinese tea is so widely appreciated by the world because of a simple fact, it is very healthy. Each cup of tea releases an immeasurable amount of antioxidants. These antioxidants are your body’s allies. They fight free radicals and keep these nasty things from bringing disease and attacking the healthy cells of your body. Because of the high level of antioxidants in tea, doctors recommend taking it as a substitute to your morning coffee. Another plus factor for tea is the fluoride it contains to help combat plaque.