Drinking Tea for Health & Pleasure

India consumes more than it grows. This is the truth about hot beverages especially the black leaf. Chai as it is called in India is consumed in large quantities uniformly with desire and zeal. People have a preference for brands with which they identify with taste and aroma. Only the connoisseurs understand the subtleties of blends and leaves. 

The most popular leaves in the country are from Assam State, Darjeeling, and the Nilgiris in the South. Nevertheless, the tea leaves are also purchased from other countries and blended. 

These regions in the country grow organic and green leaf as well. The latter is well known for its health benefits. The costliest teas are grown in the District of Darjeeling in West Bengal. The Darjeeling variety is graded as per the flush and according to the season. It is a highly aromatic beverage and is exported to many countries. The whole leaf with bud unbroken is most valued while broken ones or dust are less costlier, this applies to all varieties.  Orange Pekoe from Assam and from Nilgiri in the South, are black leaf most preferred by the brand-conscious upper-class elite.

This grading system is very popular in India and Sri Lanka. The vast variety of tea leaves are blended by experts in order to create the finest blends which are then packed and sold. 

The most popular brands of blends are Lipton, Tata, Brook Bond, and Wagh Bakri latter is an Indian Company.

Tea is an all-occasion beverage and is served during business hours, to guests at home, to pass time, make relationships, appease people and entertain guests during the festivities.  In many houses, it is served after lunch or dinner on mega-events.

There is always confusion as to what does this terminology refers to. For most people green and black leaves appear to be entirely different varieties, this may be true but then the difference arises from how the leaf is processed and not by the variety.  

Green leaf undergoes less oxidation than the black one hence the antioxidants and other beneficial chemicals are preserved in larger amounts.  The organic varieties of teas are those cultivated without using any chemicals hence are devoid of any toxicity. 

The green leaf accords a subtle and subdued aroma and the beverage appear light yellowish-green in color. Not many health benefits are accorded to black leaf but more research is yet to be done in time to come. It is much consumed with the addition of milk in India and is known as chai.

Chai Tea is typical in India, it is cooked with milk and sometimes with spices and other flavors. The hot brew is ubiquitously sold in a small glass poured directly from the kettle on the blazing stove. The vendors use hand carts to sell the sizzling brew. They also sell from small dingy stores tucked away in the corner of the market.

Chai creates and symbolizes a ritualistic kinship and bonhomie between Indians. It is said that the best relation-building tool is chai tea.... the hotter and sweeter the better.

"Chalo Chai Ho Jaye!"

"Chai Chaale Gi!"

This is the ubiquitous lingo amongst the people of Hindi speaking belt. The phrase may be popular as translation in other languages that people of our country speak. 

The brew is prepared using branded leaf or dust or tea bags. The small-time vendors generally use dust or broken leaves called fanning. Nevertheless, this street smart brew outclasses all the beverages of the upper crust. 

In India all time is Chai Time.   

The water is brought to a boil with the leaf added while cold. This brew is boiled repeatedly a number of times some times with the addition of varied spices or just ginger and cardamom. In many parts of the country, the brew is made sweet by the addition of a generous amount of sugar.  

The brew with spices is known as masala chai and is very popular with the masses. The spices are used as medicine and do accord health benefits. 

Premix Whole Spice Tea Masala

A new concept has dawned in India. Tired of what is in the spice powder. Living Beyond sells whole spice premix Chai Masala in hygienic packs. You can verify the whole spices for authenticity and use them. Roast Grind or process the way you want. These are ready to use spice mixes all you have to do is roast and grind if necessary. Not much of a hassle if you believe in traditional Grandma Way of making tea. The aroma and lip smacking taste will takeover and you will relish the hot beverage no end.  

The evolution of tea consumption has taken place simultaneously along with its gain in popularity. Iced tea is one fine example that is now competing with the colas. In this case, the powered extract is used which is fortified with some relevant flavors and sold through vending machines. The tea lounges have revolutionized the consumption of this hot brew by preparing various concoctions in diverse forms. 

The more upper-crust varieties of tea leaves are also used in alcoholic cocktails. These are served in top-class bars and restaurants. These are almost unheard of amongst the masses and consumed by the elite in European countries.  

The flavoring is stepping into many domains tea ice cream was unheard of till recent times. Similarly, the beverage is consumed with soda and many fruity flavorings all over the World.