Tea
Tea is one of the main components of Pagès creations. An essential plant in our field, Tea is mostly cultivated in Asia, its country of origin.
The Tea tree, more commonly known as Tea, is a perennial plant and its leaves are mainly used to make one of the most widely consumed drinks in the world.
Origins of tea
Legend reports that Tea was discovered in 2737 BC by Emperor Chen-Nong. While boiling the water he intended to drink in the shade of a tea bush, some leaves accidentally fell into his imperial container. Chen-Nong was delighted by the fragrance and pleasant taste of this new drink. He did not fail to notice its tonic and euphoric effect.
In the 4th century, Tea was already a popular drink in China, and Marco Polo was probably the first European to drink it. It was not until the generalization of communications with Asia that Tea set out to conquer the world, on the initiative of the Dutch people around 1666.
It will take a few years to see the appearance of black teas, white teas, red teas, etc. Contrary to what one might think, there are not several varieties of Tea but only one: Camellia sinensis. It is by working on different variables such as oxidation and fermentation of the Tea that we obtain different colours and intensities.
Characteristics of tea
Name: Camellia sinensis
Family: Camellias
Species: Perennial shrub
The Tea tree, more commonly known as "Tea", is a perennial shrub that grows from 1.50 metres to 2 metres high. It can measure up to 10 meters in the wild. Originally from East Asia, this plant is now grown mainly in its country of origin. Some countries such as Africa, the Azores and South America also manage to grow Tea. Did you know that a Tea tree can live up to 400 years?
White Tea is the least processed tea. Once harvested, the leaves are simply wilted and dried to be well preserved. White tea is made up of young shoots and silvery downy buds delicately hand-picked in spring. It is mainly produced in China but is also found in other countries such as Thailand, India or Nepal. Dried in the sun, this white tea undergoes only a slight oxidation on the surface, without roasting or rolling. It thus preserves the properties of the fresh leaves of the tea.
Green Tea is the result of a singular transformation that consists in subjecting the leaves of Tea to a strong heat, dry or wet, to stop the oxidation process of the plant. This step is also called "fixation". The leaves are then rolled up and dried.
Black Tea is obtained by complete oxidation of the leaves, thus explaining its colour. Depending on the process, the leaves are first withered, then rolled and finally oxidized before final drying. Black Tea has a more pronounced taste than Green Tea or White Tea.
Yellow Tea is very rare and little known in France. This Chinese speciality consists in stopping the natural oxidation of tea, as we do for Green Tea, and covering it with straw, which triggers a weak fermentation. The leaves are then rolled into needles and dried.
Uses of tea
After water, Tea is the most widely consumed drink in the world, and has been for years. Approximately 4 million tonnes of Tea are produced per year worldwide. It is also said that more than 1,400 billion cups of tea are drunk per year, which corresponds to an annual average of 600 grams per person.
From a cosmetic or aesthetic point of view, some people use Tea to remove bags under the eyes and dark circles due to fatigue. It is necessary to soak compresses with a strong decoction of Tea or simply a remnant of Tea and then apply it by small pressure around the eyes. Some articles also state that applying these same compresses around the eyes after crying would deflate the eyes and reduce skin redness.
Tea infusion is also known to help those who want to keep their weight. It is of course not a miracle and can't replace a healthy diet and regular sports activites.
Benefits of tea
It is said with certainty that Tea is capable of stimulating the nervous system, providing tone and energy. This remarkable reliever also helps to control migraines and is renowned for its ability to support intellectual concentration.
Tea is also known to facilitate and even accelerate digestion. It is said to have an interesting diuretic action, far from being negligible to kidney health.
Its action on the cardiorespiratory system has also been known for a long time. Leclerc recommended it to stimulate the breathing of patients suffering from shortness of breath during a lung condition.
