11.29.07
tea is #1 for youth in asia
posted by Michelle Rabin | 7 comments
I saw an interesting article from the Voice of America blog.
The post examines the interest among the youth of Hong Kong and their preferences for tea. Lam Kie Yuen, a man who has been in the tea business for five decades, is interviewed. His company began in Hong Kong in 1955 and recently expanded into Vancouver, Canada. Lam’s observation is that young people are selecting lighter teas, such as greens, whites and oolongs, which are increasingly identified as health beverages. He believes the older, long term tea drinkers prefer darker, more bitter tasting teas. What I was particularly pleased to see was that the youth of Hong Kong are continuing the cultural norm of drinking tea. Despite the popularity of American beverages, such as coffee and soda, the Asian youth market for tea is strong.
I am delighted to see that tea drinking, a beverage with a 5,000 year history, remains a vibrant part of Asian culture. “Although the patience needed to brew a perfect pot of tea may seem at odds with today’s fast-paced lifestyle, it remains popular across the generations” according to reporter Naomi Martig from Hong Kong.
It’s been a long time since we’ve talked about brewing issues, but I think it’s time to revisit this critical factor. As more and more people are introduced to T Ching, I’d like to review my previously identified formula W+3T = the perfect cup of tea. I’ll define the symbols next week for an abbreviated introduction to the makings of the perfect cuppa.
I believe this is the key to increasing tea consumption around the world. Once people are given correct brewing instructions, they will join the ancient history of tea consumption and gain pleasure AND health from this amazing brew. I can’t imagine any other drink being so rich in BOTH . . . and without any down side. Red wine, for example, has some ritual and health associations. However we also know that excessive consumption can be harmful and contribute to addiction. In fact, I think the same can be said about coffee This is where tea proceeds to the head of the class. There are no down sides of tea. Yes, one can find a scientist to produce information about the hazards of caffeine but given tea’s low levels of caffeine and the ability to “wash” the first steeping, thereby removing the majority of the caffeine, I have to say that I do not consider the caffeine to be an obstacle to the profound health benefits that are available from drinking tea. In fact, it was the presence of caffeine that allowed the early monks to remain alert when performing their meditation rituals. If our contemporary researchers are giving tea to their own children, I think that says it all.
November 29th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Michelle, this is a very insightful post. I like the idea of working within our culture’s belief system to spread the beauty of tea, rather than trying to convert people to completely new beliefs. I look forward to your next post in this series!
November 29th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Fascinating! Can you imagine what our schools would be like if kids drank tea instead of soda???
I remember as a child really liking tea (albeit the intensely flavored Market Spice) and thinking it was a very special thing to be given a cup of tea… usually on a stormy day. I think parents now just assume their children will not like tea because of its subtlety and lack of overt sweetness (and this is true with lots of foods and edibles other than tea). And this (general) reluctance within our society to teach our children how to taste and enjoy different foods and flavors puzzles me. Any thoughts?
But back to the tea…it’s praises cannot be sung loud enough or long enough. It really does seem to be the perfect panacea for all that ails us and that is why I love it so. Besides the fact that it is so delicious!
December 1st, 2007 at 2:14 am
Joey-I understand congratulations are in order for your wonderful tea pot - Sorapot. How would you like to share the news with T Ching? I”ll have to insist on an image of course! I’d love our growing community to see what a fabulous pot you’ve designed.
Kristin - I fully agree. If parents can develop a healthy ritual of tea with their children, on “stormy” days and sunny day, they will be introducing this most healthy beverage into their children’s lives. What a gift of health and long life that will turn out to be.
Alas, most adults are creatures of habit and that includes a reluctance to expand their food horizon. Living in/or near a sophisticated city, one is easily introduced to new tastes and aromas. Once parents are adequately educated about the “panacea” of tea - they will appreciate it’s true value, on multiple levels.
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:07 am
Interesting post, Michelle! Am I the only one who laughed at the auditory pun in the “headline”? Might it be a bit dangerous for a website devoted to the healthfulness of tea to put the notion of euthanasia into our heads?
On a serious note, I recently read an article* which suggests combining citrus juice with tea can add to the effectivenesss of teas own antioxidants. How will the tea purists react to a prescription to add lemon to the brew?
*http://www.forbes.com/health/feeds/hscout/2007/11/20/hscout610139.htm l
December 14th, 2007 at 12:26 am
Hello to you all. I completely agree that this generation of teenagers-or even younger children?- should be introduced to tea. What is more, I am 15 years old. I am proof that my generation would enjoy tea.
Up until about a year ago, I hardly knew anything about tea. I barely even knew the stuff existed. Whenever I was thirsty, I would down another soda, energy drink, or maybe at best a sweetened fruit juice. Yet one day, I was offered tea at a friend’s house. Curious as to what tea would be like, I accepted. Ohhh…I’m so glad I did.
Tea is delicious. Now, I have essentially stopped drinking sweetened beverages. I find myself re-steeping the same pot of tea over and over again, just trying to get the last little bit of flavor out. Not only do I feel great about knowing what I drink is healthy, but I must be saving my family money through this switch.
Overall, my point is that most teenagers would gladly drink tea, they just don’t know about it. Some have heard of highly sweetened green teas, but that is the extent of their knowledge. I believe that my generation would gladly switch over to tea, once they learn that it tastes just as good as any soda.
So, a final thanks to those trying to introduce tea to my generation. I try to get my classmates to drink tea, and I do succeed. Unfortunately, I have only made a small dent in the workings of my school. Until that changes, at least there is more tea for me.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Tea is truly drink from the ancients that is making a strong come back. My 14 year old son loves ending his day at the kitchen table doing homework with a nice, hot cup of chamomille and apple clear tea with honey. As a mother, I feel great preparing him his tea with his favorite tea biscuits as a snack before bed. Rather than climbing walls with sugar filled desert before bedtime, he’s ready to slumber in a relaxed mind and body state.
I have a blog http://www.walk2bfit.com/blog and for the holidays wrote an article regarding the healthy effect of tea on overall longevity. Not only is tea great for our minds and body but also a social come back. Tea for two is gaining speed. My fiance and I sit to two cups of tea a day. One in the morning (English breakfast) and in the evening we drink an herbal steeped tea of choice while sitting down to our fav books. Such a pleasant way to end a hectic day.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:00 am
I am so happy to see tea make a come back too. My parents own a tea store in Hong Kong and I grew up drinking all sort of teas and I love them too. After seeing so many my friends especially Chinese lost their interest to tea and going for soft drinks or coffee, I am sad and I really feel this is one of the greatest Chinese culture and we should not forget about it. I decided to launch my own tea website last year to share my tea knowledge and information to people and I hope this could make a good positive influence to our generations. I recently introduced the long lost tradition roast Tie Guan Yin to my tea readers.
Cheers!
June