|
     |
Initially
used as an offering and as medicine, tea became the most commonly used
beverage during western Han dynasty. Buddhist monks started growing it
around monasteries. Later, during the Ming dynasty, the tea trade took
an upper share in the state economy and the ”Tea and Horse
Bureau" was set up to supervise tea trade. A
Buddhist Monk introduced tea to Japan in the 6th Century and later in
the 16th Century a Portuguese missionary introduced it to
Europe. There began the history of Tea as an international drink. Trade
between China and the western world grew considerably with the beginning
of the Ching Dynasty.
As the Emperor of China was taking his first snuff of tobacco brought
from Europe, the Queen of England was sipping her first cup of tea. As
early as 1615, English traders with the East India Company were aware of
the existence of tea. Tea quickly spread throughout Europe and in less
than 100 years, England's import of tea rose from 100 pounds a year to
over 5 million pounds per year. This demand for tea meant many voyages
to bring shiploads of tea from China. Along
with the tea, came porcelain.
To stabilize these large ships they required ballast. ( heavy objects or
weights in the lowest section of the hull of Unlike
tea, which took time to cultivate and could only be grown in certain
climates, the only requirement for porcelain was clay and craftsmen.
Both of which were abundant in China. The Chinese were eager to supply
porcelain goods to the west, as they could turn dirt into gold with the
addition of labor. By the end of the 18th century, millions of pieces of
porcelain were being produced for export. Benefits
of Drinking Tea Much
was written in ancient Chinese books about tea, and in particular, about
its health benefits: “Drinking genuine tea aids in quenching thirst
and in digestion, checks phlegm, wards off sleepiness, stimulates renal
activity, improves eyesight and mental prowess, dispels boredom and
dissolves greasy food.” In
recent years, the legendary medicinal properties of tea have been given
serious scientific support. Studies have shown that drinking four cups
of green tea a day can reduce the risk of developing stomach and lung
cancer as well as heart disease. Green tea contains, among others, the
cancer-fighting flavonoid epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC). ECGC is
unique in that it seems to battle cancer at all stages, from thwarting
chemical carcinogens, to suppressing the spread of tumors. ECGC is as
much as 100 times more powerful an antioxidant as vitamin C, and 25
times more powerful than vitamin E. ECGC also may account for the
antibacterial properties of green tea.
|
The
origin of tea can be traced back to over 4000 years ago in China. No one
is sure where and when tea was first brewed; stories about tea's origins
are more myth than reality. One story tells that a legendary Chinese
leader and medical expert, Sheng Nong, discovered tea as a medicinal
herb in 2737 B.C. One day while he was boiling water under a tea tree,
some tealeaves fell into Sheng's pot of boiling water. After drinking
some tea, he discovered its miraculous powers and immediately placed tea
on his list of medicinal herbs. 
the ship to counterbalance the weight of the masts and sails) On their
journey eastward, the ballast consisted of lead and sulpher, which was
traded to the Chinese for tea. They needed something cheap and of equal
weight for the journey home. Porcelain goods were the perfect solution.