Most of us enjoy a good cup of tea, but how much do we actually know about this beloved beverage? Here are five things you probably didn’t know about tea:
1. Tea was once so valuable, it was used as currency.
In ancient China, tea was considered a luxury item and was so valuable that it could be used as currency. During the Tang dynasty, tea leaves were pressed into small bricks that could easily be transported and traded. These tea bricks were used in lieu of coins, and were considered to be worth their weight in gold.
2. Tea was accidentally discovered by an emperor.
The legend goes that the Chinese emperor Shen Nung was boiling water in his garden when leaves from a nearby tea plant blew into the pot. The resulting infusion was tea, and thus the beverage was accidentally discovered. While this story may be apocryphal, it is true that tea has been a staple of Chinese culture for thousands of years.
3. The most expensive tea in the world is made with panda dung.
Yes, you read that correctly. In China’s Sichuan province, a rare and expensive tea called Panda Dung Tea is produced. This tea is made by feeding tea leaves to pandas, then collecting their excrement and using it as fertilizer for tea plants. The resulting tea is said to have a unique and complex flavor, and is incredibly expensive – upwards of $200 per cup.
4. Tea can make you smarter.
Research has shown that the caffeine and other compounds found in tea can help improve brain function. Not only does tea help increase alertness and concentration, but it may also help protect against age-related cognitive decline.
5. The world’s largest tea consumption is actually in Turkey.
While we often associate tea-drinking with the UK and East Asia, the country that consumes the most tea per capita is actually Turkey. Turkish tea is traditionally served in small, tulip-shaped glasses, and is often sweetened. It is a staple of Turkish culture, and is served throughout the day – from breakfast through to late at night.
There you have it – five things you might not have known about tea. So next time you sit down with a cuppa, you can impress your friends and family with your newfound knowledge.
References:
- “Tea: A Brief History.” The Great Tea Road. Accessed September 13, 2021. https://www.greattearoad.com/tea-history/.
- “Cup of Life: Tea Defined China’s Culture and Global Trade.” China Daily. February 18, 2019. Accessed September 13, 2021. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201902/18/WS5c6a061ba3106c65c34e8e3e.html.
- “Panda Dung Tea, a Rare Brew with a Taste of Money.” South China Morning Post. February 17, 2015. Accessed September 13, 2021. https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-wine/article/1710071/panda-dung-tea-rare-brew-taste-money.
- “Tea and the Brain: Can Tea Prevent Cognitive Decline?” Be Brain Fit. Accessed September 13, 2021. https://bebrainfit.com/tea-brain-cognitive-decline/.
- “Turkey Is the Country That Drinks the Most Tea.” WorldAtlas. Accessed September 13, 2021. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-top-tea-consumers-in-the-world.html.
