Tea and its origins

El the is world's most popular drink and it was expanding from China to the rest of the countries. Although there is no clear tea origin because there are thousands of legends that place it in that country and where they were already cultivated and consumed different types of tea.

From Decoración Alcazaba we want to make you a guide what is tea and what is its history, even at most consumed tea infusions among lovers of this fantastic drink. In our store you can find a wide stock of tea varieties.

What is tea?

The tea comes from a shrub or plant called Camellia Sinensiso Chinese camellia. From this plant the leaves are obtained that are dried to be able to make the infusion in hot water.

The largest tea producers are China and India that cover more than 60% of the tea making and distribution worldwide. As for its consumers, the most demanding countries for this fabulous drink are Turkey, Ireland, Great Britain, Russia and Morocco.

Origin and history of tea

For more than 5.000 years, tea has been the drink par excellence in many countries. There are three legends about the origin of tea:

• In the Chinese legend, the tea emerged under the Emperor Shen Nung, that while looking for the shelter of a tree to rest and boil water, some leaves of that tree fell into the water. Thanks to taking that infusion he felt more comforted and after that, he had seeds of that tea treein 2.737 BC
• In the legend of Japan about the origin of tea, we have as protagonist prince bodhi dharma. Dejected with fatigue after three years of pilgrimage, he had a dream in which all the women he had been with appeared. Not feeling proud of it, he vowed never to sleep again, but dejected by sleep he picked up some leaves from a tree and chewed them. These gave them energy to keep their eyes open.
• La Indian legend about tea It is said that the Japanese prince of the previous legend was in India. After his long pilgrimage he was tired and ill, however, following the instructions of some local sages, he collected the leaves of a tea tree and an infusion was prepared. This remedy managed to heal and comfort him to continue his journey.

All these legends speak of fortuitous events despite the history of tea expansion comes from China. At the beginning of 589 BC, tea plantations began to conquer southern China as a medicinal plant.

Then their trade began until they reached Japan in 800 AD. tea leaves They arrived in Europe brought by the Portuguese or the Dutch, it is not clear, but what is known for sure is the success it achieved in the seventeenth century among the nobility. The Dutch East India company kept the entire monopoly exported by China and Japan.

In Spain the tea infusions They arrived as a fashion imported from France and England, however, it did not have so much roots, since in the XNUMXth century the consumption of drinks such as chocolate and coffee was more common in our country.

Types of tea

All types of tea are obtained from the same plant, the Camellia SinensisThe difference is marked by the harvest times and the drying time of the leaves. The most common teas are:

Red tea

El Red tea It is also very precious and for its elaboration the fermentation of tea leaves and after drying, this last step heat and humidity are applied to achieve a greater ferment. It has a reddish color and its flavor is intense.

Green Tea

El green tea It is the most popular on the market. Its leaves are not fermented, however, they are processed using steam. This is how its oxidation is achieved and it is what gives it different shades of green, although dark tones predominate. Its flavor is similar to spinach or asparagus.

Black tea

El black tea collects the tea leaves in an early period, to then start the withering that progressively oxidizes the leaves until they finally dry out. Its color is quite dark and it has a strong and deep flavor.

We hope you have been able to learn a little more about the tea and its origins. It is a drink that has great benefits for the body and is high in theine to give us energy.