Since there are no known wild populations of this tea, its origin is speculative. An early credible record of tea drinking dates to the third century AD, in a medical text written by Chinese physician Hua Tuo. It was popularised as a recreational drink during the Chinese Tang dynasty, and tea drinking spread to other East Asian countries. If there are a high proportion of tips, the leaves may be called golden flowery orange pekoe. If buying flavoured tea, check whether the flavouring is natural or a ‘nature-identical’ synthetic. Many of these Tea Spins teas have set times for seatings, so booking in advance is always a good idea.

The best afternoon teas in London to book in 2025

The British introduced tea culture into India in 1836 and into Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1867. At first they used seeds from China, but later seeds from the Assam plant were used. 80% of office workers say they find out more about what’s going on at work over a cup of tea than any other way.

How much tea should I drink in a day?

The popularity of tea played a role in historical events – the Tea Act of 1773 provoked the Boston Tea Party that escalated into the American Revolution. The need to address the issue of British trade deficit because of the trade in tea resulted in the Opium Wars. Traders from other nations then sought to find another product, in this case opium, to sell to China to earn back the silver they were required to pay for tea and other commodities. Tea is also made, but rarely, from the leaves of Camellia taliensis and Camellia formosensis. There are many types of tea; some have a cooling, slightly bitter, and astringent flavour, while others have profiles that include sweet, nutty, floral, or grassy notes. Tea has a stimulating effect in humans, primarily due to its caffeine content.
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• Sugar added to hot drinks, like tea, counts as a ‘free sugar’ – the type we are advised to cut back on.

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• The protective effect is thought to once again be thanks to tea’s polyphenol content.

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• It is sometimes served with biscuits to be dipped in the tea and eaten before consuming the tea.

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• Sinar Sosro in 1969 with the brand name Teh Botol Sosro (or Sosro bottled tea).

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• Chunks of tea were then boiled to drink, flavoured with orange peels, jujube, mint, ginger or scallion.

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• The Han Chinese do not usually drink milk with tea but the Manchus do, and the elite of the Qing Dynasty of the Chinese Empire continued to do so.

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Tea bags

To remain fresh and prevent mold, tea needs to be stored away from heat, light, air, and moisture. Tightly rolled gunpowder tea leaves keep longer than the more open-leafed Chun Mee tea. The addition of milk to tea in Europe was first mentioned in 1680 by the epistolist Madame de Sévigné. Many teas are traditionally drunk with milk in cultures where dairy products are consumed. These teas tend to be very hearty varieties of black tea which can be tasted through the milk, such as Assams, or the East Friesian blend. The Han Chinese do not usually drink milk with tea but the Manchus do, and the elite of the Qing Dynasty of the Chinese Empire continued to do so.

What impact does adding milk or sugar have on tea’s health benefits?

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• Other factors to consider include how hot the water used for brewing is and the length of steeping time.

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• Tea in Ireland is usually taken with milk or sugar and brewed longer for a stronger taste.

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• Pickled tea is usually eaten with roasted sesame seeds, crispy fried beans, roasted peanuts and fried garlic chips.

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• In the production of black teas, halting by heating is carried out simultaneously with drying.
• It was popularised as a recreational drink during the Chinese Tang dynasty, and tea drinking spread to other East Asian countries.
• In many cultures, tea is consumed at elevated social events, such as the tea party.

The infused leaf is bright red or copper coloured, and the liquor is bright red and slightly astringent but not bitter, bearing the characteristic aroma of tea. Oolong and pouchong teas are produced mostly in southern China and Taiwan from a special variety of the China plant. The liquor is pale or yellow in colour, as in green tea, and has a unique malty, or smoky, flavour. While some teas provide more benefits than others, there’s plenty of evidence that regularly drinking tea offers numerous advantages.

Compressed tea

• The British introduced tea culture into India in 1836 and into Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1867.

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• Tea is the drink produced by steeping the young leaves and leaf buds of the Camellia sinensis plant in freshly boiled water.

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• Compressed tea was the most popular form of tea in China during the Tang dynasty.

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• Unlike coffee which is considered energising, tea is generally seen as a relaxing drink.

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• If there are a high proportion of tips, the leaves may be called golden flowery orange pekoe.

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• Many high-quality tea plants are cultivated at elevations of up to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level.

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As of 2013, the per-capita consumption of Turkish tea exceeds 10 cups per day and 13.8 kg per year. Ireland, as of 2016, was the second-biggest per capita consumer of tea in the world, after Turkey. Tea in Ireland is usually taken with milk or sugar and brewed longer for a stronger taste. Even when it becomes just cool enough to be sipped gingerly, it is still a good-tasting cup of tea, if you like your tea strong and sweet.