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By Janet Boyce, Resident The history of tea is a long, fascinating journey that spans thousands of years, cultures, and continents of the world. Tea began in ancient China around 2,737 BC. The legend is that Emperor Shenong discovered tea when leaves from a wild tree drifted into his boiling water. At first, tea was used mainly for medicine. It was believed to aid digestion, detoxify the body, and improve alertness. The drinking of tea became a daily habit and cultural practice by the time of the Tang Dynasty, which lasted from 618 to 907 AD. As tea culture flourished, its preparation became refined and ceremonial. Tea was introduced to Japan by Buddhist monks around the 8th-9th century. It became central to Zen Buddhism and evolved into the famous Japanese Tea Ceremony which emphasizes mindfulness, simplicity, and respect. When I was a foreign- exchange student in Japan during high school, I got to experience a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. It was so beautiful and relaxing. Tea reached Europe during the 16th century through trade. The Portuguese and Dutch traders were the first to bring tea to the West. It became especially popular in England during the 17th century. Eventually, it was deeply tied to British culture with a daily ritual of afternoon tea. Britain began growing tea in colonies like India and Sri Lanka. Today, tea is the second most consumed beverage after water, even more than coffee! The major types of tea include green tea, black tea, white tea, oolong tea, and herbal infusions. The top world producers are China, India, Kenya, and Sri Lanka. Here is an interesting fact: green, black, white, and oolong teas come from the same plant. The differences come from how the tea leaves are processed. Tea is excellent for your health. For skin hydration and anti- aging, green and white teas are the best. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, which help with dark spots and aging. White tea is very gentle and supports collagen. The best teas for weight loss are green tea (supports metabolism), oolong tea (slightly aids fat burn), and black tea (helps your gut). The teas that assist indigestion the most are chamomile (reduces inflammation), ginger tea (aids digestion), and licorice root tea, which helps protect the stomach lining. If you have symptoms of GERD, avoid peppermint tea and strong black tea. Higher-quality tea is loose leaf in place of tea bags. Loose leaf tea takes a bit more time, due to the need of a holder for brewing. Avoid artificial flavors, and choose brands that come from China, Japan, or India. Some good brands to buy are Uncle Lee's Organic green tea, Tazo Organic Zen green tea, Yogi ginger tea, Stash lemon ginger tea, organic chamomile, and Harney and Sons white tea. The best teas to drink according to time of day are: morning- green tea, afternoon-ginger tea, and evening-chamomile. Here's to your health; here's to tantalizing tea! 12 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | MAY 2026 Tantalizing Tea

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