Tea Traditions
According to Chinese , tea was born around 2727
BC, when the Emperor Shen Nong was purifying water in the
shelter of a tea tree, and several leaves blew into the pot. The
resulting brew, of superb fragrance, color and taste, made the
emperor rejoice. Soon Tea became a daily drink
in Chinese culture.
In India, another legend tells the story of Prince Dharma, who
left his homeland for China, to preach Buddhism. He vowed not to
sleep during his 9–year mission. Toward the end of his third
year, when he was overtaken by fatigue, he grabbed a few leaves
of a tea shrub and chewed them up. They gave
him the strength necessary to stay awake for the remaining 6
years of his mission.
The Japanese version of this story has the exhausted Bodi Dharma
falling asleep, however. Upon awakening, he was so disgusted
with himself, he tore off his eyelids, to ensure that they would
never inadvertently close again. The place where he threw them
on the ground produced enchanted (tea) shrubs with leaves having
the power to keep eyelids open.
The diverse tea–drinking rituals and histories remind us that tea is much more worldly than people sometimes think. Without these cultural differences, we might not think of tea as more than something to keep us warm or quench our thirst.
Health research and lifestyle trends have of late given tea new importance. Increased understanding of the role antioxidants play in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease has positioned tea as the ideal health beverage. Tea is now thought of as a stylish, healthy alternative to coffee and soda. It is fat and calorie–free, natural and untainted by additives. Manufacturers of cosmetics, perfumes and skin–care products are also developing new products that integrate the benefits and pleasures of tea.
The ideal is to combine the practicalities of the drink with the beauty of unique and inventive serving and use methods. In doing so, we not only pay tribute to this age–old beverage, but enlighten and hopefully enliven those who consume it.