As well as being obsessed with the weather, there is no denying that Britain is a nation of tea drinkers.
According to the UK Tea & Infusions Association, we drink a staggering 165 million cups daily or 60.2 billion per year; wow! 96% of cuppas are made with a tea bag rather than loose leaf and 98% of us drink it with milk.
It is estimated that there are around 1,500 different varieties of tea, each with a slightly different taste and colour, which tends to be influenced by the soil, wind conditions, temperature and the quality of the plucking.
Today the variety of teas on the market is vast and as the trend for healthier living grows, so does the range of green and exotic blends.
The thing is, a tea break isn’t just about having a drink. It’s about taking time out, relaxing and today we are looking at why tea is so great.
Brew it the right way
There isn’t a one-size fits all method when it comes to making tea. There’s a little bit of science involved as each type needs a different amount of time to brew. White and green teas usually take around two minutes to reach perfection where as black teas take up to five minutes. Remember to remove the leaves or teabags once they are ready or your tea will stew and lose its flavour.
Check the temperature
Get the water temperature right and you are more likely to get a brew with an ‘oooo’. Always use freshly boiled water when making black tea as this energises the leaf so the tea tastes better. If you’re going for green tea use a lower temperature of around 80c to avoid the bitterness that can be experienced using freshly boiled water. It is also a good idea to note that the best flavour is achieved when the water contains oxygen so don’t boil it more than once – we didn’t know that either.
Keep Calm
There is no getting away from it, tea does contain caffeine but this can actually offer a boost and help you concentrate more. What you might not know it that it also contains L-theanine, an amino acid believed to offer calming properties, which can balance out the caffeine hit.
Tea for great skin
Forget lotions and potions, if you want great skin, drink tea. It is recommended that we drink at least 1.5 litres of fluid per day to prevent dehydration and tea can help you reach that target. Keeping hydrated leads to healthier skin and drinking white tea (tea in its purest form) is excellent as it is packed with beautifying antioxidants and at one time it was saved for Chinese royalty only.
Health for life
It is thought that just three cups of tea a day can help stabilise blood pressure reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack. Scientists believe that the healthy flavonoids found in tea boost health and have a positive antioxidant effect whether it is drunk black or with milk.
Studies have also revealed that some of the compounds found in green tea could actually help people with type 2 diabetes process sugar more easily.
Drinking green tea can potentially also boost bone mineral density and strength.
A friend for life
Sounds daft but if you have tea, you have a friend for life. There is something totally conforming about sitting with a cup of tea when life gets tough and you need to take time out and reflect. Whether you drink it alone or with friends, in summer or winter, with milk or without, you know you aren’t alone when you have a cup of tea in your hands.
Whether you go for a mug of builder’s brew, Earl Grey in bone china cup or a take-away green tea on the run, enjoy your tea your way.
Tea is a Lift Style. Coffee is a fad.