Interesting tea cultures around the world

Desire for some and need for many, tea has become one of the most consumed beverages in the world after water. Originated from China, tea was first consumed for its medicinal qualities and according to a Chinese legend, a Chinese emperor called Shennong observed thecolour of hot water in his cup change and turn into something beautiful when dried leaves from a plant fell into his cup. And since then (2737 BCE), tea has made its special place in all of our hearts as it’s so much more than just a beverage. Relaxation for some, pleasure, spirituality and tradition for others, there are several reasons why people love tea around the globe. Here is a list of places that consume tea in their unique ways:

By Manan Kaur

China has introduced tea to the world and that is reason enough to start our list of tea cultures around the world with China. In China, tea is seen as a way of life. Bless the country’s diverse climate, as it helps various varieties of teas to grow in the region. Oolong, Jasmine and gunpowder are some of the most famous varieties but do we know about Huangshan Moafeng? According to legend, this green tea is known to have grown with the tears of a young girl who was about to get married but lost her lover just one day before the wedding. “Cha Doa” is an art of making tea, closely linked to Chinese philosophies relating this tea to bring balance, harmony and fulfilment on one’s life.

Famously known as “Chai”, tea has been in India ever since the British Raj. We may have acquired the art of including tea into our lifestyles from the Britishers but we surely have made our own version of an authentic Indian tea. Chai has also become the national drink of India and in most households, it is made by infusing ginger, cardamom, pepper and cloves into the water along with dried tea leaves called “Chai Patti”. The Indian culture of tea is widespread all over the country. Even in a deserted place, you are likely to find at least one chaiwallah with his little tea stall and people enjoying tea with on-going gossip and some snacks. In fact we like to dip everything in our tea, from biscuits to chapatis and parathas!

Matcha, the Japanese tea, has recently bloomed across the world and we already have so many fans for it. However, it has been a part of the Japanese culture since the 12th century and is being made the same way since then. Matcha is made with drying the tea leaves up to a point where they obtain a powdered form and a bright green colour and is then made into a drink. In Japanese culture, Matcha is used in a traditional Japanese ceremony known as “Chado”, translating to “the way of tea” where the host spends a lot of time preparing it with all the correct gestures and movements.

We cannot move further without mentioning the royal culture of tea that hails from Britain. The tea culture of Britain is as famous as the royal family. From fancy teashops serving earl grey and scones to the famous tea parties in the royal kingdom, to a common man’s go-to beverage, British tea culture has made its way through many phases. Like mentioned before, tea was introduced in India by the Britishers and has been popular since in various parts of the world. Facts show that over 160 million cups of tea are consumed in the UK each day!

Facts show that if you are likely to stay in morocco for even a little while, a cup of tea will always be served to you as a welcome. The Moroccan culture highly regards tea as a part of their hospitality. Their one of the most delicious hot mint tea is known as the Touareg and as the name suggests, the tea is made with fresh mint leaves boiled in water. The tea is served in three batches in tall glasses and you get to experience a new flavour each time. The flavours are then meant for you to reflect on the meaning of life in aspects of love and death. Typically, the first batch of tea is light in flavour so it is explained as “gentle as life”, the second is comparatively stronger hence, “as strong as love”. And the third is bitter of all and is called “bitter as death”.

Best known for their iced tea called “Cha-yen”, Thailand iced tea is made with strongly brewed tea poured over ice and served cold. It not only includes the tea but also various spices like cinnamon, star anise, orange blossom, etc. the drink has a sweet taste with beautiful floral aroma. The tea is usually had with meals and is special on hot days!

Russia is known to have embraced tea later than most countries but has still managed to come up with its own one-of-a-kind tea called Zavarka. This tea is known to have a very strong and intense flavour as it is made with boiling the tea up to a level where it is concentrated. Consuming the undiluted version of the drink is next to impossible. As part of the culture, the drinkers would use a traditional samovar (an ornate metal container) which holds the boiling water and the person who is responsible for pouring the water would dictate the intensity of the tea brew.