Organic Mountain Grown Tea Leaf - photo:Dave Oceano
Every topic has its brand of fun facts and tidbits, and tea is no exception--it’s steeped in interesting trivia. Here are 10 pieces that are worthy of note.
- All true tea (white, green, black, and oolong) comes from the same plant, the Camellia Sinesis. It takes a minimum of three to five years for a tea bush to grow and be ready for harvesting.
- Herbal tea is not really tea, but a tea-like drink made from flowers, fruits and herbs. True herbal teas do not contain tea (Camellia Sinesis) leaves. Most herbal teas are distinguished by their ability to stimulate or relax the tea drinker.
- Studies have shown that tea can provide over 15% of the minimum daily requirement of calcium, as much as 10% of folic acid, and 45% of manganese (promotes healthy bones).
- There is only one working tea plantation in the USA and it is located on Wadmalaw Island just outside Charleston, South Carolina. The plantation boasts 127 acres of tea bushes and a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.
- Americans prefer black tea over green and oolong and drink over 50 billion cups of tea each year (mostly iced tea-80%).
- Scented teas were originally invented to cover up the poor quality of some low-grade teas.
- It has been said that if you put a lemon slice in the bottom of a cup before pouring tea, it will help to keep any residue from tea leaves or minerals in water from forming on the top of the cup.
- Scones haven’t always been made with baking powder or soda. Prior to the mid-1800s, they were made with yeast.
- Organically grown tea is eco-friendly. Used tea leaves can be utilized as fertilizer to improve garden soil.
- The Bergamot used in Earl Grey tea comes from the skin of a fruit that has been created from a pear lemon and Seville orange. When consumed in large quantities, Bergamot can block the body’s ability to absorb potassium.
For more information:
Every cup of green tea you consume significantly reduces susceptibility to periodontal disease
Tea 101: What are scented teas?
An easy way to reduce the caffeine in tea
There is a reason why tea is such a soothing beverage
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Comments
Actually there is another decent-sized tea plantation already producing tea in Hawaii and others are springing up there, a place with pretty good conditions for growing tea.
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