10 Piping Hot Tea Cups To Take You Around The Globe

The history of tea and tea drinking is so vast that it spreads across a multitude of cultures and traditions. Every country has made the drink its own and has derived a beautiful – and delicious – variant that one just can’t get enough of. Here are 10 countries with tea worth crossing borders for.

England

Tea

When talking about tea, the list has to start with the most poised tea-drinkers! The classic afternoon tea ceremony of England is part of its ancient traditions. It was started somewhere in the mid 17th century and was introduced as a solution to mid-meal hunger pangs. Though this is not the same as high tea because the latter was introduced much later by the working class and served with meat, cakes and pies. It was all a big hearty fare. We can imagine!

Russia

Chay

Ok so it’s not just the viscous transparent spirit that the Russians are good at, they’re also known to be big tea lovers. They usually drink Indian or Chinese tea but instead of boiling water on a stove, they heat it using a Samovar which is essentially a metal container.

Greece

Tsái

Greece is famous for its aromatic mountain tea that has a distinctly mouthwatering smell. This tea has many nutritional and health benefits as well. And cherry on the icing! It tastes like a drink from the heavens.

Korea

Cha

When the Koreans are not making mind-blowing TV shows or composing foot tapping pop numbers, they like to sip on a good cuppa. The Korean way of drinking tea is much more relaxed that its Asian counterparts. It’s usually a way of relaxation versus formality.

Turkey

Çay

Tea is an essential part of Turkish social life. There’s even a saying that a conversation without tea is as incomplete as a night sky without the moon. The Turks drink tea in small shot glasses and never add milk to it. Also, they take sugar but instead of putting it in their tea they hold a lump of sugar between their tongue and cheeks. So much for sweet talks!

Morocco

Chai

Maghrebi Mint Tea also known as Moroccan tea is a ceremonial tea, which is served to guests, and refusing it is considered to be impolite. Ok, read that name again. Why would anyone in their right minds refuse it? In places like France and Spain, Maghrebi Mint Tea is mostly served in summer as chilled iced tea.

China

Chá

At some point or the other most us have spent days filling ourselves with Chinese Green Tea to loose that fat. But there’s more to this country’s brews. âChayi’ or the Chinese tea ceremony is a symbol of respect, and gratitude and also a reason for family gatherings. According to a popular Chinese saying, tea is one of the seven necessities of life.

Taiwan

Chá

Taiwan is one of the largest producers of Oolong tea so it’s only obvious that it has a huge tea drinking culture. Another kind of tea that the folks in Taiwan love drinking is bubble or Pearl Milk Tea. It was invented in the 1980s and is basically cold tea mixed with fruit/milk and a spoon full of tapioca balls. Must make friends in Taiwan.

Japan

Ocha

The Japanese Tea Ceremony, also known as Chado or Sado centers on the preparation, serving and drinking of a powdered green tea called Matcha. The Japanese tea ceremony can find its roots in China but has evolved greatly in the last few hundred years.

India

Chai

Tea. The indispensable commodity of our everyday life. We bond, talk, share and ponder over a hot cup of tea and have been doing so for many years now. Weight watchers might want to vouch for their fancy green, black and rainbow colored teas but we simply can’t get enough of the typical milky masala tea!

Basically, tea is a crucial part of a major chunk of the globe. Be it flavored, milky or scented we all take our cups and saucers very seriously!