SPILLING TEA ON TEA: FUN FACTS ABOUT TEA THAT YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW | By Haarish Nair
Illustration by Carmen, Shareini and Chan Nam.
It’s 5 p.m. You’re sitting at the corner of a mamak restaurant while it’s raining outside, sipping the classic “mamak” drink— Teh Tarik! Although Teh Tarik is well-beloved in the hearts of Malaysians, it is time we bring attention to the various teas that exist. Tea has been in our lives for generations now so it's about time we dive into gaining more knowledge about it. So, let me spill the tea…on tea!
Photo by Sin Kuo Xuan.
HISTORY OF TEA AND HOW IT GOT ASSOCIATED WITH OTHER CULTURES
We’re always talking about tea and sipping it, but did you know the origins actually trace back to China?
Emperor Shen Nung discovered tea as the leaves from a wild tree flew into his pot while he was boiling water. The scent from the new brew captivated him. He took a sip and loved it! He then named it ch’a as it symbolizes the way tea has brought balance between humankind and nature. This discovery slowly began to spread throughout the region and thus, it became the go-to beverage for refreshment and relaxation, and not just for medication anymore.
Photo by Sin Kuo Xuan.
It then spread to other regions such as:
i) Tibet. Tea was introduced to Tibet in the early 9th century and it had to be delivered via yak caravan due to the rugged climate and rocky terrain in Tibet.
ii) Japan. Japanese visitors were introduced to tea and loved it, which came in handy when tea seeds were brought to Japan by a Buddhist Monk, Dengyo Daishi. It was adored by the people, which led to the introduction of The Japanese Tea Ceremony in the early 1300s. This ceremony is called “Chanoyu” to honor the importance it brought towards the society.
iii) Russia. The Chinese then presented Tsar Alexis of Russia with a gift containing tea. It quickly gained popularity and was brought to the country by a camel caravan that traveled 11000 miles.
iv) Europe. On the other side of the world, Europe was having tea imported by the Portuguese and Dutch in the 1600s. It was then known as a status symbol for Europeans as only wealthy people could afford tea back then. The terms “Afternoon Tea” and “High Tea” were brought later on to fill in the gap between heavy meals.
v) Britain. The British found it difficult to trade with China due to hefty demands, so they brought over their tea plantations to their larger Asian colony, India. The Northern Indian region was promising enough in terms of climate and location to be able to cultivate tea, which only grew the production scale.
This shows how tea has been spread throughout the world from its origin. If you’d like to know more about its history, check out http://www.coffeeteawarehouse.com/tea-history.html
Photo by Sin Kuo Xuan.
RARE TYPES OF TEA
Often when thinking of tea, the classics such as milk, green, and chai come to mind. However, when people think of rare tea, Pu-erh tea is what comes to mind. This particular tea happens to be very rare as it’s produced in small batches and aged in precise conditions, which encourages natural bacterial fermentation. This process is used in other infamous products, such as red wine; The process may sound daunting but the product, in the end, produces a heavenly taste, making it all worth it. The more people experiment with food and taste, the larger variety we get to enjoy. In the case of tea, there are many rare types of teas that have not been largely popularized yet.
For example, there is a rare tea called the Yellow Gold Tea Buds. This is from Singapore. However, what’s interesting about it is that it is actually made from gold-painted leaves!
On a completely different spectrum, the Keemun 1110 Full-Leaf happens to combine the rich flavors of chocolate and smoke. Not only is it an interesting taste, but it also creates a sense of mystery while drinking!
MOST EXPENSIVE TEAS IN THE WORLD
Now that we’ve gotten to know a few types of rare teas, why not explore the top three most expensive teas in the world?
In third place, we have the Panda Dung Tea. This may be because the cultivation of this tea uses panda’s dung as a fertilizer. It is known for containing antioxidant content, which has several health benefits. This odd tea is priced at $70000 per kilogram.
Next up in second place we have the Pu’erh Tea from China. It is considered as the oldest, most refined tea. This tea is sold at a massive price of approximately $10,000 per kilogram. Pu’erh tea is usually sold in the form of tea cakes which can be brewed to enjoy its health benefits such as cholesterol control, improved gut health, and weight management.
And lastly, up in first place we have the Da-Hong Pao Tea! This is the most expensive tea in the world, grown in the Wuyi mountains of the Fujian province in China. It has also been declared a national treasure due to its rarity. The best Da-Hong Pao tea comes from the mother trees, of which only six exist on the planet. Now for the pricing: this rare tea is sold at a whopping $1.2 million per kg!
These are only a handful of teas, but the list is never-ending! If this interested you, perhaps you may want to read more from these websites linked:
FUN TEA LOCATIONS IN MALAYSIA TO VISIT
Based on an amazing reference from this website, here’s a list of places you could go to have amazing tea around Kuala Lampur since Taylor’s Lakeside Campus is located in Klang Valley.
1. TEA Verandah
Photo from @betliew on Instagram.
Located in Atria Shopping Gallery, this place has a great selection of food with tea, along with amazing presentations on the table. They offer both savory and sweet pastries, not to forget their fluffy scones. Definitely check this place out if you’re around this area.
Operating Hours: (Daily) 10.30am-10.30pm
2. Chocha.Foodstore
2. Chocha.Foodstore
Photo from @chochafoodstore on Instagram.
This place is definitely for tea lovers, as it only serves tea. Moreover, the ambiance is great so you don’t have to worry about your pictures not being insta-worthy! From public recommendations, first-timers could check out their oolong tea or even cold brew tea.
Operating Hours: Daily (except Mondays) 11am-11pm.
3. Hype Concept Cafe
Photo from @hypeconceptcafe on Instagram.
This place is definitely known for its very cute and eye-catching desserts and it is also said to be insta-famous. This would definitely be the go-to place for tea lovers. They serve teas in colorful pots which could attract our attention even more!
Operating Hours: (Monday- Sunday) 9am-12am.
4. Leaf Lohas
4. Leaf Lohas
Photo from @leafohas on Instagram.
The surroundings of this place definitely bring serenity and take us away from city life. This place specializes in white tea, oolong, and puer, not including the variety of ranges from Chinese teas. They also serve homemade desserts such as cheesecake and tea konnyaku jelly!
Operating Hours: (Tuesdays-Sundays) 10am-10pm
Last but not least…
5. Tanah dan Air !!
Photo from @tanah.dan.air on Instagram.
This place is known for their great hospitality and the best Chinese tea. They also make their own ice cream by incorporating tea leaves into them!
They also provide tea tasting and brewing workshops as well.
It doesn’t get better for tea lovers.
Operating Hours: (Wednesdays-Sundays) 12pm-9pm.
SUMMARY
Tea has been one of the most prominent drinks for centuries, thus, it is undeniable that tea is one of the best options for a refreshing beverage. In many ways, tea will continue on to be a staple drink as it is constantly evolving with time— just look and bubble tea! T Even though bubble tea has been around since the 1980s, it has been widely spread and “upgraded” recently. This just goes to show tea truly never ages or goes out of fashion; whether it is a soothing drink on a tough day or warming our bellies on a cold one, tea will continue to stay with each generation. After all, T. as Wing Pinero said, “Where There’s Tea, There is Hope”.
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