Chinese Teas - Introduction
Tea drinking is part of the daily routine in Chinese culture. It is not only a habit or routine, but also a way of entertainment and a communication process. More than 3000 years ago, the Chinese started using tea leaves and gradually developed the "Tea Art".
Terms of HolisticMasters.com |
|
! |
HolisticMasters provides all health information as a source of reference and to educate the public, and the content of this site has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. To minimize the risk of harm, please consult your physician or a professional in the field before trying each of the suggested therapies. Also be aware that many people are allergic to even the most common substances; it is important to be aware of your own physical conditions and limitations. In the event of a reaction, consult your physician immediately. |
|
Tea is usually made by putting tea leaves in boiling water. Sometimes, young twigs from tea plants are used together with the leaves and, of course, different kinds of flowers are mixed into this Art. There are many kinds of tea depending on the geographic distribution of the types of tea plants grown; most tea plants are cultivated by tea farming. The most expensive tea leaves are collected by hand in the wild, especially in certain mountainous regions. The quality of tea leaves depends on many factors, including weather patterns, soil conditions, picking time and refinement process. Some of these special tea leaves may cost a few thousand dollars for a single pound. When the Chinese discovered that tea could be used in healing different physical problems, other herbs were mixed with the tea leaves in order to produce better and stronger effects. Usually tea is used as a stimulant and a cleansing agent. Many tea recipes have also been written for prevention and / or intervention of different illnesses. Some common household herbs, foods and spices are added to the teas. Although the provided tea recipes are very helpful for alleviating common and mild physical discomforts, the relief may be masking other underlying problems. It is always advisable to see your family doctor and discuss those symptoms. You may be allergic to any sort of unfamiliar foodstuffs, so before consuming these teas, take a very small amount and wait about half and hour to test for allergic reactions. Generally two major kinds of tea can be purchased on the market (i.e. green tea and black teas). Green tea is usually dried without undergoing multiple fermentation processes, unlike the black tea, which therefore has a stronger aroma and color. Green teas have a natural color and lighter taste whereas black tea vary in many different flavours. Jasmine and oolong are the most commonly enjoyed types of green tea. |
How to make a pot of Delicious and Therapeutic Tea:
- Have your ingredients ready i.e., tea leaves, herbal water (the best water is from the springs, then wells, streams, rivers, tap water).
- Ceramic pots are the best, better than stainless steel ones
- Put the solid ingredients into the pot and pour boiling water over it (boiling water means: water starts to boil with some tiny bubbles).
- Drain the water right away. This is for washing the ingredients.
- Add boiling water again to cover the ingredients. Put the lid on and wait for 10 - 20 minutes. You can add more water after the first pot is finished. Usually this can be done 3 - 4 times, until the tea has no taste and the color becomes very light
- If the ingredients contain hard and very dry herbs, the pot of tea has to be simmered for 20 - 30 minutes. Usually this is considered as one dose or one treatment. The residue will not be reused again