ORIGINS
Tea plants originated in China - the Chinese have been drinking green tea for at least 5,000 years.
Tea was first discovered by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung in 2737 BC. It is said that the emperor liked his drinking water boiled before he drank it so it would be clean, so that is what his servants did. One day, on a trip to a distant region, he and his army stopped to rest. A servant began boiling water for him to drink, and a dead leaf from the wild tea bush fell into the water. It turned a brownish color, but it was unnoticed and presented to the emperor anyways. The emperor drank it and found it very refreshing, and cha (tea) was born.
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The drink steadily gained popularity in China, thanks to the efforts of Shen Nung and others that followed. By the time of the Tang dynasty (618-906 AD), tea had become the national drink of China, slowly filtering its way down from royal circles to popular Chinese society.
In 780 AD, a seminal book called Ch’a Ching (Tea Classic) was published by a tea scholar named Lu Yu. This was the first exhaustive volume covering every aspect of tea - from cultivation methods and brewing guidelines to the art of appreciating tea. The elaborate tea ceremonies and rituals we read about today are all because of Lu Yu, who elevated tea drinking to an almost religious experience. The book quickly made Lu Yu a celebrity in China and he is revered today as the "Sage of Tea".
Adopted aged 3 by the abbot of a monastery, unwilling to become a monk, he escaped at the age of 13 and spent years as a clown and a playwrite for a travelling artistes troupe
Western science has proved that Green Tea contributes to a longer and better life. Strong anti-oxidants (polyphenols) found in Chinese Green Tea is beneficial for health in many ways.
Green tea comes from the leaves of the white-flowered tea plant, Camellia sinensis. These tea leaves are less processed than black tea and contain rich sources of antioxidants, which protect the body's cells from damage and fight diseases.
The antioxidants, the benefits in green tea have been linked to cancer prevention, decreased risk of stroke, heart diseases, and lowered blood cholesterol.
Green Tea is the second most drunk liquid in the world - the first is water!
GREEN TEA - GOOD NEWS FOR DIETERS
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.
GREEN TEA - PREVENTING TOOTH DECAY!
Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque.
Etc . . .
Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.
HOW TO SERVE GREEN TEA
You can enjoy green tea including its numerous health benefits during any season.
Green tea can be served hot or cold and still provide a host of health benefits. While sugar and lemon are not thought to alter the antioxidant content, milk may bind to the antioxidants and make them unavailable to the body.
To brew a potent cup of green tea, make sure to steep the tea for at least 3 minutes. Otherwise, all of the antioxidants may not end up in the tea.
If you're concerned about caffeine, a 6-ounce cup of green tea contains approximately 30 mg. That is much lower than coffee, which has about 100 mg per cup.
Tea is a symbol of earthly purity. It's preparation calls for the most fastidious cleanliness from the time of picking and drying of the leaves to the final infusion and drinking. Tea is easily spoilt by the slightest contamination of oily hand or cups, or scent. It must therefore be kept away from scent of any kind.
For thousands of years tea drinking has given the greatest pleasure in Chinese life. it is for more than just quenching of thirst. It is for relaxation in quiet company. With children or babies crying or people quarreling it would be impossible to enjoy the tea. The atmosphere for drinking should be such that it leads to quiet contemplation and to the realms of the immortals.
A famous Chinese scholar of the seventh century A.D. wrote :
The first cup moistens my lips and throat
The second cup breaks my loneliness,
The third cup searches my barren entrails,
The fourth cup raises a slight perspiration,
The fifth cup purifies me,
The sixth cup calls me to the realms of the immortals, The seventh cup - Ah, but I can take no more.
We are passionate about preparing quality fresh food. Why not give us a try . . . let us serve you delicious Cantonese food and soothing, healing, Chinese Green Tea