Drinking tea has become a habit for everyone, maybe even to the level of necessity. In addition to its benefits for the body, tea has many variations in taste and aroma so that everyone will have their favorite tea drink.
Drinking tea in the morning before doing activities while sitting on the house's terrace and enjoying fresh oxygen, plus my favorite snacks on the table has become a habit for me to enjoy and be grateful for the morning moments. And I'm sure among the readers some do the same thing with my routine, although maybe in a different way.
Even after reading several sources of information, it is also said that drinking tea is a tradition and culture in various countries around the world. Wow, How can just "drinking tea" become part of a country's unique culture? This is just drinking tea, right?
Enjoying a cup of tea is not just about brewing water and tea powder in a glass to serve. However, certain values are highlighted when brewing tea.
A jury of the 2022 National Tea Competition and founder of Nusantara tea Muhammad Ashfiya said that two values are practiced when brewing tea: hygiene and safety.
Ashfiya said these two values are important to note because they relate to manners, traditions, brewing methods, and the tools used in brewing tea in various countries.
Uniquely, each country has its way of practicing these two values, as has been done by people in the following five countries: China, Morocco, Indonesia, Japan, and England.
Culture drink tea in China
The historical tradition of drinking tea originated in China, namely since 2737 years BC. It is said that a king named Shen Nung was resting under a tea tree when his servant brought him a cup of warm water.
Accidentally, a few tea leaves fell and fell into the cup. Uniquely, the king enjoyed the warm water mixed with the tea leaves, and he felt some positive effects on his body after drinking the tea. Because of that story, the culture of drinking tea began to spread in the country.
Currently, there are many types of tea in the world, and for the Chinese people, the type that is most favored by them is green tea which is said to have many health benefits.
After tea spread among Chinese society at that time, various customs, cultures, and ways of serving a cup of tea also varied.
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For example, in Chinese culture, when someone serves a cup of tea, Ashiya said that people in China, they will pay attention to safety and cleanliness, starting from the materials, and tools used to the clothes worn.
In China, the teapot will be placed on the right position of the table, in addition to a cup made from clay, there is a cup made from bamboo. Equipment and positioning are used to make it easier when brewing tea.
In addition, the water level poured from the teapot into the cup must also be considered. It should not be too high. This act is to avoid hot water hitting guests.
Not only the practice of pouring tea people in China also have a dress code when brewing tea for guests.
So that the tea served is the main concern, the clothes worn by the tea brewer should not be flashy. The clothes' color must also be neutral, such as white, black, or brown. Even so, the clothes worn must remain polite,
Besides clothes, people brewing tea should also not wear excessive jewelry.
Must not be conspicuous (Must be plain), and do not wear rings, bracelets, or watches because if the person who brews tea wears excessive jewelry, the activity of brewing tea will be disrupted. The main principle is to be safe. The process of brewing tea must be easy.
To help the principles of making tea in China, the tea brewing equipment has been designed in such a way as to make it easier for people to do it. For example, the diameter of the tea brewer has been determined for convenience.
Culture drink tea in Morocco
A cup of tea served to guests in Morocco is a form of honor. The tea that is generally served is green tea equipped with mint leaves, so the taste and aroma have their own uniqueness.
Not only that, but Moroccan tea is also sprinkled with quite a lot of sugar, so it tastes very sweet. However, what is unique in this country is the way it is presented. Steeping tea will be poured from a height into a glass or cup for later serving.
Because serving tea is considered an honor by Moroccans, my advice is never to refuse tea when you are visiting Morocco. You will be regarded as very disrespectful.
Culture drink tea in the United Kingdom
In the UK, drinking tea culture began when King Charles II married Catherine of Braganza. Catherine is known as a woman who is very addicted to tea. Since then, the culture of drinking tea has been closely related to the daily life of residents in the UK. One of the most popular types of tea in the UK is Earl Grey, a black tea with a floral scent.
Although tea can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere, it is unique that tea fans in the UK have a special time enjoying it. There are two famous tea-drinking traditions in the UK: high tea and afternoon tea. High tea is a tradition of drinking tea by workers in the afternoon.
While afternoon tea is a tea-drinking tradition that noble families first carried out in the UK.
Between the two traditions, afternoon tea activities are well-known and are often carried out by UK people.
At first, afternoon tea was synonymous with elegant and luxurious activities because noble families carried it out.
But in reality luxury is not the primary value to be highlighted, but the immediate value is safety and hygiene. Proven when invited to the afternoon tea, the clothes worn must be polite, not luxurious.
Apart from dressing, the tools used to brew tea in UK are also different. Some tools include a large teapot, porcelain glass, and a special cup for fresh milk.
Afternoon tea activities in UK are also equipped with three tiers containing three different types of food. From sweet to salty foods.
Ashfiya says that placing food in the tier is also not without reason. That is done to make it easier when taking it.
Not always everything about beauty, but the original reason is about function and convenience. Unfortunately, most people sometimes get it wrong.
In addition, it is explained that the UK used a large glass to drink tea. Therefore, the way to hold the glass handle must be correct, so it does not spill.
Apart from holding the glass handle, how to stir the tea also has its rules.
Tea should not be stirred by rotating it 360 degrees as people in general but stirred slowly from top to bottom. That is not to show off or any other negative reason, but rather so that the tea does not spill and remains hygienic.
Also, there is a unique rule in UK when drinking tea that we should not highlight the little finger or so-called pinky finger. That is considered impolite, especially for new people. So, remember this, okey.
Culture drink tea in Japan
Matcha is a term for tea in Japan, and you must be familiar with this word, right? Because at this time, matcha has also become one of the popular drinks in various countries
The process of harvesting tea shoots in Japan is not like in Indonesia. Japanese people can only pick tea in spring, right after winter.
"When the ice begins to melt, and the sunlight begins to appear, then the tea shoots begin to appear. The first tea extracts in the spring will later be served to the emperor in a certain ceremony in Japanese culture," said Ashfiya.
In addition to the emperor, specifically for Japanese society, tea-drinking rules apply in Japan.
In the daily practice of Japanese people, they brew tea when indoors. As we already know, Japanese people don't wear shoes when indoors, but they still wear socks.
The use of socks is considered a courtesy and to maintain cleanliness. If the socks are removed, worry the smell of socks will interfere with the scent of the tea being served.
Paying attention to the dress code when drinking tea in Japan is still the same as in China or England, which still prioritizes the values of politeness and not flashiness.
But there are differences in the tools used to serve tea. In Japan, tea is served in small bowls and drunk with specific hand movements. The movement is very distinctive and is taught from generation to generation.
The tea that Japanese people usually consume generally uses green tea, which has many benefits. Therefore, it is impossible to brew green tea at very high temperatures.
Furthermore, before the tea is brewed, the hot water will first be transferred to another place, so the water temperature will quickly drop.
Teapots in Japan are slightly wider and made of clay. That is not without purpose but made with the aim that the water temperature can drop faster.
Culture drink tea in Indonesia
The country with the best tea leaves in the Bandung area also has its own distinctive culture in processing tea. Unique In this country, know the proverb; Another field another locust, another depth of fish, meaning that different regions have different cultures and practices in processing tea. In the Tegal area itself, people are accustomed to drinking tea that is brewed in clay pots until it is thick and dark in color. This tea is also equipped with rock sugar that is not stirred and is drunk hot. The term local residents is Nasgitel. The term abbreviates hot, Legi (sweet), and Kentel (thick).
However, unlike in Tegal, the Padang area has unique drinking tea traditions. Padang is famous for Talua tea. This tea is brewed by mixing raw eggs. Very unique, distinctive, and interesting. I wonder how the tea tastes.
See also: Rendang: The Treasure of Minangkabau
The benefits of a cup of tea are unquestionable. In various studies, its antioxidants have been shown to reduce free radicals in the body, which cause multiple diseases and premature aging.
Now, it's all up to you – both the choice of tea and the way it is served. So which tea tradition would you like to try this morning?