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Learn About Tea
An
ancient beverage, tea has been drunk for pleasure and health for
thousands of years. Even before it is brewed, a tea leaf is steeped in
legend, history, geography, and politics. Here you can learn all about
this fascinating plant.
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Tea Types
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All tea comes from one plant, Camellia sinensis. The differences in the many teas we have -- whites, greens, oolongs, blacks, and pu-erhs -- is in the specific varietal that was used, the local environment the tea was grown in, and the way it was processed.
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The Plant, Camellia Sinensis
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Camellia sinensis is an evergreen shrub, which, if left to grow wild, can reach heights of more than thirty feet. On farms, tea bushes are generally kept trimmed to a comfortable picking height of two to four feet.
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Brewing Guide
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Brewing tea can be complex or simple. In China, it has been taken to the level of an art form, and, in Japan, it is an expression of Zen Buddhism. The water used to brew tea should be carefully considered. Water imparts many of its qualities to the finished cup of tea. Bad water will make a bad cup, no matter how good the tea.
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Tea and Health
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Not only is tea soothing and delicious, but, throughout its history, it has been associated with important health benefits. New studies point to evidence that these healing properties have a scientific basis.
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Small Farms and Tea Artisans
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The alternative to small farmers is chemically grown, mechanically harvested and processed, uniform teas of low quality. They hold no interest for the connoisseur. There's little adventure in a cup of bagged tea, blended for consistency. Cultural history and geography are lost; all mystery evaporates with them.
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Why Drink Tea?
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Tea tastes great. It is a simple beverage, just water and leaves, but it contains worlds. Like all things of beauty, it is both plain and complex. The detailed practice of the Japanese Cha No Yu tea ceremony is meant simply to lead one fully into the present moment. The deeper into tea we delve, the more interesting it becomes. Still, for us, a pot of tea is at heart a daily ritual, a great, but elemental pleasure.
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Tea Storage and Packaging
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Tea must be stored correctly to maintain freshness. Excessive heat, permeating odors, moisture, or exposure can forever alter the character of your tea.
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History of Tea
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The history of tea spans thousands of years, from 2737 B.C.E. That is when ancient Chinese records report that it was discovered by China's mythical second emperor, Shen Nung.
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Tea Legends
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Legend states that where Bodhidharma’s eyelids fell, the first tea plant grew. The quality of tea, which keeps one awake, is Bodhidharma’s gift to the Buddhist world of meditators, establishing the drinking of tea as an aid to alert meditation and spiritual development.
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Glossary
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From "Agony of the Leaves," to "Yixing." Find over 50 tea terms and definitions here.
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