Tap into Tea // a new Trend for Tranquility

When I stopped drinking alcohol I found myself consuming more coffee and caffeine (which is pretty typical to substitute and new habitat for an old one). However, it was soon apparent that I was getting too jittery, some heart palpitations and sweating because of excess caffeine. Tea has been an excellent alternative to find more moderate levels of caffeine with delicious varieties providing additional health benefits.

Tea Basics

Camellia sinensis is an evergreen plant that grows mainly in tropical and sub-tropical climates. Only the top 1-2 inches of the mature plant are picked. The buds and leaves are called flushes and a plant will grow a new flush every seven to ten days during the growing season. Tea plants will grow into a tree if left undisturbed, but cultivated plants are pruned to waist height for ease of plucking. The Assam tea, popular in India, is a a variation known as Camellia sinensis var. assamica.

Leaf size is important for the classification of tea plants. Using this criteria tea is classified into: (1) Assam type for largest leaves, (2) China type for smallest leaves, and (3) Cambod for leaves of intermediate size.

(https://www.slideshare.net/DhanyaAgri/tea-65496886)

Selection of Tea

Types of tea are distinguished by the processing they undergo. Leaves of Camellia sinensis soon begin to wilt and oxidize if not dried quickly after picking. Tea is traditionally classified based on the production technique:
• White tea: Un-wilted and unoxidized (Medium caffeine)
• Yellow tea: Un-wilted and unoxidized but allowed to yellow
• Green tea: Wilted and unoxidized (Low caffeine)
• Oolong: Wilted, bruised, and partially oxidized
• Black tea: Wilted, crushed, and fully oxidized (High caffeine)

(https://www.pinterest.com/DharleneMarie/tea-fields/)

Trends in Tea

Tea is an excellent choice for a daily drink as you can mix up different types during the day depending on your mood or energy. I often start with a black tea in the morning and transition to green tea or other mixes later during the day. Almost all teas in bags and most other teas sold in the U.S. are blends. Don't skimp on quality, spend an extra few cents per mug and choose Fair Trade / Organic teas when possible. A herbal or fruit tea is also a nice option to relax before bed. In hip urban areas Tea Bars are popping up like crazy to accommodate hipsters for advanced blends, infusions, and pairings.

Tea Culture

Many Asian, Southeast Asia, and Middle Eastern/North Africa cultures have strong traditions regarding tea. These include daily rituals and aesthetics of drinking tea in a relaxed and socializing atmosphere. I think western cultures could do well to incorporate more of the tranquil and inviting aspects of tea culture into our daily lifestyles. Sharing tea is a welcoming way to slow down daily life and appreciate small, everyday moments and insights.

(http://www.absolutechinatours.com/china-travel/Cha-Dao-and-Tea-Culture.html)

Peace Out /// Tea Time ! @ClumsySilverDad