Though nothing surpasses water when it comes to simple refreshment, tea has the distinction of being the second-most popular beverage worldwide. In countless cultures across the globe, tea is an important part of daily routines, providing not just hydration but also a boost of caffeine, antioxidants, and several potential health benefits.
Both the cultivation of tea and the tea-drinking tradition originated in East Asia, possibly as early as 2700 B.C. One ancient Chinese legend ascribes the origin of the practice to an alleged incident in which the Emperor Shen Nung discovered that dried camellia leaves had fallen into the hot water he was drinking, accidentally creating the first cup of brewed tea.
As European powers, especially Britain and the Netherlands, expanded their empires in the 17th century, the global popularity of tea began to take off, with the formalization of trade routes from China and, later, India, to Europe.
Although tea is inseparable from many cultures across the globe, from Sri Lanka and Japan to Morocco and Britain, the country that drinks the most tea per capita is Turkey, both in terms of frequency and volume. While Turkish coffee is also a popular beverage (and a very successful export), tea is arguably the more culturally significant drink, with employers in Turkey legally mandated to provide workers with two tea breaks every day. Turkish tea, served without milk or sugar, is strong and slightly bitter, and served in a small glass called ince belli.
Fancy a cuppa?
- Camellia sinensis is the plant that provides the leaves, buds, and stems that produce tea. White, yellow, green, oolong, dark, and black tea are all derived from two of the plant’s varieties (C. sinensis var. sinensis and C. s. var. assamica), with the key differences due to varying levels of oxidation in the manufacturing process.
- Technically, herbal teas (e.g., chamomile, ginger, rooibos, and mint) are not true teas at all, but rather herbal infusions, as they are not brewed from tea leaves.
- Although they prefer tropical and subtropical areas, tea plants can grow in a wide range of climates, as long as they receive at least 50 inches (127 cm) of rainfall per year. Commercial tea growing takes place along the equator and as far north as Scotland’s Orkney Islands.
