TeaClopedia

Introduction

- The TeaClopedia was compiled by the Tchaba team to act as a tool to transform our knowledge to those who have recently joined the Tchaba family. - The TeaClopedia can also be referred to in trainings conducted by any member of the Tchaba team to new partners. - The world of tea is too extensive and diverse to be summarized in one document. We recommend that you upgrade your knowledge by searching the web. - At the end of this presentation are a list of useful links for you to refer to.

The Legend of Tea

The story of tea began in ancient China over 5,000 years ago. According to legend, Shen Nung, an early emperor was a skilled ruler, creative scientist and patron of the arts. His far-sighted edicts required, among other things, that all drinking water be boiled as a hygienic precaution. One summer day while visiting a distant region of his realm, he and the court stopped to rest. In accordance with his ruling, the servants began to boil water for the court to drink. Dried leaves from the near by bush fell into the boiling water, and a brown liquid was infused into the water. As a scientist, the Emperor was interested in the new liquid, drank some, and found it very refreshing. And so, according to legend, tea was created. (This myth maintains such a practical narrative, that many mythologists believe it may relate closely to the actual events, now lost in ancient history.)

The Journey of Tea

Tea Plantations
Tea trees grown at high altitudes produce a higher quality tea due to the slow growth and climatic conditions

Plucking
In order to follow bio-dynamic principles which follow cosmic cycles, the leaves are generally plucked in the morning when the plants are most full of life.Traditionally the plucking is done mostly by women since they are believed to be especially meticulous in picking the right leaves - only the top two leaves and a bud

Processing
The most common misperception is that the different types of tea come from different tea plants. Black, Oolong, Green and White teas all come from the Camellia Sinesis plant. The difference comes from how the plant is processed. Common processing terms are Withering, Rolling, Oxidation, Fermentation, Drying or Firing.

Tea (Camellia Sinensis) Processing Chart

Tea Terminology
Withering: Newly picked leaves spread to dry. The main goal of this process is to reduce the water content of the leaves. Rolling/ Bruising: Here the leaves are twisted and rolled so the leaf cells are broken up. Oils are released with rolling that give the tea its distinctive aroma. Fermentation / Oxidization: This is a bio-chemical process where oxygen is absorbed by the broken leaves. This process determines whether we have Green, Oolong or Black tea. Drying or Firing: During this stage the leaves are dried evenly without being burnt. Firing the leave stops the oxidation process. Grading: The leaves are passed through screens to sort out the various sizes of the tea leaves used for the various categories from full leaf teas to fannings or tea dust. Blending: Tea leaves are blended with herbs, spices, fruits and essential oils.

True Tea
Though there are many varieties of tea, tea is derived from only one plant, the Camellia Sinensis bush. There are four major types of tea: White, Green, Oolong, and Black. Each type is distinguished by the method used when processing the tea leaves. The way the leaves are processed-steamed, fermented (oxidized), dried, or bruised-gives the tea the special characteristics of its type.

True Tea

BLACK TEA Black tea is a true tea made from leaves more heavily oxidized than green or oolong varieties. Black tea is generally stronger in flavor and contains more caffeine than the more lightly oxidized teas. Black tea relaxes and expands arteries, thus increasing blood flow to the heart. The high levels of anti-oxidants in black tea also have the ability to lower the rates of cancer. They stop the oxidation which causes damage to DNA and turn normal cells into cancer cells.

True Tea

OOLONG TEA Extracts from this type of tea are also known for their unique effects on weight loss. Oolong means black dragon in Chinese. Oolong teas are semi-fermented, which means that the process of fermentation is stopped before the leaves have all changed color. For oolong tea, this means that the leaves have turned 30 percent red and 70 percent green. Oolong teas also help reduce triglycerides, which in turn prevents heart disease in many men and women.

True Tea

GREEN TEA Green Tea has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Unlike black and oolong teas, green teas are steamed and not fermented which leaves them with a higher concentration of anti-oxidants. esides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. Additionally, it fights tooth decay and helps weight control.

True Tea

WHITE TEA White tea retains the highest concentrations of anti-oxidants which are present in fresh tea leaves, it is the most effective of all teas in protection against cancer, heart disease, and stroke. It also eases the symptoms of illness, promotes recovery, strengthens the circulatory and immune systems as well as bones and teeth, builds healthy skin and is great for weight reduction. White tea is made from new growth buds and young leaves of the plant Camellia Sinensis. The leaves are steamed or fried to inactivate oxidation, and then dried. This method of minimal processing may account for the white teas higher than normal medical benefits.

Health Benefits of Tea

Until the 3rd century tea had been know as an elixir and medicine. It was only from the 4th century that it was consumed as a daily beverage. Tea contains high levels of antioxidants. High concentrations of antioxidants are found in fruits and vegetables as well as tea. The benefits of antioxidants come from the fact that they fight harmful cells in our body called Free Radicals. Free Radicals cause the fast multiplication of cells which in turn accelerate; among other, aging and the formation of cancer cells.

White Tea Benefits. White Tea has the highest levels of pure anti-oxidants of all teas and famous for its -Anti Aging characters. - Inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. - Boosting the immune system & circulation. - Anti bacterial and anti viral properties.

Health Benefits of Tea

Green Tea Benefits: - Inhibits the growth of cancer cells. - Lowers LDL cholesterol levels. - Inhibits abnormal formation of blood clots. Oolong Tea Benifits: - Assists in weight loss. - Promotes Immunity and well being. - Prevents heart disease. Black Tea Benifits: - Aids in mental focus & concentration. - Anti flammatory properties on the digestive tract. - Controls Blood pressure.

Full leaf Full flavor

Tchaba is a full-leaf, full-bodied tea meticulously handcrafted by tea masters from the most exotic locales that promises a bountiful bouquet of flavor profiles. Our finest teas are made from hand-picked young shoots, the two leaves and bud that sprout from the very tip of the evergreen Camellia bush, which produce the most flavorful cup. The whole leaves retain their unique essential oils and are full-bodied and deliciously aromatic.

Tchaba Sachet
With no staples, glue or chemicals, not only is the Tchaba sachet convenient but 100% natural as well. Having created a proprietary process offering the convenience of precision, pre-portioned whole leaf servings as an alternative to the more labor intensive traditional loose tea preparation method, Tchaba allows for larger whole leaves, without limitation to size, translating into an unsurpassed tea experience. With no artificial flavors, glue or staples, Tchaba makes tea drinking simple, pure and hassle free. Tchaba invites the discerning, health conscious customer to explore its specially artisan-crafted whole leaf tea sachets, which promise the convenience of individual servings without compromising the quality taste and aroma of the worlds finest whole tea leaves, herbs, fruits and spices too big for ordinary tea bags.

Tchaba Life
The whole problem with Civilization is that weve been trying to squeeze the mind into the brain and it wont fit. The great gift of the leaf is that it relaxes the brain, freeing it to float to its true home in the boundless and the inexhaustible sublime state we call TeaMind The Minister of Leaves Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world Tien Yiheng

Drinking a daily cup of tea will surely starve the apothecary

Chinese Proverb

If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you Gladstone, 1865 Tea...is a religion of the art of life

Okakura

Useful Links
www.tchaba.com http://www.learn-about-tea.com/facts-about-tea.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea http://www.teabenefits.com http://www.hollandbymail.com/tea/index.html

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