WHAT IS TRUE OF TEA AND SPICES

Whereas herbs come from the leaves of a plant, spices are generally made through seeds, bark, and other parts of the plant. All spices are dried and fermented before being used. Tea is made from the leaves of a tea bush. However, it has to be fermented before being used, much like a spice.

Spices almost always come from the tropics. That’s why trading through tropical regions was called the Spice Route.

Herbal tea is classified as an herb. But herbal tea is not actually considered to be “real tea,” as we’ve discussed in other articles. Real tea comes from a tea bush, whereas herbal tea comes from other plants. But herbal tea also comes from leaves. Therefore, as regular tea is similar, despite the fermentation process, I would consider tea to be an herb before a spice.

Tea has been a central part of society for centuries. The ancient Greeks and Romans, indigenous tribes in the Americas and monks in Asia used tea as a medicinal herb. Tea is a key part of social engagements, where it plays a central role in political meetings and celebrating special occasions. Tea culture varies dramatically in style from Japanese tea ceremonies to a simple afternoon cuppa with friends and family on the veranda.

Tea is beloved by cultures as diverse as the Americans and Portuguese and comprises a large portion of exports in African countries such as Kenya. Tea preparation also consists of elaborate rules for how to brew tea depending on local tradition. Tea accessories can turn an ordinary cup into a special ceremony, making this a beverage that has the power to unite communities and heal various ailments.

Tea originated in China where it was used under the Shang dynasty in traditional medicine, but didn’t gain nationwide attention for recreational use until the Tang dynasty. Portuguese priests were the first Europeans to discover tea when they resided or traveled through China in the 15th century. Tea was first introduced to Europe during the 16th century and it took 100 years to become the staple drink of Britain in the 17th century. Tea was at the center of numerous world changes from colonization under the East India Company to the events of the Boston Tea Party.

On the other side of the globe, tea consumption was widely used as part of spiritual and community events in the Americas. In South America, yerba mate was believed to be the drink of the gods, which offered tea drinkers deep insight into their own beings and the world around them. Yerba mate is a deeply spiritual South American drink that is often compared to ayahuasca when it comes to combining beverages and philosophy.

By 2016, China and India produced over 60% of the world's tea. Over the centuries, tea production has increasingly moved from hand manufacturing to machine production. However, it is still easy to find several tea varietals that are produced using artisanal methods.