The Art of Tea
Photo from Corbis
Tea, one of the most popular non-alcoholic beverages in the world, is produced by steeping tea leaves in boiling water. There are several cultures involving tea, the most prominent being China, the historical birthplace of tea, as well as the number one tea producer in the world making more than 11 tonnes annually.
In China, tea can be classified into six categories according to the degree of fermentation. There is green tea (unfermented), white tea (slightly fermented, 10%), yellow tea (partly fermented, 10-30%), oolong tea (semi-fermented 10-70%), black tea (highly fermented, 70-90%), and dark tea (post-fermented). Within these six categories are more sub-classifications that are used to appraise the aroma and taste of tea.
Tea has many scientifically proven benefits, such as improving cardiovascular health, gut health, and alleviating stress. In Chinese tea culture, tea is used to train the mind and bring tranquillity within oneself. Practising the art of tea may lead to changes in oneself such as increased patience, peace, and more! Practising the art of tea is a good way to control your mental health, as believed in Chinese medicine. Thus, it is recommended for certain groups of people to practise the art, such as people who work or study in large amounts, people with stress or anxiety, and people with health issues (such as diabetes, high blood pressure). Alternatively, for people who aren’t massive fans of tea, they may find that studying the art of tea is as well a good way to relieve stress!
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