Discover teas from around the world
What makes the world go round? Our answer is, of course, tea! It is steeped in culture, which has made it a favorite drink of many people for centuries. As you might expect, different countries often have their own preferred way of preparing and serving the infusion. From Chai in India to English Afternoon in the UK – there are many fascinating tea cultures on all continents. Let's look at some of them.
Tea was introduced to England around the 17th century. However, it took more than 200 years for English Afternoon to become part of daily life. Afternoon tea is synonymous with British culture as much as the royal family. According to folklore, afternoon tea was introduced by the Duchess of Bedford. Dinner was served at her residence around 8 PM, but the Duchess would start feeling hungry before then. So, she instructed her staff to arrange a small meal around 4 PM, where tea, as well as various cakes and small sandwiches, were to be served.
Masala Chai, which translates to "spicy tea," is undoubtedly the most popular brew in India. As the country is the world's largest producer and consumer of tea, you can find chai stalls scattered throughout the country's streets. Although vendors opt for their own additional flavor accents, all chai have the same base: black tea mixed with milk, sugar, and spices such as cardamom, fennel, cinnamon, and cloves.
Moroccan Mint has become a symbol of Moroccan culture worldwide. Tea is not only an essential part of this culture but is also widespread throughout North Africa. It is usually served throughout the day with both sweet and savory snacks. The infusion is also one of the rare occasions when sugar is added to green tea. Moroccan Mint is traditionally prepared with green tea, sugar, and fresh mint leaves.
Taiwanese Bubble Tea
Unlike its counterparts, Bubble Tea is the latest innovation in the world of teas. It is usually prepared with black iced tea mixed with powdered milk and sugar syrup. It owes its distinctive taste and texture to the "bubbles," which are actually small tapioca pearls that provide a chewy treat! Similar to the discovery of tea in China, the invention of Bubble Tea in Taiwan was also a matter of chance. This tea was discovered in 1988 when Lin Hsiu Hui dropped a few tapioca pearls from the fen yuan dessert into her iced tea.
Russian Zavarka
Tea traditions emerged in Russia at a time when food and drinks had to be distributed to serve as many people as possible. That's when zavarka came about, a strong black tea brewed in a small metal container called a samovar. It is served in large cups, but they are never filled completely. Russians usually drink their tea plain, but hosts offer milk, sugar, and also snacks. Serving zavarka without cakes, crackers, or other nibbles is considered wildly impolite.
If you are a tea lover, you should try different types of infusions and see which one you like best. Many connoisseurs do not know that there are many ways to prepare and serve tea. Trying new combinations is a great way to learn about foreign cultures while quenching your thirst!