Global Traditions of Tea Food by Danielle Beaudette
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lifestyles/ Global Traditions of Tea Food By Danielle Beaudette pot. The aroma enticed him while the teas are becoming popular, especially flavor made him feel good. This led in France. Portugal was the first to in- to the harvesting of the leaf and tea troduce tea to Europe and the first to becoming entrenched in almost every grow tea for all the European coun- aspect of their culture. tries. In England, from where most of our tea customs are derived, the pop- In Japan, green tea is widely consumed ularity of tea dates back to the 19th and produced in the Shizuoka Prefec- century. In Britain, they started their ture and is used in Japanese cuisine as own tea culture with the introduc- a key ingredient. Tea has deep seated tion of Afternoon Tea, invented by roots in Zen Buddhism that was in- Anna Maria, the wife of the seventh troduced to Japan from China. Tea is Becomes Common at the Table Danielle Matcha green tea is used in the Japanese tea ceremony and is Beaudette the most popular, with sencha and kukicha following closely behind. Oolong tea from Tai- wan has also become sought af- A tea ceremony is a ter by the Japanese. communion of feeling, when good friends come together at In the Korean culture, tea devo- the right moment, under the tion was also popularized by the best conditions. Buddhist monks who used the ~ Yasunari Kawabata tea to stay alert during meditation. Duke of Bedford. These teas were Green tea is the most consumed tea, elegant affairs, with tea drunk from With winter months comes cooler however, it is common to add grains, the best china and small amounts of weather and we find ourselves reach- fruits, flower blossoms, medicinal food presented perfectly on little chi- ing for that hot cup of tea to warm us. extracts and plant leaves to their tea na plates and served with lots of milk People often refer to the ‘way of tea’, today, with chrysanthemum tea being and sugar. The social impact of tea meaning the aspects of tea production one of the most popular. in society stimulated financial, tech- and tea brewing along with its history, nological and agricultural innovation health benefits and ceremonies. In France, Ireland and Portugal, black in England and the U.S. It stimu- teas are primarily consumed with lated a growth in the arts through The aesthetics surrounding milk and sugar; however, fruity green the demand for English China and tea drinking led to formal Formal Tea Drinking Ceremonies was featured in some of the greatest ceremonies in Chinese, novels (e.g., Great Expectations and Japanese and Korean cul- Oliver Twist). Because of its value, tures, all consuming pri- the ownership of tea and tea ware was marily green tea, with some an indication of one’s wealth and so- white and black tea in Chi- cial status, which is why artists of the na. Tea was first discovered 18th and 19th century often included by Emperor Shen Nong in a family’s precious tea possessions in China over 5,000 years ago paintings. when legend states as he was boiling water, leaves The British customs spread to other from a tea tree fell into his countries such as India, Hong Kong, 22 APPLAUD Women Winter 2015 Applaud Women expressly forbids the removal of pages or any manipulation of files used to create this publication Applaud Women expressly forbids the removal of pages or any manipulation of files used to create this publication Pakistan, East Africa, Australia, and quickly became the most popular lifestyles/ New Zealand. Each of these countries drink. Tea cultivation in the Gilan today has a slightly different version province in northern Iran produces Food of the original English afternoon tea. most of the tea for the Iranians. They traditionally put a lump of rock sugar Morocco Tea Service In Hong Kong, evaporated milk is in their mouth, and pour the tea into used instead of regular milk. In the a saucer before drinking it. different regions of Pakistan, green tea or black tea may be served. In Tea traditions in other countries in- some areas of Pakistan, it will be clude pickled tea from Myanmar served with milk, pistachios and car- (Burma), which is more of an appe- damom, while other areas prefer the tizer. It is blended with sesame oil and tea served with Himalayan rock salt served with other sides including fried and no sugar. The northern areas pre- garlic, peas, peanuts, dried shrimp, fer their tea with butter and salt. In shredded ginger and shredded coco- Africa and Australia, tea is still taken nut. In Taiwan, oolong teas are the Assam tea is most popular served in the traditional English style with most popular and highly sought after with rock sugar and cream. milk and sugar; however, in Australia, due to their unique flavor and pro- the Taiwanese bubble tea has become cessing. Bubble tea made with black In the U.S., iced tea is more popular widely popular. tea, milk and balls of tapioca are also than hot tea; however, with the wide- popular. Yak butter tea and Milk tea spread reports on the health benefits In India, chai masala is an Indian tea are the most consumed teas in Tibet. of whole leaf black, green and oolong blend that dates back thousands of In Southeast Asia, Thai tea is very tea, they are now becoming more de- years, originally used as a healing or popular. It is a strong brewed black sirable over iced and tea bag teas. Tea ‘ayurveda’ medicine. In the multiple tea blended with anise, red and yellow is served throughout the day in most regions of India, there are unique cul- food coloring and in some areas other households. In the south, sweetened tural traditions in how they prepare spices. It is sweetened with sugar and tea is more popular, whereas in the and serve chai masala. In Hindi, ‘chai’ condensed milk and served over ice north, unsweetened tea is desirable. is the word for ‘tea’. ‘Chai masala’ is In- with additional whole milk or evapo- The art of taking the English style dia’s black tea with cinnamon, cloves, rated milk poured over it. afternoon tea is Iced Tea US Favorite cardamom, ginger, black pepper and not as popular other spices, depending on the region. In Russia, a strong black tea is con- as it was in the It is often served by a chai wallah. It is sumed, but green tea is most recently Victorian era, also similar to what we in the U.S. re- becoming more popular. The black but is enjoyed fer to as chai tea, blended with sweet- tea is served with 1-3 tsp. of sugar, on special occa- eners and milk. Some of the most lemon, and no milk. In Egypt, tea sions by those popular teas produced and exported (Shai) is the national drink. Mostly seeking a true from India are Darjeeling, Assam and black tea from Kenya and Sri Lanka English tea Nilgiri teas. Indian Chai Tea are consumed, with some green tea. experience. Black tea is It is prepared very strong with large also the most amounts of sugar. Also popular in Tea is the beverage of ceremonies and popular tea Egypt are herbal blends such as people, and like the monsoon rains, it is in Sri Lanka, chamomile, mint, ginger, and hibis- both calming and stimulating, encourag- and served cus. ing conversation and relaxation…Ideas with warmed and traditions steep slowly in its steamy milk and Morocco has popularized the mint transparence. sugar. tea, a blend of gunpowder green tea ~ Pascal Bruckner, Purias from China and their local mint. It Due to is consumed at almost every meal For more information call the Silk and is a large part of their culture. In 603-249-9111 or visit www.TheCo- Road trade route Germany, more specifically the East zyTeaCart.com to buy teas etc right on- running through Iran (Persia), tea Frisian part of Germany, very strong line. or read her bio on page 16. A Winter 2015 www.Applaudwomen.com 23 Applaud Women expressly forbids the removal of pages or any manipulation of files used to create this publication.