Tea

In the world of tea, most people are only informed on Green, Black, Herbal, Matcha, and White tea. It is when you get further into it or even just brush the top of the knowledge that you find out there are more kinds of tea. Oolongs, Roibos, Yellow (which is very rare), Pu’erh, Sencha, blends, and Heichas are all different types of tea. The amazing thing is that they all come from the same type of plant. What makes them different is how they are processed. The only ones that are the exceptions are the herbals and blends, as they rarely have any actual tea leaves in them.

My first introduction to tea was as a child watching my grandmother and mother sit down to enjoy a cup together while they talked. Immediately, I wanted to be part of what they were doing. Unfortunately, much like Alice in Wonderland, I was not old enough to be part of it yet. The smells were very intriguing, and the people were loving. I wanted so bad to be older right then. I wanted to be able to enjoy their company and feel like I was just like them.

A few years went by and I was able to join the table of tea drinkers. It was different. The first tea was an herbal tea. Safe for a young person just learning about the flavors. It was also more likely to be palatable to a youngster’s tastes. Sugar was of course added to the teas. On occasion, a creamer or dairy product would be added.

After moving out onto my own, I have been introduced to traditional Gongfu-style tea. It is a unique but easy way to enjoy tea, especially if you decide not to go the full ceremonial route with it. The steeping time for the tea is just a few seconds, and then you get to enjoy a taste from the other side of the world. The big thing is that you don’t use tea bags, it is all loose-leaf tea.

I have found the loose leaf beneficial to the point that I can control how much I use and what is in the tea. Like any human, I do have allergies to certain substances, and as my nutritional intake changes, so does my stomach’s ability to accept certain foods. By knowing what is in the tea and how much I put in the pot or gaiwan, I have more control over what is going into my body.

Tea has been around for centuries, becoming what it is today. While most lean towards coffee for energy or a jolt to wake up in the morning and stick to tea for help when sick, there are so many other options to look at. Each tea has its own properties that are beneficial to the body without causing long term consequences. Some are even better for treating certain ailments than we are lead to believe. Some even help with simple things you wouldn't even imagine.

I plan to start posting more about tea and sharing the knowledge I have received from two amazing tea masters. The world of tea is a lot larger than any have truly known. It is also a world of amazing opportunities. Recent studies have shown that tea is about to become even more popular than coffee. Some may be shocked by that, but it is true. Through the knowledge I am about to impart upon all who read this, you will quickly learn how and why it has been so popular for so long. You will also quickly realize why it is taking over coffee’s popularity.