By Rei Yatsuhashi

Tea is so refreshing

Absolutely fantastic

Everyday we drink it

Contents• What is tea? ……………………………………………………………………………. 3• Origination of Tea …………………………………………………………………… 4• World Top Tea Producers ………………………………………………………… 5• World Top Tea Consumption …………………………………………………… 6• Health Effects of Tea ……………………………………………………………….. 7• How to make tea (Tea leaf processing methods) ……………………… 8• Tea Distribution Channels ……………………………………………………….. 9• Tea Culture ……………………………………………………………………………. 10• Tea Ceremonies …………………………………………………………………….. 11• Most Expensive Tea in the World ………………………………………….. 12• Fun Facts ………………………………………………………………………………. 13• A Tea Quiz …………………………………………………………………………….. 14• Quiz Answers ………………………………………………………………………… 15• References ……………………………………………………………………………. 16• Glossary ………………………………………………………………………………... 17

What is tea?

Tea is an healthy aromatic beverage which is drunk in most countries. It is also one of the most healthy and popular beverages in the world!! The plant that makes tea is called the Camellia sinensis plant. This plant is often called the tea plant (Cháhuā). White tea, Green tea, Oolong tea and Black tea are all harvested from this species of plant.

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Origination of Tea

The Chinese Emperor (In 2737 BCE) and inventor, Shennong liked his water boiled before he drank it so that all the germs would die due to the sweltering temperature. His servants obeyed and always boiled any of his water. One normal day, a dead leave fell from a nearby tree and then “Plop!!” it fell into the water. The colour changed but the servants didn’t notice so they served it to Shennong. Once he drank the pot of boiled water mixed with leaves, he felt refreshed. That is how tea was invented.

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World Top Tea Producers

In 2010, world tea production reached over 4.52 million tonnes.The largest producers of tea are the China, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Turkey. In 2010, China astonished foreign workers by producing up to 1,467,467 tons of tea! 28% of tea made in the world is made in China and only 15% of China is cultivating land. 5

World Top Tea ConsumptionAnnual Per Capita Consumption of Tea

: The United Arab Emirates (6.24kg) 　＞　 United Kingdom (1.89kg) 　 ＞ Japan (0.99kg) ＞ China (0.82kg) ＞ India (0.52kg)

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Health Effects of Tea

The list below shows some of the health benefits of tea:• Reduced cholesterol levels• Lowering blood sugar• Lowering blood pressure• Increased protection by raising white cells• Anti-viral properties• Anti-bacterial properties• Cancer prevention• Prevention of heart disease• Prevention of thinning bone tissue• Prevention of tooth decay• Holding back the effects of aging• Giving essential vitamins and minerals • Helping in proper digestion• Increased hydration through the drinking

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How to make tea

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Tea Distribution Channels

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Tea Culture Tea is the second most popular beverage on Earth after water. It can be drank in many different ways. In the Arabian culture, tea is a important point for social gatherings. In the US and Canada, 80% of tea is drank cold, as iced tea. Sweet tea is very important in the southern part of the US since it is their cultural symbol. In India, tea is occasionally served with biscuits. It is probably a kind of hors d’oeuvre. They dip the biscuits into the tea to put some flavor on them. They do this before actually drinking the actual tea.

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Tea Ceremonies Japanese Tea Ceremony

(Chado)English Tea Ceremony

(High Tea)

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Most Expensive Tea in the World

The most expensive tea in the world is Panda Poo Tea.Panda Poo Tea is made in China. It costs $200 per cup. This creative idea came from An Yanshi, a 41-year-old entrepreneur from the Sichuan Province. According to Reuters (an international newspaper company), An Yanshi plans to sell the first batch of tea for $3600 (50 grams).

If I was to buy this tea for everyone at High Tea, I would spend approximately $8,000 (40 people).

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Fun Facts

The Meitan teapot is the world’s biggest teapot museum ever known. It is 73.8 metres tall not to mention that it has a maximum diameter of 24 meters, and a capacity of 28,360.23 cubic meters.

Chinese master potter Wu Ruishen created the smallest teapot in the world, just weighing just 1.4 grams.

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A Tea Quiz

1. What plant does tea come from?2. What percentage of China is cultivating land?3. What is the world’s largest teapot called?4. What are English tea ceremonies called?5. What percentage of the world’s tea producing is from China?6. How much will An Yanshi sell the first batch of Panda Poo Tea for?7. Why did Shennong like his water boiled?8. How many tons of tea did China produce in 2010?9. What do you have to do last when you make Black Tea?10. Who made the smallest teapot in the world?

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Quiz Answers

1. The Camellia sinensis2. 15% of China is cultivating land.3. The Meitan teapot museum.4. High Tea5. 30.4%6. $36007. He liked it boiled so that it would be clean.8. China produced 1,467,467 tons of tea in 2010.9. The last step for making black tea is to fire (or dry it).10. The potter for the smallest teapot in the world was Wu Ruishen.

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References

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_tea_in_China• http://teaartblog.blogspot.kr/2012/04/tea-processing-chart.html• http://top10hm.com/top-10-tea-producing-countries/• http://teaartblog.blogspot.kr/2012/04/worlds-tea-consumption.html• http://www.dol.gov/ilab/media/reports/iclp/sweat4/tea.htm• http://www.imperialteagarden.com/green_tea_health• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea• http://www.odditycentral.com/news/china-inaugurates-teapot-shaped-

museum-of-tea-culture.html• http://yeinjee.com/asianpop/world-smallest-teapot/

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Glossary• beverage : a drinkable liquid • consumption : the act or process of consuming• cholesterol : a waxy substance that is present in animal cells and tissues, Is important in bodily processes, and may be related to the abnormalthickening and hardening of arteries when too much is present• cultivating: to prepare land for the raising of crops• per capita : for each person• fermentation : a chemical breaking down of a substance (as in the souring of milk or the formation of alcohol from sugar) produced by an enzyme and　 often accompanied by the formation of gas

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