December 15th is International Tea Day! There's a lot that can happen in those small tea leaves. We usually don't wonder where it came from (erm... the shop?) and what extraordinary properties it has. That's why we decided to take a closer look at these unassuming leaves.
Why is tea... tea?
Good question. We're a bit unique here in Poland, as many countries borrowed the name of this brew from its original Chinese, from 'cha' - tea and 'cha-ye' - tea leaves. In Russia, they say "chay", in Germany "Tee", in Sweden "Te", and of course, we all know what they say in Great Britain. So where did our peculiar "herbata" come from?
The perfect Christmas gift
Herba thea
And all because Poland was introduced to tea not by the Russians, but by the French, where it was treated as a mystical, Chinese medicine, good for everything. Phew... tea matters explained.
The Emperor and the wind
Sounds like a Chinese parable with a wise moral?
Almost! According to legend, tea was discovered in 2737 BC by a Chinese emperor who was drinking boiled water, and a gust of wind blew some tea leaves into his cup. The emperor fell head over heels for the new brew and decided to share it with the world.
If the emperor had his smartphone with him, he could have bought one of our stylish mugs for drinking his newly discovered tea. As it is, we have no idea whether his cup was pretty or ugly, and we're unlikely to ever find out. Our mugs and teacups are definitely lovely, that much we do know.
Why pay with money when you can pay with tea?
In some countries, like Tibet and Mongolia, tea is so valuable that it serves as a form of currency. It doesn't sound that strange at all; after all, we pay with pieces of paper with numbers printed on them, so why not?
Tea with sugar or without?
This is probably one of the most common questions during social gatherings and name day celebrations at aunts' and grandmothers' houses. Apparently, only 30% of the world's population answers this question affirmatively!
So, if you happen to have a guest who likes to nod emphatically when asked that question, you simply must be prepared! We were aware of these research findings, which is why we've introduced beautiful sugar bowls and milk jugs into our range (you know, for those people who drink tea with milk; yes, they do exist).
Woof woof tea
Picture this scene. A stylish tea set sits on a small table, and sitting around it are... a poodle, a German shepherd, and a mongrel. This isn't a fairy tale. Dogs now have their own tea, and if they fancy it, they can throw themselves a fancy tea party! And instead of a silver spoon, they can use a stick they've just retrieved from the park to stir their tea. We're just not sure how they'll react to a tea infuser in the shape of a cat...
Finally, a few more interesting tidbits, because tea holds a whole host of them!
Nowadays, you can get tea in any shop, but it was once treated as a Chinese medicine and was only available in pharmacies!
Tea contains no calories, so you can drink it freely, even if you're watching your figure like a model or getting ready for a marathon.
Black tea was created by accident! During sea transport from China, the tea got wet and started to ferment. Merchants sold it anyway, not wanting to lose money, and thus, universally loved black tea was born!
Tea with milk is not a whim, but a practical solution. In less affluent homes, porcelain was of poorer quality, so to prevent it from cracking when hot water was poured in, milk was added to cool the drink beforehand.
Tea bushes are long-lived. They can live up to 100 years, but in practice, wild bushes are cut down after 50-70 years and new ones are planted to ensure good quality tea.
We hope you'll now look at your cup of tea in a new light!
