1.
4 The Story of Tea
Let us begin with a question: can you name the most widely consumed beverage in
the world, after water?
Perhaps many of you have guessed the answer: the most popular beverage in the
world is tea – the fresh, aromatic brew with which people like to begin their day. It has a
refreshing, astringent flavour. It is actually made by brewing, that is by infusing in
boiling water, the leaves and shoots of a plant whose botanical name is the Camellia
sinensis. The leaves are at first dried, cured and processed before they are packed and
sold to us.
Camellia sinensis is an evergreen plant that grows in tropical and sub-tropical
climates. Tea plants require at least 100-125 cm of rainfall a year and prefer acidic soils.
Many of the world’s best tea estates are located on hill slopes at elevations of up to 1500
metres: it is said that the tea plants grow slowly and acquire a richer flavour at this
height.
When the plants mature, only the top 1-2 inches of the plant are picked. These buds
and leaves are called flushes. A new flush appears on the plant every seven to ten days
during the park growing season. Left to grow on its own, the tea plant may actually
grow into a small tree. But in all tea gardens, the plants are pruned and kept at a height
of about three feet (waist high) to enable easy plucking of the leaves.
The teas we buy are usually classified according to their leaf size. According we have
(1) Assam type of tea, characterised by the largest leaves; (2) China type, characterised
by the smallest leaves; and (3) Cambod, characterised by leaves of intermediate size.
We have three very distinct and different tea growing regions in India. Each of these
regions is famous for the special type of tea it produces, which are unique in taste,
aroma, strength and flavour. The three regions are: Darjeeling North-Eastern India,
Assam in far North-East India and Nilgiris in South India.
Most people agree that tea is a refreshing drink. It contains no carbohydrates, fat, or
proteins. What gives tea its special and distinctive flavour is theanine as well as caffeine,
which give the drink its stimulating quality.
How and when did people first begin to drink tea? An amusing story has come down
to us from Chinese legends. It is said that Emperor Shennong, the father of Chinese
agriculture and medicine, was on his travels, when a servant was boiling water for the
emperor to drink. Just then, a few leaves from a nearby tree blew into the boiling water.
The water immediately changed colour. On drinking the water, the emperor was
amazed by the rich flavour and the refreshing quality of the resulting infusion. Excited
by the unknown plant and its amazing flavour, he carried out further investigation, and
discovered that tea had many healing and restorative properties and could also be used
as an antidote to certain poisons.
Yet another legend tells us that it was a Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma who was
the first to use tea as a drink. He was keen to find a herb or a medicinal plant which
would help him stay awake and alert for long periods of time in prayer and meditation.
After considerable search and trial, he found that chewing leaves from the tea shrub
acted as a stimulant, helping him stay awake. It was he who introduced tea among his
disciples in China. It is said that Japanese priests studying under Buddhist teachers in
China carried tea seeds and leaves back home with them. Turkish traders also began to
bargain for tea on the border of Mongolia. In fact, the story goes that the Chinese
Emperor Hui Tsung Was so taken up with tea that he set up a research into the best tea-
whisking methods and also hosted tea-making and tea-testing tournaments in the
court. So ‘tea minded’ was he, that he failed to notice that Mongolia had actually taken
over his empire!
Thus the habit of drinking tea spread to Japan, Europe and England, where it became
a fashionable and popular drink among the people.
How did this magical beverage get its name? The Chinese character t’ u was first used
in early inscriptions to describe tea. But later, a new character, ch’ a, was developed to
refer specifically to tea. The word ch’ a is now sometimes used in English to refer to
China tea. And, as we all know, it is very close to the Hindi word chai, which is used all
over India to refer to tea.
How did tea first come to India? Historians think that tea had known in India a
medicinal plant since ancient times, but tea was not drunk for pleasure until the British
began to establish plantations in the 19th century. In the 1770s, the British East India
Company made several unsuccessful attempts to grow tea in Bhutan and Assam, with
seeds from China Although these attempts failed, the botanist Robert Bruce in 1823
discovered tea plants growing wild in the Upper Brahmaputra valley. In May 1838, the
first Indian tea from Assam was sent to England for Public sale. Since then India has
gone on to England for public sale. Since then India has gone onto become one of the
leading producers of tea in the world.
Tea lovers claim that tea may be able to reduce the risk of cancer, control blood
pressure, fight viruses in our body and actually help us live longer!
Our body reduces chemicals called free radicals. They can damage our body and our
health. Tea contains antioxidants called flavonoids. Scientists believe these help to
protect our system against free radicals.
For many people tea is a popular drink to have with friends. In many countries
around the world, tea drinking is important social occasion.
Japan, China, Russia and Korea have special tea ceremonies and traditions. These
ceremonies give people the time to relax and enjoy the test and the smell of the tea.
Most people in Japan belong to a ‘tea club’ where they go every week to take part in
the tea ceremony. Ordinary people also feel that tea ceremonies are spiritual occasions
that are closely associated with their religions. ‘Tea’ they say, ‘is a healthy, enjoyable
and stimulating drink, full of good qualities. It reduces loneliness and calms your heart;
it is a comfort in everyday life’.
Many Koreans today still have tea ceremonies for important occasions including
special birthdays and anniversaries.
In most area of China the tea is made in small clay teapots. At tea ceremonies, cups are
only half-filled. The Chinese believe that the rest of the cup must be filled with
friendship and affection.
In Russia, tea is made and served in samovars – a special tea kettle, made of metal.
Vietnam produces special varieties of tea such as lotus tea and jasmine tea.
In Japan, tea in is made using powdered green tea called ‘match’. The tea is mixed with
boiled water using a bamboo whisk and served in small bowls.
And how about India? A cup of tea is offered to any guest or visitor as a token of
hospitality even in the humblest of homes. Most Indians like their tea hot with a good
deal of milk and sugar in it. In the rainy season, it is brewed with ginger to give it
additional medicinal properties. Other add spices like cardamom, cloves or mace to add
to its taste and flavour. Tea is a must after a plate of spicy snacks, especially in the
morning and evenings.
Some connoisseurs relish delicately flavoured jasmine tea, green tea, lemon tea and
even iced tea! How about you?
Meanings :
beverage – any liquid for drinking
aromatic – fragrant, having an aroma
brew – to make (beer,tea etc) by boiling and fermenting
astringent – severe, harsh
tropical – the hot regions of the world on either side of the equator
intermediate – coming between two
Distinctive – making distinct, characteristic serving to distinguish
antidote – a medicine that counteracts poison
restorative – able to bring back health
inscription – something inscribed esp ; words carved on stones etc
Characters – symbols, signs/or letters used in writing
specifically – intended for one particular things only
botanist – a person who studies plants
ceremonies – public or religious occasions
spiritual – connected with human spirit
anniversaries – the dates of important or special events
cardamom – the aromatic dried seeds of tropical Asia
Mace – dried outer covering of nutmeg
connoisseur – a person who is especially competent to pass critical judgments in
matters of taste
relish- to enjoy taste
Language Study
When two words came together to form a new word; the new word is called a
compound word. What words do you see in the following compounds – evergreen,
blood pressure, everyday?
Note that some compound words are written as one word (teapot), some with a hyphen
between them (tea-making) and some as two separate words (tea club).
Sometimes the form of a verb in a sentence names the action but does not change
according to tense, number or person. Such a form is known as a non-finite form or an
infinitive. An infinitive is used with or without ‘to’.
Examples: How did people first begin to drink tea? Can you name the beverage?
1. Match the words in Column A' with their meaning in Column 'B':
'A’ ‘B'
(1) aromatic (a) sharp
(2) brew (b) able to bring back health
(3) astringent (c) fragrant
(4) restorative (d) to make tea etc. by boiling
Ans : (1) aromatic - fragrant
(2) brew - to make tea etc. by boiling.
(3) astringent - sharp
(4) restorative - able to bring back health
2. Choose the correct form of the verb from the brackets : (Answers are
underlined directly.)
Ans. (1) A new flush appears on the plant every seven to ten days. (appear/appears)
(2) Tea plants require at least 100-125 cm of rainfall a year. (require/requires)
(3) Each of these regions is famous for the special type of tea. (is/are)
(4) It is said that the tea plants grow slowly
3. Complete the following sentences using the information given in the passage :
(Answers are given directly.)
(1) Most people agree that tea is a refreshing drink.
(2) Emperor Shennong was called the father of Chinese agriculture and medicine.
(3) Bodhidharma found that chewing tea leaves acted as a stimulant.
(4) Tea got its distinctive flavour by its theanine as well as caffeine.
(5) In many countries around the world, tea drinking is an important social occasion.
(6) Tea ceremonies give people the time to relax and enjoy the taste and smell of tea.
(7) For many people tea is a popular drink to have with friends.
(8) Koreans still have tea ceremonies on the occasions of special birthdays and
anniversaries.
(9) The most popular beverage in the world is tea.
(10) Camellia sinensis is an evergreen plant that grows in tropical and sub-tropical
climates.
(11) Tea plants require at least 100-125 cm of rainfall a year.
(12) The teas we buy are usually classified according to the size of their leaves.
(13) World's famous tea estates are located on hill slopes.
Ans. (1) investigation - a scientific examination for finding the truth (2) stimulant - a
substance (tea) that helps you to stay awake (3) infusion - a drink made by leaving
shrubs (leaves), etc. in boiling water (4) restorative - making you strong and healthy
again
4. Make smaller words using the letters in the given words:
(1) immediately (2) investigation (3) meditation (4) enjoyable (5) loneliness
(6) actually (7) refreshing
Ans. (1) immediately - dial, ate, die, mat, date.
(2) investigation - invest, in, on, at, vest.
(3) meditation me, it, at, on, edit.
(4) enjoyable – enjoy, able, joy, no, noble
(5) loneliness – lone, one, on, line, in
(6) actually - act, ally, cat, call
(7) refreshing – fresh, ring, sing, fish
5. Write wheather the following statements are True or False:
Statements Ans
1. The first Indian tea was sent to England for
public sale in 1823 - False
2. Tea became a fashionable and popular drink in Europe. True
3. Our body produces chemicals called free radicals. True
4. The word 'chai is now sometimes used in English to
refer to China tea. False .
6. What are the good qualities of tea : (Answers are given) :
(1) Healthy
(2) enjoyable
(3) good taste
(4) stimulating
(5) calms your mind
(6) good aroma
(7) reduces stress
7. Choose the correct alternatives and complete the following sentences :
(1) In Russia, tea is made and served in …..
(a) cups (b) pots (c) samovars
(2) In Japan, tea is made using ....
(a) a bamboo whisk (b) sugar (c) green tea
(3) In India, tea is served as a token of ...
(a) love (b) hospitality (c) affection
(4) In China, tea is made in small teapots. (a) clay (b) metal (c) glass Ans.
Ans: (1) samovars (2) a bamboo whisk (3) hospitality (4) clay
8. Answer the Following :
(i) How do Indians like to have their tea?
(ii) List the things from the passage that are used for making tea ?
(iii) How is tea the beverage made?
(iv) Which geographical conditions (features) are required for growing tea
plants?
(v) List all the names of geographical places mentioned in the passage :
