Get ahead in 2020…
International Tea Day (15th Dec) is the one day of the year when you get to unleash your love for this traditional drink. Whether you like it served iced cold and delicately flavoured with tapioca pearls or you prefer a traditional cup of tea with milk and sugar, you’re sure to find something that tickles your fancy on this holiday. So put the kettle on and wait for your tea to steep as you plan your celebration of this year’s tea festival.
A longstanding tradition
Although you may not have heard of International Tea Day (15th Dec) before, it doesn’t mean that it hasn’t been around for a while. It was first celebrated in 2005, when a series of major tea-producing countries decided to dedicate a day to their beloved product. Tea was first mentioned in a Chinese text in the 3rd century B.C and it quickly gained popularity across the globe. It became a firm favourite among the English in the 1600s and was one of the largest sources of revenue for the country by the 1800s.
- Traditional Teas: The first thing you should do when you wake up on International Tea Day (15th Dec) is brew yourself a cuppa. Simply switch on your kettle, add water and tea bags to your teapot and let the tea brew until it attains the desired strength. After this you can add a cube of sugar and some milk. However, some varieties of tea, like green tea, may not be complemented by these treatments.
- Specialised teas: A growing trend across the globe is tea that is not created from the tea plant as we know it. In some cases, you might find teas that are made by drying fruits, herbs and flowers to be steeped in water and enjoyed cold or hot. Red bush tea is another common hot drink that has gained immense popularity in recent years. This is a type of bush that is grown in South Africa. The leaves are dried and used to create a tasty tea that is free from caffeine. Alternatively, you could try out Matcha. This is a concentrated green tea that is ground into a powder. It can be steamed with milk to create an array of warm drinks or be used as a flavouring in your favourite dessert.
- Cold teas: Another must-try drink this International Tea Day (15th Dec) is a cold tea. You could make your own tea by brewing tea bags, letting the water cool and adding fruit to the mix. Alternatively, you could order yourself a bubble tea from a trendy restaurant. This is usually made by placing syrupy tapioca pearls in a flavoured tea.
The best places to visit to celebrate tea
Consider a visit to i.Tea this International Tea Day (15th Dec). You could even treat yourself to a refreshing Boba tea at Yocha Tea & Desserts.
