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A spiritual brew
“Tea awakens wise humours and thoughts. It refreshes the body and calms the spirit. If you are discouraged, tea will restore your strength.”
Emperor Chen-Nung
 One day of the year 2737 BC, when the Chinese emperor Cheng-Nung was resting under a tree, some tea leaves, floating on the wind, fell into his cup of hot water. The water soon turned an amber colour. The emperor tasted it and was immediately filled with an ineffable feeling of well-being. Thus was tea born.
This imperial beverage is reputed for its innumerable virtues. Since times immemorial, Chinese medicine has used tea leaves in the manufacture of remedies. Its anti-oxidant and phenolic properties, reinforced by the action of its components – catechins, caffeine, theanine, among others – make tea a preventive drink. It protects against various illnesses: cancer, cholesterol, cardiovascular diseases… One could even speak of Tea-rapy!
Its popularity spread to the West, where Europeans discovered for themselves this concentrate of goodness. In 1680, the Countess of Bedford instituted the “five o’clock tea” in England. Tea is served with small cakes and scones. This ritual is the moment to spend some time in good company and to share treats. More than a drink, tea nourishes and restores the spirit. It stimulates body and soul.
From hot, tea became an iced drink, thirst quenching and refreshing. With time, it became flavoured, a subtle balance between its natural benefits and a fresh fruity taste. A real pleasure for the palate and the body.
A refreshing drink
Water is life. To drink tea helps to rehydrate the body, composed of 60% water, which is an essential element for many physiological functions.
Did you know?
• Tea is the world’s most ancient drink, and the most widely consumed after water. |
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