THE CUP OF LIFE HOLDS GREEN TEA

摘要

Given the current high levels of inter ;st being shown in green tea and the raft of new products containing tea extracts and infusions, one might be forgiven for thinking that we are witnessing the results of a cleverly orchestrated marketing campaign for a brand new ingredient. In fact, extracts from the leaves of the Ch'a bush have been consumed in one form or another for many thousands of years. Chinese legend has it that the wondrous properties of tea infusions were first discovered in 2737 BC by Emperor Shen Nung, after a tealeaf fell from an overhanging bush into his cooking pot. However, it is more likely that over many generations, humans have observed and copied the instinctive use by wild animals of certain plants for curative purposes. Indeed, this is the theory held for the discovery of many traditional herbal remedies. It was soon discovered that steeping tea leaves in hot water produces a drink that is easier to consume and more palatable than merely chewing on the leaf.