Interesting Facts About Tea

Tea comes from the leaves of a tree called Camellia sinensis. The three main types of tea are Black, Oolong and Green. Herbal tea does not come from the leaves of a tea plant, therefore, is not considered to be real tea. Roots, stems, flowers and parts of plants are used to make herbal tea.

Studies in the Netherlands have shown that men who drink black tea which contains catechins are 50 percent less likely to die of ischemic heart disease. This takes place when our arteries become clogged and are unable to work properly because of constriction.

Recent studies have shown that drinking between one and two cups of tea per day may promote fertility by stopping abnormalities in our chromosomes. In a recent test 250 women drank as little as half a cup of tea per day and their pregnancy rates were twice as high as those who did not.

To cure puffy eyes lie in a horizontal position and place either a moist teabag or tea compress over both eyes and leave for about 20 minutes. The swelling around the eyes will to your amazement disappear and your eyes will return to their former glory.

Tea will absorb odors around it. Here is a tip for removing food odors from your hands. Pour some tea over your hands and the tea will remove all odors from your fingers, and leave them smelling great. It even works great with fish odors!

Black tea bags can be used to treat planter warts. Tannin in tea is acidic and can be just as effective in removing warts as various over the counter wart removers! Leave a cooled bag on the wart for about 15 minutes three times daily and slowly the wart will shrink and disappear.

Scientists have reported for many years that men in Asian countries who drink green tea have very low instances of prostate cancer. Many prominent researchers believe that this is due to green tea containing many powerful antioxidants and preventative anti-cancer agents.

In recent Australian studies CSIRO scientists found that the occurrence of skin cancer in laboratory mice was greatly reduced when they were given black tea. It is thought that polyphenols which are very strong antioxidants and are contained in the tea are the most likely reason for this phenomenon.

Tea can be used to soothe burns and sunburns. Put wet tea bags onto the affected areas or keep in place with gauze. You can also put tea into your bath water. This works for other types of burns as well.

The costliest teabag ever was created for the 75'th anniversary of the PG TIPS tea company. The bag was filled with two hundred and eighty diamonds and expensive limited edition tea leaves. The bag cost 7,500 pounds and would be auctioned to raise money for a Children's hospital in Britain.

ALL types of tea, white, green, oolong, and black, come from the same plant, the Camellia sinensis. What determines a type of tea's "color" is the processing the newly picked leaves will undergo before they reach your cup.

Interestingly, tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world, playing second fiddle only to water. It is in almost every culture, and there are literally thousands of varieties.

Some historical notes suggest that tea has been a warm beverage companion to man for over five thousands years! Other recordings state only three thousand...but either way, that is a long time.

There are four main types of tea which are, white, green, oolong, and black, all which are born from the same species of plant.

Common health facts about tea show us that it is rich in antioxidants, can shield our immune systems, stop infection, and even help us shed some pounds!

Some Chinese histories assert that tea has been cultivated as long as three millenia.

Tea, that most quintessential of British beverages, was probably never tasted by Shakespeare. Tea's introduction to England was a good fifty years after his death in 1616. The poor guy probably never had a cup of coffee either.

Tea production, consumption, appreciation, and ritual were first documented in detail by eighth-century Chinese monk Lu Yu in a book known as the Ch'a Ching, a book that is still read today (translated into English as The Classic of Tea).

Samuel Johnson, creator of the celebrated Dictionary of the English Language, was known to drink 20 cups of tea at a sitting, and proudly claimed to drink 40 cups of tea each day.

In 2004, world tea production was on the order of 3.2 billion kilograms (or roughly 3.5 million tons). There are no statistics on what percentage of that is consumed by descendents of Samuel Johnson.

In 1662, King Charles II of England married the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza. The new queen brought with her to England a chest of tea as part of her dowry.

In the 17th century the credit for the invention of "Afternoon Tea" is given to Anna 7th duchess of Bedford. At that time food was served at breakfast and not again until a very late dinner. The Duchess was unable to endure this long time span. She requested her maid to bring her a pot of tea with a little bread and butter and some cake. She soon began to invite friends to join her. Welcome to the birth of "Afternoon Tea".

A cup of brewed tea typically contains less than half the caffeine of a cup of coffee.

In England there are really two kinds of tea meals. "Low Tea" also called "Afternoon Tea" is served on a low table with a light offering of food such as dainty thin sandwiches and scones. "High Tea" served at a high table or dining room table is a more substantial meal. This would be considered supper in the working class home. Food would include a hot dish, hefty sandwiches, scones, cakes and biscuits. Of course, each of these traditions includes tea, and lots of it.

The United States is the birthplace of "Iced Tea".

Water quality has a big effect on the taste of all teas.

Wu-Long tea is actually Oolong tea.

In the United States a short interruption in the workday is called a coffee break. In other parts of the world, it is more likely to be a tea break.

The oldest tea ritual is thought to be the Japanese tea ceremony, which dates to the 12th century. Tea drinking developed into a highly formalized social function, and in the 16th century a tea master named Senno Rikyu laid down rules for the ceremony.

Over time the tea used in tea bags became of the lowest grade of tea.

A cup of black tea has half the amount of caffeine than a cup of coffee.

Drinking milk may mean stronger bones, but the same goes for a cup of tea!

In one day, an experienced tea picker can collect around 70 pounds of tea! That's enough tea to make 14000 cups! Talk about filling a quota.

A large amount of caffeine is released from tea after the first 30 seconds of brewing. Dumping this content out and pouring new hot water is a neat trick for caffeine conscience tea drinkers.

There are four main types of tea: white, green, oolong, and black. But depending on the influence of culture, these four types can turn into thousands of varieties.

The most interesting of tea facts is that all tea comes from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis.

This tea plant is an evergreen which can reach a height of over 30 feet if left to grow in the wild.

Now there is a good news for people who are dieting... Did you know that tea can help abate your appetite?

Tea can also help regulate cholesterol.

The Irish consume more tea per capita than any other group in the world (that was some new tea trivia for me too!).

To get the most flavor and benefits out of tea, try brewing it by loose leaf instead of by tea bag. You will find a whole new world of tea awaits!

One pound of loose tea can make about 200 cups.

Loose leaf tea can stay for about a year if properly stored and sealed.

The tea bag was invented in the early 20th century by a tea merchant named Thomas Sullivan. Like most inventions this was also done by an accident.

More tea facts about health suggest that tea may help prevent certain cancers, and tea has been known to fight tumors.

A cup of tea may keep the dentist away, yes I said 'dentist'. This is because tea helps fight cavities.

Don't through that old tea out! Instead try putting it in the refrigerator to help absorb odors, or use in your garden as fertilizer.

The English word for tea is, obviously "tea". However the Chinese word for tea is "cha".

Cold season coming up? Drinking tea helps boost the immune system do to its natural antibacterial properties.

It is recommended to drink at least 3 or more cups of tea a day to maintain the most benefits.

Next on the tea facts list is...it takes only 3 minutes of brewing time for the antioxidants in tea to be released in your cup.

The Camellia sinensis tea plant can produce tea for 50 years.

Iced tea was invented in America, and is the most consumed "prepared tea type" in America.

'Orange Pekoe' some people think is a type of tea, but is really a grading of tea.

Speaking of grades there are 7 types which are graded by leaf size. "Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe" Try saying that 5 times fast! (FTGFOP) is the highest and "fannings"(tea dust) is the lowest.

Fannings are used in most tea bags, those same ones you find on supermarket shelves.

One cup of white tea contains the same amount of antioxidants as 10 cups of apple juice!

Although many tea facts point to white and green teas as being the healthiest, a cup of black or oolong tea proves just as good.

The Boston tea party is greatly responsible for the coffee outbreak in America. Hopefully with time America rediscovers tea, and reclaims its lost tea culture.