Tea around the World
Tea arround the World between traditions and benefits
Around the world, like many other drinks, tea is also loved in different flavors, colors, and aromas. It is the most popular drink in the world and is available in many types including black tea, green tea, herbal tea, milk tea, etc. You can enjoy it in the morning to make a fresh start to a day, in the evening with your favorite snacks, and at night, to have a good sleep.
Keep in mind that consuming too much of anything can become harmful. If you drink too much tea you must have come across these side effects.
- Increased anxiety, stress, and restlessness
- Poor sleep
- Reduced iron absorption
- Nausea
- Heartburn
- Headaches
- Dizziness
Let’s learn more about different teas of different regions with their origin and health benefits.
Moroccan Mint Tea
Moroccan mint tea, also known as Touareg tea is a mixture of green tea and mint leaves poured into small glasses and served with sweets and nuts.
Origin
Moroccan tea was first introduced to Morocco in the 12th century B.C by the Phoenicians. They lived there on the Northside of the country for more than 8 centuries. Today, Moroccan tea is a major part of North African culture.
Benefits
- Boosts your immune system
- Keeps your heart healthy
- Relieves digestive problems
- Soothes the mind and nerves
- Maintains good oral health
- Cleanses and clears out your skin
- Helps control your weight
Chinese Cha-Dao
Chinese people enjoy different varieties of teas like Oolong, Jasmine, Pu-erh, and Gunpowder. Cha Dao in Chinese means the art of making tea that leads to the Chinese philosophies of balance and harmony. Here we are mentioning some teas of Cha-Dao, i.e.Oolong, black, Pu’er and gunpowder tea.
Oolong (Wu Long)
Oolong is a traditional Chinese tea made from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant. The same plant that is used in making green and black tea.
Origin
The origin of Oolong tea is China, the word is adapted from two words meaning “black” and “dragon” in English. In other meanings, these two words describe the shape of the oolong leaves.
Benefits
- Protect against diabetes
- Protect against certain cancers
- Improves heart health
- Helps is lose weight
- Improves brain function
- Helps promote tooth and bone strength
- Helps relieve eczema
Black Tea
Black tea is the most popular type of tea in the West and is highly oxidized to brew strong cups. This tea is known as red tea in China which is separated into the grading system.
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Origin
Black tea is a loose-leaf tea that originates in China and comes from the Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri regions in India.
Benefits
- Has antioxidant properties
- Boosts heart health
- Improves gut health
- Helps reduce blood pressure
- Helps reduce the risk of stroke
- Helps reduce the risk of cancer
- Lower down the blood sugar level
Pu-erh Tea
Pu-erh or Pu Erh tea is a traditional tea and is a unique form of fermented tea. This tea is made from the leaves of the tree known as “wild old tree” grown in the region of Yunnan, China.
Origin
Pu-erh tea is a black tea that originates from the Yunnan Province in China.
Benefits
- May promote weight loss
- Improves cholesterol
- May boost liver health
- May prevent the growth of cancer
Gunpowder Tea
Gunpowder tea was originally called zhu cha or “pearl tea”. The tea is prepared like green tea but is tightly rolled into a pellet-like structure after the steaming process.
Origin
Gunpowder tea was first prepared in the 19th century in Taiwan when a British clerk noticed that the leaves that are tightly rolled resemble palleted gunpowder for cannons.
Benefits
- Increases mental focus
- A powerful antioxidant, anti-aging
- Increases metabolism
- Assists in weight loss
- Reduces cholesterol
- Calorie-free, fat-free, and gluten-free
Jasmine Tea
Jasmine tea is based on green tea, but black or white tea is also used which is scented with the aroma of blossoms from the jasmine plant.
Origin
The origin of Jasmine tea is Fuzhou, the city of China. The flower was introduced to China during the second imperial dynasty, the Han Dynasty, and right after the introduction, it was used to scent green tea.
Benefits
- Full of antioxidants
- May aid weight loss
- Promotes oral health
- Boosts brain function
- May protect against Alzheimer’s
- May reduce risk of certain cancers
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is made up of chamomile flowers and their leaves and it belongs to the Asteraceae plant family. Chamomile plants contain no caffeine that makes them better than other teas having caffeine as they reduce the iron from the body.
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Origin
Chamomile tea is a native herb of Europe, Africa, and Asia and is grown in North America. This herb is used medicinally for thousands of years in Greek, Roman, and Egyptian cultures.
Benefits
A cup of chamomile tea daily helps:
- Reduce menstrual pain
- Treat diabetes and lower blood sugar
- Preventing Osteoporosis
- Reduce inflammation
- Treat and prevent cancer
- Treat cold symptoms
- Treat mild skin conditions
Peppermint Tea
Drinking peppermint tea is better as this tea contains no caffeine. This tea is prepared with peppermint leaves from the plant Mentha piperita. Peppermint is used in drinks, candies, and other foods as it has a distinct flavor and aroma.
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Origin
Peppermint tea was first cultivated in the late 17th century in England.
Benefits
- Ease digestive upsets
- Help relieve headaches and migraines
- Freshen your breath
- Relieve clogged sinuses
- Improve your sleep
- Fight bacterial infections
- Help relieve menstrual cramps
Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is a spicy, rich, and flavorful drink with a lot of antioxidants. It is made from ginger root and is a great remedy for many cases of flu and cough-related issues and prevents stomach ulcers etc.
Origin
This herbal beverage has a long history as a traditional herbal medicine in many regions of Asia.
Benefits
- Help ease digestive discomfort
- Help reduce blood pressure
- May aid weight loss
- Ease headaches and migraines
- Rich in antioxidants
- Rich in anti-inflammation properties
Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus tea is made from the flowers of hibiscus sabdariffa also known as Roselle. A refreshing pink-red color of this tea can be enjoyed in both hot and cold form.
Origin
The origin of Hibiscus tea is claimed as North Africa and Southeast Asia.
Benefits
- Rich in antioxidants
- Help lower blood pressure
- Help lower blood fat levels
- Promote weight loss
- Rich in antibacterial properties
- Boost liver health
Echinacea Tea
Echinacea tea is a sweet tea with a floral flavor and smell. This tea is perfect to boost the immune system and to avoid the common cold.
Origin
Echinacea plant or Echinacea purpurea is a Native American plant, its tea has been used for centuries in North American tribes and the Great Plains Indians as a remedy to treat pain and ear infections.
Benefits
- Prevent the common cold
- Boost immune system
- May lower blood sugar levels
- May reduce anxiety
- Rich in anti-inflammatory properties
- May help treat common skin concerns
- May prevent cancer
Rooibos Te
Rooibos tea is an herb made from the leaves of red-colored rooibos flowers. It is also used for medicinal purposes.
Origin
Rooibos tea is a native South African herb that when brewed, gives a reddish-brown color that is known as “African red tea” or the “red bush tea” in the tea industry.
Benefits
- Supports heart health
- Improves skin health
- Alleviates pain
- Aids weight loss
- Helps build strong bones
- Control and prevent diabetes
- Aids digestion
Sage Tea
Sage tea is the infusion of a good aroma and taste which is made from the leaves of common sage (Salvia officinalis). Sage is an herb from the same family as mint. It is also used as a spice and traditional medicine.
Origin
Sage tea is native to the Mediterranean region and Asia Minor. But is now used throughout the world in cooking, traditional medicine, and essential oils.
Benefits
- Rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds
- May promote skin health and heal wounds
- May prevent cancer
- Improves blood sugar levels
- May promote brain health and improve mood
- Boosts heart health
- Promotes oral health
Lemon Balm Tea
Lemon balm tea is made from the dried leaves of the lemon balm plant (melissa). Tea prepared with Melissa officinalis has a light, lemony flavor with many health benefits.
Origin
Lemon balm tea originates from the Middle East and North Africa. This plant moved to the northwest to South Europe in the 1500s and then to America by 1700.
Benefits
- Prevents heart disease
- Improves sleep
- Supports brain health
- Treats infections
- Alleviates digestive problems
- Reduce stress and anxiety
Rose Hip Tea
Rosehip tea is prepared from the fruit of the rose plant and is high in vitamin C and anti-inflammatory properties.
Origin
Rose plant seeds used to make tea are Rosa rugosa and Rosa canina. They are both native to Asia, Europe, and North Africa. You can also find them growing in the USA and some other regions as well.
Benefits
- Rich in antioxidants
- May support immune system
- May protect against heart disease
- Aids weight loss
- May fight skin aging
- Reduce inflammation and pain
- May protect against type 2 diabetes
Passionflower Tea
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) has white and purple flowers. This plant contains chemicals that have calming effects and is used to help with sleep.
Origin
This plant is native to Southern Brazil through Paraguay and Northern Argentina and is cultivated commercially in tropical and subtropical areas.
Benefits
- May calm your mind
- May soothe your stomach
- May aid in menopausal symptoms
- May aid in skin conditions
- Reduce inflammation
- May improve heart health
Traditional teas around the world
English Afternoon Tea
Like the British are closely connected to fish and chips, they also are connected to tea. It is their favorite drink prepared with loose leaf green. English afternoon tea was invented with the late afternoon meals and became popular after a little while.
Origin
Afternoon tea was introduced by the seventh Duchess of Bedford, Anna Maria, in 1840. She would become hungry and needed something in the late afternoon as the meal of the evening was served late at 8 o’clock.
Russian Samovars
Russian Samovars is the small amount of tea poured into cups and diluted with water from the metal urn called samovar. This tea can be flavored with lemon, sugar, honey, or other herbs.
Origin
Russian tea was brought to Russia in the 17th century by the Silk Road trade in the 1800s and is slowly becoming available for everyone in Russia after the Russian Civil War in 1917.
Thai Iced Tea
Thai-iced tea also known as cha-yen and is made from black Ceylon tea. This tea is prepared by blending it with condensed milk and sugar. Serve this tea with ice and various other spices are being added like cinnamon, orange, blossom, star anise, or ground tamarind.
Origin
The origin of Thai iced tea is still unclear but any claim that it was invented by the influence of Field Marshal Pibul Songkram, a Thai leader having a strong liking of western culture.
Tibetan Butter Tea
People living in the high altitude of the Himalayas made this high-fat Tibetan butter tea famous. This tea can keep you warm and help cleanse your body. It is made of Pu-erh tea cakes crumbled into hot water and boiled for several hours.
Origin
Butter tea originated in the Himalayan region between greater Tibet and the Indian subcontinent during the Tang dynasty in the 7th century and became popular in the 13th century.
Indian Chai
Indian tea is the sweet milky tea known as chai. It is practically a national drink and a part of everyday life in India. You will see the tea stalls in the streets across the country and the preparation going on throughout a day of black tea with milk, sugar, and spices.
Origin
The British set up farms in Assam, India, in 1835 and it made its way to local masala chai recipes.
Japanese Tea
Japanese tea, also known as chanoyu tea, is prepared, presented, and consumed with a ritual ceremony. This tea is made from matcha powder, made with ground green tea leaves and is used to brew a frothy and delicate tea.
Origin
The Buddhist monks brought tea seeds from Tang China in the early Heian Period starting in 794 AD.
Argentinian Yerba Mate
Argentinian Yerba Mate is a caffeine-infused tea which is also known as ma-tay and is considered as a way of life. This herbal tea is served with a metal straw to drink. It is full of antioxidants and cholesterol-lowering properties.
Origin
Yerba mate has been consumed by the Guarani people who are now living in the countries of South America including Paraguay, North of Argentina, South of Brazil, and some parts of Bolivia, and Uruguay.
Taiwanese Bubble Tea
Taiwanese Bubble Tea is usually made with black, green, jasmine, or oolong tea with ice added and mixed with milk and sugar syrup. The bubbles in it are the small balls of chewy tapioca.
Origin
The tea was prepared in 1988 for the first time at the Chun Shui Tang tea house when Lin Hsiu Hui dropped the tapioca balls from her dessert into her iced tea.
