May 21 marks the International tea day every year. It is the day to celebrate one of the oldest beverages in the world. Apart from being just a beverage, tea also has medicinal values, according to health experts.
The new18.com provides amazing facts on the celebration of tea in the year 2021. IN A TWEET, the UN has also said, “Tea is central to many cultures, and it contributes to employment, exports earnings & food security.” Let us take a look at the history of the drink, which is a refreshment for many.
History of the tea:
The first tea dates back to 2737 BC. Shen Nung, a Chinese emperor, was sitting under a tree, and his servant served him boiling water when some leaves from the Camellia sinensis fell inside the water. The emperor being a herbalist, tried the drink, and guess what, that was the first-ever tea.
This drink gradually became popular in China, and later when the Japanese monks tried this while being pilgrims in China, they liked it and took it back to Japan. It then spread around from one country to another. But the British were yet to know about it. The marriage of Charles II and Catherine of Braganza brought tea drinking to Europe.
She, being Portuguese, was a tea lover who introduced tea in Britain. The East India Company started importing the drink, and finally, it became a much-celebrated drink of the UK.
Health benefits of drinking tea:
Tea has antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress in the body. It also lowers the chances of heart attack and stroke. It also contains less caffeine than coffee and can be consumed more often.
Green tea also helps in weight reduction, and some tea types help to maintain the bones. Thus tea is a very healthy beverage. So, let us celebrate the day with a cup of tea.