More tea, anyone?

They say tea is the most widely consumed drink on Earth, next to water. Several traditions surround it, together with various serving techniques. My worst nightmare would be to ask for tea, and be told, ‘Sorry, tea is no longer on the menu – it is extinct’. Can we – or should I say can I - cope with a future without a cuppa?

No matter what the season is, it can be served hot or refreshingly cold, and both will give you a lift. With endless variations and flavours, the benefits of tea go far beyond refreshment as we are now becoming aware of ingredients that show medicinal benefits. In the past, tea drinking had a history for general health promotion, and modern research has established this belief too. Various studies have shown that tea consumption may help ward off some chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and has been credited with boosting the immune system, and metabolism, and helping in weight loss. Well, I am all for the latter at the very least.

The Start of the Cuppa

China has the largest tea market worldwide, after which come India and Japan. Tea has a long history, with the earliest record of tea drinking being credited to China – one of many legends tells that the tea plant was discovered in 2737 BCE by Shennong, a Chinese emperor who apparently liked drinking boiled water. One day, as he took a rest under a wild tea bush, a dead leaf accidentally fell into his water, marking the first-ever infusion of a tea leaf. Intrigued by the fragrance, the emperor took a sip and found it very refreshing, so tea came into being. So they say.

There are as many legends about the history of tea plants as there are different colours - no less than six including the more popular ones of black, green and white, with oolong falling into its own category of tea, but might end up with more black or more green tea characteristics depending on the direction of the tea master. They are all produced from the same tea plant, Camellia sinensis—or another close relative in the Camellia genus—that has a long life span and needs cool climates for cultivation, but the way it is harvested impacts on the resulting product. Only the top two leaves and the bud are picked, but it obtains its unique characteristics after harvest and during its drying process with varying oxidation levels.

One of the risks that threaten tea production is climate change – (here we go again, another global crisis lurking). Tea production is at peril by rising temperatures, severe droughts, patchy rainfall and other extreme weather events, in addition to pests and diseases. All these uncertain scenarios, among others, are posing risks for tea production at specific locations.

Tea growing is already being disrupted by climate change; and increased awareness and collaboration among experts and organisations is needed more than ever to face the threats. Farmers on tea plantations should be perhaps be aided with risk management tools to prepare and deal with these threats to overcome the anticipated consequences.

Health Benefits of Tea

All teas contain epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which may help against free radicals that can contribute to cancer, heart disease, and clogged arteries, but all these claims need further research on their effectiveness. All teas contain caffeine and theanine, which affect the brain and seem to heighten mental alertness.

Fruit teas are different again, and can be made from herbs, fruits, seeds, or roots steeped in hot water, and have lower concentrations of antioxidants than other teas, with chemical compositions varying widely depending on the plant used. Varieties include ginger, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, hibiscus, jasmine, rosehip, mint, chamomile, echinacea, and no doubt more.

There doesn’t seem to be a downside to tea, say experts. it’s a great alternative to coffee drinking and has less caffeine, and it’s pretty well established that the compounds in tea are good for the heart and may reduce cancer.

So where would we be without tea? I know where I would be – still asleep in bed.

Marilyn writes regularly for The Portugal News, and has lived in the Algarve for some years. A dog-lover, she has lived in Ireland, UK, Bermuda and the Isle of Man. 

Marilyn Sheridan