Tea is a popular drink worldwide, with different countries having their own unique tea ceremonies. The most common method is pouring hot water over tea leaves, but some make sun tea or use a samovar. Japanese tea ceremonies are precise and considered an art form, while in China, pure tea is preferred. In America and Great Britain, tea is often brewed with milk and sugar or lemon.
People have been drinking tea for centuries, and some cultures have developed tea ceremonies for making tea. Countries that perform tea ceremonies include Great Britain, Russia, Japan and China. The most common method used to make tea is to pour hot water over the tea leaves and let the mixture sit or brew for several minutes. The water is sometimes poured directly onto the tea leaves, which must be strained from the water after brewing. The tea is often placed in paper bags, cloth bags, or small metal containers called tea balls so it doesn’t have to be strained after it’s brewed.
Some people make tea without using hot water. They first put the tea in a container and filled it with water at room temperature. The container is then covered and placed outside in the sun. The heat from the sun causes the flavor of the tea to infuse the water. Tea prepared in this way is commonly known as sun tea.
Many people use a kettle to boil water to make tea, but Russians use a samovar. This is a metal urn with a faucet near the bottom and a small fireplace on top. The water inside a samovar is heated by a fuel-filled pipe that runs through the center of the urn. A teapot filled with water and tea leaves is placed on top of the samovar. The tea seeps into the teapot as heat rises from the samovar.
Tea brewed using a teapot on a samovar is concentrated, so Russians dilute the tea from the teapot by adding water from the samovar. It is common to brew different teas in separate teapots and then blend them all together. The various teas represent different conditions, such as romance, prosperity and health. It is believed that drinking these teas can infuse one of those qualities.
When the Japanese prepare tea in their traditional ceremonies, every movement is precise and occurs in a certain order. A whisk is used to stir the tea powder into the water. The setting is simple and the only decoration is usually flowers or calligraphy and ceremonial utensils. Tea is served to guests in special bowls. The Japanese tea ceremony is considered an art form that can take many years for the host or hostess to perfect.
People in China like to drink pure tea without adding any other ingredients. In America and Great Britain, it is customary to brew tea with milk and sugar. Some people use lemon to flavor their tea instead of milk.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
