Tea Ceremony Around the World

Talking about habit, drinking tea is one of my habits. I usually drink tea in the morning and in the evening. Because of the benefit by drinking tea, so I continue this healthy habit until now. Beside that I also drink coffee but occasionally. I think we all know the benefit by drinking tea. Actually I've wrote the hub about tea, with the title "Healthy With Tea". Generally we get the benefits such as:

• Antioxidants in tea may protect the body from the effects of pollution and premature aging.
• Reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Tea makes blood circulation smoothly. The research in Netherlands show that the people who drank 2-3 cups of black tea per day have less risk of heart attack than those not ever drink tea.
• Strengthens bones. Actually not only the milk calcium which can give us strong bones.
• Teeth whitening. Tea contains fluoride to remove tartar. Great if after brushing your teeth, you rinse with the tea without sugar.
• Prevent Infections. The content of tea can strengthen the immune system.
• Help to healing cancer. Antioxidants called polyphenols contained in tea can fight cancer.
• Free of calories. Without additional sweetener, sugar or milk, tea remains calorie free.
• Tea is also good for those who want diet or maintain the weight. Try to consume approximately four cups of green tea per day. It can burn more than 80 calories in the body.
  

Wow....after we know all the benefit by drinking tea, Why we don't get accustom to drink tea as a daily habit?

This time I want talk about tea ceremony. I think for some country drinking tea was kind of tradition. We can saw this ceremony in several countries and it maintained well until now. This was kind of ritual for the country like Japan, China, Korea. And before it had done, we have to follow several steps before the main ceremony. But I also enclose another country which have drinking tea tradition. 

The legend about who first discovered tea in each region was highly diverse. Some say the person who discovered the tea was Shen Nun Emperor. as the first person who enjoy the tea in this world at 2737 BC. The story was begun from a single leaf tea blown by the wind and landed right in the mug containing hot water belongs to the emperor. And then the color of the water suddenly changed. This incident was attracted the attention of the Emperor. Interested in scent, without a doubt the Emperor drank this drink directly. Immediately he fell in love with a foreign drink that gives pleasure and freshness.

Another story said that the legendary among Buddhists. When tea leaves fell into the Buddha's water and immediately he drank it. Legend of the Tang Dynasty as the followers Zen said that Bodhidharma was the founder of tea tree.

Hui Tsung Emperor (1101 - 1125) was obsessed with tea until he wrote the art of tea drinking. And how to made various drink based on tea as main ingredient

I think we all know that Japan still hold this tradition. We can found this tradition when we traveling in Japan. I don't know with the Japanese restaurant. Is this ceremony still existed in Japanese restaurant? I heard that Japanese tea ceremony is a way to attract tourist in Japan. Beside the main ritual for Japanese people, who still hold this cultural traditions.

Tea was known in Japan around the 12th century, approximately 400 years ago. Early on, this tradition is carried out by the nobility or the samurai in Japan for the guests and still continues until now. Tea ceremony was introduced Sen no Rikkyu in the 16th century. The tea ceremony can be done about an hour or be the full formal mode and last around four hours. They called this tradition Chado or Sado, a traditional Japanese ritual in presenting the tea to guests.

Generally, Japanese tea ceremony using matcha tea powder which made from a "green tea" finely milled. This ceremony also called matchadō. But when they use sencha green tea, it called senchadō. Tea ceremony which held outside the room called nodate.

Chinese people pay close attention to taste and the aroma of tea. They are also happy to compare one type of tea with other teas. In China, the serving of tea was not accompanied with a dish of food. In Chinese tea tradition, there are two containers were used, a glass and a bowl. The glass works to breathe the smell of tea, while the bowl as a place to drink tea. The process wasn't simple. Put the tea leaves to cover the basic circle of red clay pots which met over a larger bowl, then pour boiling water until overflowing. The water will overflow was accommodated in a large bowl. Then the pot was closed for about two minutes. After boiling, the tea was poured into the glass and guests sipped tea aroma from the glass as a sign of respect to the host.

I heard that British people prefer coffee than tea. Based the history, the good news comes until 1767, when the level of British society for tea consumption increased £ 2, and increased up to 5 times until next 10 years. Tea was introduced in England around 1652. The price was very expensive because it was considered as a noble beverage. One of the nobles who enjoyed tea is Prince Charles II and his wife, Catherine de Braganza. From the England nobles, the tea was known to some countries. The lifestyle of the nobles was emulated by the England family.

There are two types of tea ceremony: light tea served in the afternoon during the meeting with families and it also served with snacks. The second tea was strong tea served in the morning in a breakfast event with jam bread, sandwiches or other food

Tea was introduced in Russia since the 17th century. The Russian people drank tea while standing, follow the western tradition. They use a samovar kettle, this kettle like the Mongols kettle. Water boiled in the kettle with charcoal stove. While awaiting the boiling water, teapot was heated. Then put the tea leaves into the zavarka. after boiling poured the boiling water in the zavarka until the tea leaves submerged. And then the tea was poured in silver cups. To enjoy it, put one tablespoon of jam or white sugar and lemon drops. Tea is usually served with sweet cake.

Korea is a country which is very close to the Japan. Korea almost has the same geographic conditions, like weather. There are some rules to drink tea for Korean people. When they sit the legs must be folded to the back. The host prepares the tea, and then shared to the guests. Guests are welcome to add the tea, if a small cup was empty. When they want to start drinking tea, all the guest and host should raised a small cup with the position both hands holding the cup. 

When they want to placed the cup on the table. they slowly placed their hands on  thighs. And the right hand put this cup. For certain people in Korea, they usually used the first tea leaves that appears or the youngest leaves. While the tea leaves which are now commonly used are green tea, yellow tea, ginseng tea. And most of those teas are available in the market. Tea leaves were then sliced and immediately brewed a few times as we wish. 

When you traveling in Malaysia, I think you will find this drink. Teh tarik is very famous drink in Malaysia. This tea was special, because you wouldn't find original taste of tea. But it was mixed between tea and milk. Then this tea was pulled to make foam. We can find Teh tarik in every where around Malaysia. With the affordable price around 1 RM. Teh tarik also became tourist attraction, because we can see the seller practicing on how to make this tea in front of the buyer, you can see it in the video below. Good to accompanied with Canai bread. These are as the breakfast for Malaysian people. But also good if we drank it in the evening.

• Healthy With Tea

  Tea is a healthy drink. Are there anyone who never drinking tea? because there are many proof that drinking tea have benefit for our healthy and some of these tea can be healing us from disease. A cup of tea contain a lot of nutrition increase the body's defense facing serious diseases. Maintaining our healthy and keep us more younger.