Tea, Anyone ?
There is a saying that the British like a nice cup of tea in the morning and a nice cup of tea at night. And at half past seven, their idea of heaven is a nice cup of tea. They like a nice cup of tea with their dinner and a nice cup of tea with their tea, and before they go to bed, there's a lot to be said for a nice cup of tea!
Something it seems that no one likes tea quite as much as the British do. But, in fact, tea is popular in countries around the world, and many different rituals and customs for drinking tea have developed over the centuries. In China and Japan, tea was first used as a medicine; it wasn't until many years later that people there drank tea as a beverage. Because tea had been considered a sacred remedy, it was always served with much ceremony.
When the Chinese first started drinking tea, they didn't use teapots. Instead, they put tea leaves and hot water into a small bowl with a cover. Drinkers would bring the bowl to their lips and lift the cover very slightly with their forefinger, just enough to drink the liquid but not the leaves. People drank tea in this way regardless of the occasion, and it was always offered to guests.
Tea drinking was an important part of Chinese life, but nowhere in the world did people drink tea with more ceremony than in Japan. There, a strict ritual was set down in the fifteenth century by the first great tea master, Shuko. This tea ceremony is still performed today. Guests must wash their hands and faces and remove their shoes before entering the restroom through a low doorway that forces them to stoop and appear humble. As the guests kneel or sit cross-legged on mats, the host places a spoonful of powdered tea into a special bowl, adds boiling water, and then stirs it with a bamboo whisk. Although in early tea ceremonies everyone drank from the same bowl, it later became the practice for the host to serve the tea in individual bowls. The guests sip the tea slowly and talk until they have finished drinking. Then they are expected to throw back their hands and take the final sip with a loud sound to show how good the tea is. As the ceremony comes to an end, the guests admire the empty serving bowl for its beauty. The host washes the cups, and the ceremony ends. The formal tea ceremony is certainly not undertaken every time someone drinks tea in Japan, but the tea is always served with much care and politeness.
The British also like to be formal and dignified when they serve tea. While the Japanese serve green tea in small cups without handles, the British favor the black teas of India and Ceylon served in china cups with handles and matching saucers. In Britain, tea is made in a pot, using one teaspoonful of tea leaves for each cup plus one extra teaspoonful for the pot. Boiling water is poured into the pot, and the tea is left for about five minutes before the host pours for the guests. As in Japan, tea drinking is an important part of daily life in England. Many people drink tea several times a day, and they associate it with relaxation and entertainment. Sharing a cup of tea with guests provides an opportunity for conversation and a quiet moments away from the normal hustle and bustle.
Many interesting tea customs have developed over the centuries. In India, for example, you might drink tea with a lot of milk, sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom. The Burmese soak tea leaves in oil and garlic and eat this mixture with drive fish. In Thailand, people chew tea leaves seasoned with salt and other spices. In Iran, perfumed tea is a favorite. It is made by leaving flowers or herbs in the tea container for several days. Morocco, tea is prepared in a brass or silver teapot to which sugar and mint are added. Then the tea is served in small glasses with mint leaves. If guests accept an offer of tea, they are expected to drink at least three glasses.
Regardless of where or how tea is prepared and served, many people consider it to be an important part of their social life. Having a cup of tea provides a reason for getting together and sharing a moment of conversation. Tea may no longer be considered a sacred cure for all illnesses, but it is a remedy for both the body and the spirit in our something frantic lives.