Tea

                  Introduction
    Have you had your cup of tea yet today? How do you take your tea?
    Tea is the most consumed beverage on Earth! In fact, more tea is drunk than every other beverage put together, including coffee, alcohol, soft drinks, and so on.
    India drinks more tea than any country, with China in a close second.
    So how did tea come to be such a prevalent drink?
    What role does tea play in modern society?
    Let's take a closer look.
    The precise origin of tea and first uses is a subject that is still under debate and inconclusive.
    However, pretty much everyone can agree that this is a plant/beverage that has conquered and changed the world. There aren't too many places on the planet you can go to and not be able to get yourself a cup of tea.


                  Tea today
      In the United States, coffee is the most popular drink. However, tea is still drunk throughout the nation.
      Iced tea has become increasingly popular. You can find sweetened, bottled iced tea in just about any convenience store or fast food restaurant in the nation.
      Tea consumption has spread to the rest of the world now, and is more common in South American and African nations.


                Health effects
    The health effects of tea are uncertain. Scientific studies done on animals with tea have shown positive effects, including prevention of certain diseases. However, it's hard to determine if the same effects are shown with humans since the doses of tea would have to be considerably larger to be equivalent to the animal tests. Drinking too much tea can be detrimental to health. The excess caffeine alone would be harmful.
                  Tea custom
      In some countries, tea is a morning drink to wake a person up. In other cultures, special breaks are taken in the day to sit down and drink a cup of tea. The terms 'afternoon tea' or 'tea party' are common. These customs are even honored at many resorts or on cruise ships, where there will be a special time of day when tea and light snacks are served. In some cultures, such as Persian, a guest in a person's home is first offered tea before anything else. Tea is used in many traditional ceremonies, often spiritual or religious.

 
              Preparation
      The most traditional method to prepare tea is to put tea leaves into a teapot or cup. The leaves may or may not be in a type of filter. Hot water is then poured over the tea leaves, and allowed to steep for a couple minutes.
      The tea leaves then may or may not be removed from the water, and the tea is ready to be drunk.
      How do you usually prepare your tea? What's your favorite method?
              Types of tea
      The four most common types of tea are white, green, oolong, and black.
      Sometimes the term "tea" is loosely used to refer to "herbal teas", which are actually an infusion of leaves, flowers, fruit, herbs, etc., but often not actual tea leaves. These offer a wider variety of flavors and tastes, and can be just as soothing. But let's look at the actual tea types.
 
                    White tea
    White Tea is lightly oxidized and is primarily cultivated in China. (Oxidation is the process of letting the leaves turn darker in a climate controlled room, altering flavor and aroma.) The tea comes from the delicate buds and younger leaves of a tea plant. The buds and leaves are allowed to whiten in the sun before being processed.
      The name is derived from the silvery-white hairs on the unopened buds of the tea plant, which gives it a whitish appearance.
                Green tea
      Green tea leaves have undergone minimal oxidation during their processing. It's been suggested that green tea reduces the chance of heart disease as well as developing certain types of cancer. Green tea's caffeine content is a little more than white tea, but at least half of that of black tea.
        Oolong tea
        Oolong tea is made through a unique process that includes withering the tea under the strong sun and oxidation causing the leaves to curl and twist. The taste of oolong teas varies greatly, ranging from sweet and fruity to woody and thick. Oolong tea tends to contain caffeine, but less than most other types of tea. A ceremonial brewing technique called gongfucha uses more tea than usual for the amount of water used, and employs multiple short steeps.
              Black Tea
    Black  tea generally has a stronger flavor and more caffeine than other varieties of tea. In China and surrounding countries, black tea is called "red tea" due to the color of the liquid ("black" tea refers to the color of the highly oxidized leaves). Black tea is also known for retaining its flavor for years unlike other teas. Some of the most common blends include "Earl Grey" and "English Breakfast".

                  Packaging
      Tea comes in an assortment of packaging.Tea bags are most commonly used in western countries. These are small filtered paper packages filled with loose tea leaves. 'Loose tea' often comes in cans or tins, and the consumer measures how much he uses at a time depending on personal preferences.
        Tea bricks, or compressed tea, can prove advantageous for transporting and storing large amounts of tea. In modern times, instant tea has gained popularity for its convenience. Instant tea often comes in flavors (lemon, honey, etc) and doesn't require hot water to prepare.
              Conclusion
    Tea is certainly a beverage that has influenced the whole world throughout history. So the next time you sit down with a cup of tea, you can understand and appreciate it a little bit more. Enjoy!

                &Vocabulary&
Soft Drink- non-alcoholic carbonated drink 
Prevalent -common
Origin - source
Inconclusive -uncertain
Convenience Store -small shop selling food and drinks
Fast Food Restaurant - Fast and cheap food 
Prevention - avoidance
Dose - a specific amount or serving 
Equivalent - equal
Detrimental -harmful
Excess - more then necessary
Tea Party-tea-drinking gathering
Resort -vacation themed hotel
Filter - strainer, to separate out solids from liquid
Steep-soak
Herbal teas -beverage flavored by fruits and spices
Infusion - mixture
Soothing -calming
Oxidize - fermentation
Climate -environment, temperature
Aroma-smell
Bud-sprout, blossom
Wither -dry up, wilt
Ceremonial -traditional
Retain - keep
Assortment - variety
Tin-small metal container
Compressed - packed in, dense

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