All About Tea

By Michael Yoo

Table of ContentsWhat is Tea P.1What kind of Tea P.2How to make Green Tea P.3How to make a cup of Tea(1) P.4How to make a cup of Tea(2) P.5How Tea is healthy for you P.6

Fun facts about Tea P.8Quiz P.9Quiz Answers P.10Glossary P.11References P.12

What is Tea?Tea was discovered nearly 5,000 years ago.Tea is the second most wanted drink in the world.Tea is basically the dried and processed leaves of only one species of

plant called camellia sinensis.All teas come from only one species, there are three major varietals:

China – Small leaves and generally thrives at higher altitudes.

India (or Assam) – Larger leaves and generally thrives at lower altitudes.

Hybrid – Kind of in-between the Chinese and Indian.

P.1

What kinds of TeaBlack tea: The results are the characteristic dark brown and black leaf, the

typically more robust and pronounced flavors of black teas. When brewed a higher caffeine compared to other teas.

Green tea: Then the oxidation process is stopped very quickly by firing the leaves. Therefore, when brewed at lower temperatures and for less time, green teas tend to have less caffeine. Greens also tend to produce more subtle flavors.

White tea: Are the most delicate of all teas. They are appreciated for their subtlety, complexity, and natural sweetness. They are hand processed using the youngest shoots of the tea plant.

Puerh tea: It is perhaps the most mysterious of all tea. The process of its production is a closely guarded state in China. It is very strong with an incredible flavor.

P.2

How to make Green Tea1. Pick fresh tealeaves from

Camellia Sinensis Plant.2. Process of softening the leaves

and reducing the moisture, contents of the leaves by half which allows the leaves to be rolled without getting broken.

3. Leaves are heated in a work or steamed to stop the fermenation process.

4. Leaves are put into 4-15 pound bags which are rolled tightly to create a ball shape that curls the leaves.

5. The tealeaves are left to dry on bamboo mats.

6. Leaves are graded and put into the categories: whole leaves, broken leaves, fanning and dust.

P. 3

How to make a cup of Tea (1)

Pour fresh water into the kettle.

Place the kettle on the stove.

While the water is boiling you will need: a teapot, a cup, a strainer, a tea spoon and your favorite tea.

You need to measure out a heaping teaspoon of tea and put it in the strainer holder. P.4

How to make a cup of Tea (2)

Put hot water in your teapot and pour it out.Put tea in the pot.

Pour 1cup more than your going to drink.

When pouring tea in the cup use the small strainer to catch small tealeaves.

Now your done P.5

How Tea is Healthy for you

1. Tea may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.2. Tea protects your bones.3. Tea protects us against cancer.4. You can lose weight by drinking Green Tea.5. Drinking Black Tea could help blood pressure.6. Green Tea can fight allergies.7. Drinking tea lowers diabetes risk.

P.6

Quiz1. What’s the difference between the

main varieties of Tea?2. People who need to control their blood

sugar level may benefit from drinking green tea. True or false ?

3. To bring out the antioxidants in the tea, you should let it steep for how many minutes?

4. A blended tea, such as English Breakfast is…?

5. Green tea has been shown to be good for children?(True or False) P.9

Quiz Answers

1. Processing2. True3. 3 to 5 minutes.4. A blend of tea with different origins.5. False

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Fun facts about Tea

• One pound of loose tea can make about 200cups.

• The smaller the leaf is, the more expensive the tea is.

• Tea blocks were used as money, before the nineteenth century in China.

• You can cure puffy eyes by putting tea bags on them.

• One cup of white tea contains the same amount of antioxidants as 10 cups of apple juice !

P.8

Glossary• Fermenation-undergo a chemical change by

the action of yeast or bacteria P.3• Brew-make tea or coffee by mixing it with

hot water. P.2• Strainer-a device to hold solid pieces while a

liquid passes. P.4,5• Antioxidants-a substance that opposes

oxidation or prevents or makes difficult reactions made easier by oxygen.  P.8

P.9

References• http://www.2basnob.com/tea-types.html

• http://www.teasource.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=TeaSource&Category_Code=Kinds

• http://www.ivillage.com/top-10-health-benefits-drinking-tea/4-a-108301

• http://www.adagio.com/info/health_benefits.html?SID=dbd421e802419ddeb4796a8405be33a1

• http://www.cruftbox.com/cruft/docs/teahowto.html

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