High on Chai 

Chai as referred to tea by Indians is a beverage that is savoured first thing in the morning in the majority of the Indian households. You'll find chai obsessed people in every nook and corner of the world. Even though tea is loved by so many, it hasn't been given the importance that it deserves. And you may ask how Well, have you , ever said, “let's go for a cup of tea?” I think no. You might have always said, “let's go for a cup of coffee?” So you see, how tea is underrated in the world of beverages. But Chaisexual people are undeterred to keep their love for tea alive. 

A cup of tea is a good companion when you want to have a conversation with your friends, cure a headache or relieve your work stress. 

THIS BEVERAGE HAS ITS ROOT OF ORIGIN IN CHINA AND WAS USED AS A MEDICINE UNTIL AROUND 300 CE. 

Let's see if you know some of the interesting facts of your favourite beverage: 1. If you thought that the Indians are the highest tea consuming population, then you are wrong. Turkish people consume the highest amount of tea, wherein a person consumes seven pounds of tea annually. 

2. Herbal tea is actually not tea. It is a mixture of different herbs, spices and plants like chamomile, mint and hibiscus. 

3. The tea bag was invented by an American businessman- Thomas Sullivan. He used to send tea samples in silk pouches to his clients and they would directly dip it into hot water. 

4. There are around 3000 types of tea in the world. 

5. The art of reading tea is called Tasseography, where the diviner tells fortune from the shape of leaves that are settled down in the cup. 

JUST IMAGINE, IT'S DRIZZLING OUTSIDE AND YOU ARE READING YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK WHILE SIPPING ON YOUR FAVOURITE CUP OF TEA. Don't you always want this moment to cease and your tea to never finish? 

Not only a cup of tea is enchanting but the tea gardens where it grows are a sight to behold for its scenic beauty. And if you are a tea lover then visiting tea gardens should be on your travel list. Darjeeling being the finest tea producer in the world should come on top when you want to visit a tea garden. 

Assam has indigenous tea plants and collects 1.5 million pounds of tea annually. The “Tea Garden Time” in Assam is one hour ahead of the Indian Standard Time. 

The Nilgiri hills in Tamil Nadu grows tea throughout the entire year unlike other tea plantations in India. You can also stay at a tranquil Tea Nest situated on the Singara Tea Estate.

Munnar, in Kerala, has a tea plantation in its Idukki district which is a tourist attraction for its tranquility and peace. 

Other tea gardens in HIMACHAL PRADESH, KARNATAKA AND WEST BENGAL are also worth visiting. 

Teas come with so many flavours right from black teas to light and fruity flavoured teas. But don't you sometimes get confused hearing different names of teas? Herbal tea, Matcha, White tea and whatnot. And you might wonder what's all the fuss about different flavoured teas? Well, let's find out together.

MASALA CHAI 

Let's start with Indian's favourite masala chai. As the name suggests masala chai is spiced chai which includes spices like ginger and cardamom. Sometimes, it also gets infused with mint, cinnamon, anise etc depending on the preference of the drinker. This tea helps in fighting a cold, drives fatigue, helps in digestion and boosts immunity.

MATCHA 

Matcha is a type of green tea and is more beneficial than other types of green tea. Matcha is beneficial for health as it is packed with antioxidants, reduces heart disease and aids weight loss. 

OOLONG TEA 

Oolong tea, a traditional Chinese tea is made from the same plant as black and green tea. Oolong tea is semi-oxidised and rolled to give its distinctive shape. Oolong tea can improve heart health, prevent diabetes, improve brain function and also can protect from certain types of cancers like lung, oral, pancreatic and liver. OOLONG TEA Oolong tea, a traditional Chinese tea is made from the same plant as black and green tea. Oolong tea is semi-oxidised and rolled to give its distinctive shape. Oolong tea can improve heart health, prevent diabetes, improve brain function and also protect from certain types of cancers like lung, oral, pancreatic and liver. 

HERBAL TEA 

Herbal tea also known as Tisane is an infusion of various fruits, leaves, barks, roots or flowers which are edible and don't belong to a tea plant. Chamomile tea, peppermint tea, hibiscus tea, ginger tea, rosehip tea etc are some of the examples of herbal tea. It is known for its benefits of stress-relieving and fighting a cold. We will have a brief look at various types of herbal teas.

1. CHAMOMILE TEA

 Chamomile tea is derived from daisy flowers and as it is a herbal tea, it is caffeine-free. It is used for its various health benefits because of its anti-inflammatory properties and is used as a sleeping aid.

2. PEPPERMINT TEA 

Peppermint tea is obtained from the peppermint herb from the mint family. Similar to chamomile tea, Peppermint tea helps cure insomnia or lack of sleep. Peppermint tea provides great health benefits like reducing menstrual cramps, helps reduce headaches, aids digestion and fights internal e bacterial infections.

3. HIBISCUS TEA 

Hibiscus tea is made out of crimson or deep-magenta coloured hibiscus flowers. Whatever the season- summer or winter, hibiscus tea can be enjoyed every time as it can be served hot or cold. It helps in weight loss, control high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

4. ROSEHIP TEA 

Rosehip tea is derived from the fruit of the rose plant. It helps prevent vitamin C deficiencies and has the ability to treat constipation, kidney disorders, diarrhoea and high cholesterol. Rosehip tea is great for the skin as it helps fight skin aging and improves the elasticity of the face.

5. CHRYSANTHEMUM TEA 

Chrysanthemum tea is obtained from the chrysanthemum plant. The spectrum of its bloom ranges from palest yellow to bright red. Drinking chrysanthemum tea provides relief from sore throat and is a good detoxifying agent for the liver.

6. ROOIBOS TEA 

Rooibos tea is made of a South African plant Rooibos. It too can be drunk hot or cold hibiscus tea. It is beneficial for heart patients, just like diabetic and helps treat asthma and prevents premature aging.

BLACK TEA 

Black tea- the most consumed beverage in the world comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant and contains the highest amount of caffeine as compared to other teas. Black tea boosts heart health, helps reduce blood pressure and also helps reduce the risk of cancer. 

Early Grey is one of the most popular black teas which is made of a unique blend of bergamot and black tea. Earl Grey boosts immunity, protects oral health and improves digestion.

YELLOW TEA 

Yellow tea is obtained from Camellia Sinensis plant just like black tea, green tea and white tea. It goes under a slow drying process which gives it a mellow flavour and removes the grassy smell and taste related to green teas. Yellow tea promotes weight loss, is beneficial for the liver, prevents diabetes and also has anti-aging properties.

WHITE TEA 

White tea is not oxidised and is harvested before the leaves of the tea plant are opened fully. White tea can encourage good cardiovascular health and fight against skin aging.

PU'ERH 

Pu'erh tea is a fermented tea which is produced in the Yunnan province of China. Just like wine, Pu'erh also tastes better when it has aged longer. Pu'erh helps in weight loss, relieves stress, increases energy and promotes good heart health.

SENCHA 

Sencha is the most popular green tea in Japan which too is derived from Camellia Sinensis plant. Sencha tea is efficient in fighting free radicals, reducing bad cholesterol and improving oral health.

I am sure this blog would have made you want a cup of tea. Who are you waiting for? Go ahead and make yourself a searing and ecstatic cup of tea.