The way we drink our tea may not only reflect our taste and style, but our health as well.Tea drinking is around 4700 years old and had its origin in China. Leaves of the shrub Camellia sinensis (tea plant) were in use at that time as a remedy for wounds and diseases. With the legendary emperor Shenong brewing and drinking its extracts, tea drinking became a popular habit in this part of the world.
The British, impressed with the brew and the customs that go with drinking it in China and Japan, tried to emulate and evolve a tea-drinking custom of their own, and soon “tea-time”became a familiar term across the globe.
Every home or cafe seems to have its own flavour. The north Indian variety of “chay” is a glass of hot creamy milk (more cream as it gets more “special”) with lots of sugar and a lacing of “tea liquor” of strong tea that grows on lower heights (Assam, Nilgiri, Sri Lanka etc). In contrast, the Chinese and Japanese prefer light green or jasmine tea without a drop of milk. Those with taste relish the Darjeeling variety that grows on high altitutudes: it has a distinct flavour but the liquor is mild, and is best consumed with no or little milk.
Tea contains a substance called caffeine (15 -50 mg per cup) that boosts mental alertness, increases short term memory, and has a mild antidepressant effect; hence the morning cup to get up from bed, and before exams or when alertness is required.
A special group fof healthy substance called anti-oxidants, are abundant in tea, especially the green or jasmine varieties. The anti-oxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has ant-cancer properties, lowers stress levels, protects the heart and prevents degenerative diseases like Parkinsonism or dementia. A recent study showed that people who drank 2 cups of green tea a day had a 50% less decline in mental function with aging. Not surprisingly, tea-drinking Chinese and Japanese elders often live till 100 and remain alert till late.
Tea (green or jasmine only, not the creamy ones) also boosts our metabolic rate and help maintain slim figures. Catechin polyphenols and caffeine probably do the trick by increasing burning of fat in the body. Where tea really scores over coffee is in its glycemic index, or propensity to push up the blood sugar. It is 3 with green tea compared with 13 with “chay” and 27 with a cup of coffee. Tea drinking also helps avoid bad breath.
Many are taking to Jasmine tea these days. It is a blend of jasmine buds (originally from Persia) with green or white tea, is mild and soothing. Try drinking 2-5 cups a day and see how refreshing you feel. Or should you prefer a strong flavour, you have the masala, cardomom, elaichi, orange-pico varieties to pick from.
Enjoy your cup of tea!
As published in HT City ( Hindustan Times) dated 6 February , 2011.
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