There is a saying that the British

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!

Sometimes 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 year 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
forefingers, 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 a 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 tearoom 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 heads 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 moment 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 dried 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. In 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 many no longer be considered
a sacred cure for all illnesses, but it is a remedy for both the body
and the sprit in our sometimes frantic lives.