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126-399: Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured or fresh leaves of Camellia sinensis , an evergreen shrub native to East Asia which probably originated in the borderlands of southwestern China and northern Myanmar . Tea is also made, but rarely, from the leaves of Camellia taliensis . After plain water, tea is the most widely consumed drink in
252-775: A common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree . In the taxonomical literature, sometimes the Latin form cladus (plural cladi ) is used rather than the English form. Clades are the fundamental unit of cladistics , a modern approach to taxonomy adopted by most biological fields. The common ancestor may be an individual, a population , or a species ( extinct or extant ). Clades are nested, one in another, as each branch in turn splits into smaller branches. These splits reflect evolutionary history as populations diverged and evolved independently. Clades are termed monophyletic (Greek: "one clan") groups. Over
378-479: A "ladder", with supposedly more "advanced" organisms at the top. Taxonomists have increasingly worked to make the taxonomic system reflect evolution. When it comes to naming , this principle is not always compatible with the traditional rank-based nomenclature (in which only taxa associated with a rank can be named) because not enough ranks exist to name a long series of nested clades. For these and other reasons, phylogenetic nomenclature has been developed; it
504-437: A bag within a sealed opaque canister may keep for two years. Green tea deteriorates more rapidly, usually in less than a year. Tightly rolled gunpowder tea leaves keep longer than the more open-leafed Chun Mee tea . Storage life for all teas can be extended by using desiccant or oxygen-absorbing packets, vacuum sealing, or refrigeration in air-tight containers (except green tea, where discrete use of refrigeration or freezing
630-529: A better flavour. Two principal varieties are used: Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, which is used for most Chinese, Formosan and Japanese teas, and C. sinensis var. assamica, used in Pu-erh and most Indian teas (but not Darjeeling). Within these botanical varieties, many strains and modern clonal varieties are known. Leaf size is the chief criterion for the classification of tea plants, with three primary classifications being: Assam type, characterised by
756-461: A canister, paper bag, or other container such as a tea chest . Some whole teas, such as rolled gunpowder tea leaves, which resist crumbling, are vacuum-packed for freshness in aluminised packaging for storage and retail. The loose tea is individually measured for use, allowing for flexibility and flavour control at the expense of convenience. Strainers, tea balls , tea presses, filtered teapots, and infusion bags prevent loose leaves from floating in
882-623: A clade can be described based on two different reference points, crown age and stem age. The crown age of a clade refers to the age of the most recent common ancestor of all of the species in the clade. The stem age of a clade refers to the time that the ancestral lineage of the clade diverged from its sister clade. A clade's stem age is either the same as or older than its crown age. Ages of clades cannot be directly observed. They are inferred, either from stratigraphy of fossils , or from molecular clock estimates. Viruses , and particularly RNA viruses form clades. These are useful in tracking
1008-593: A different variety of tea was endemic to Assam and the northeast region of India, which was then hybridized with Chinese small-leaf-type tea. Using Chinese planting and cultivation techniques, the British colonial government established a tea industry by offering land in Assam to any European who agreed to cultivate it for export. Tea was originally consumed only by Anglo-Indians ; however, it became widely popular in India in
1134-601: A drink in a large receptacle, shared by everyone until empty. In East Africa and Yemen, coffee was used in native religious ceremonies. As these ceremonies conflicted with the beliefs of the Christian church, the Ethiopian Church banned the secular consumption of coffee until the reign of Emperor Menelik II . The drink was also banned in Ottoman Turkey during the 17th century for political reasons and
1260-503: A good tea cannot be fully appreciated. By adding the milk afterwards, it is easier to dissolve sugar in the tea and to ensure the desired amount of milk is added, as the colour of the tea can be observed. Historically, the order of steps was taken as an indication of class: only those wealthy enough to afford good-quality porcelain would be confident of its being able to cope with being exposed to boiling water unadulterated with milk. Higher temperature difference means faster heat transfer , so
1386-631: A letter written by Richard Wickham, who ran an East India Company office in Japan, writing to a merchant in Macao requesting "the best sort of chaw" in 1615. Peter Mundy , a traveller and merchant who came across tea in Fujian in 1637, wrote, " chaa – only water with a kind of herb boyled in it". Tea was sold in a coffee house in London in 1657, Samuel Pepys tasted tea in 1660, and Catherine of Braganza took
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#17327724901271512-492: A liquid for a period of time at a specified temperature, then immediately cooling. The process reduces the growth of microorganisms within the liquid, thereby increasing the time before spoilage. It is primarily used on milk , which prior to pasteurization is commonly infected with pathogenic bacteria and therefore is more likely than any other part of the common diet in the developed world to cause illness. The process of extracting juice from fruits and vegetables can take
1638-719: A medical text by the Chinese physician Hua Tuo , who stated, "to drink bitter t'u constantly makes one think better." However, before the Tang dynasty , tea-drinking was primarily a southern Chinese practice centered in Jiankang . Tea was disdained by the Northern dynasties aristocrats, who describe it as inferior to yogurt. It became widely popular during the Tang dynasty, when it spread to Korea, Japan , and Vietnam. The Classic of Tea ,
1764-491: A natural preservative , though other flavourings such as herbs or fruit may occasionally be included. The preparation of beer is called brewing . Beer is the world's most widely consumed alcoholic drink , and is the third-most consumed drink overall, after water and tea . It is said to have been discovered by goddess Ninkasi around 5300 BCE, when she accidentally discovered yeast after leaving grain in jars that were later rained upon and left for several days. Women have been
1890-423: A northern Chinese pronunciation of cha , which travelled overland to Central Asia and Persia where it picked up a Persian ending yi . The Chinese word for tea itself was likely ultimately derived from the non-Sinitic languages of the botanical homeland of the tea plant in southwest China (or Burma ), possibly from an archaic Austro-Asiatic root word * la , meaning "leaf". Tea plants are native to East Asia and
2016-408: A number of forms. Simple crushing of most fruits will provide a significant amount of liquid, though a more intense pressure can be applied to get the maximum amount of juice from the fruit. Both crushing and pressing are processes used in the production of wine . Infusion is the process of extracting flavors from plant material by allowing the material to remain suspended within water. This process
2142-450: A person. Unlike other calming beverages, such as tea , warm milk or milk with honey ; relaxation drinks almost universally contain more than one active ingredient. Relaxation drinks have been known to contain other natural ingredients and are usually free of caffeine and alcohol but some have claimed to contain marijuana . A drink is considered "alcoholic" if it contains ethanol , commonly known as alcohol (although in chemistry
2268-411: A plant to bear seed and about three years before a new plant is ready for harvesting. In addition to a zone 8 climate or warmer, tea plants require at least 127 cm (50 in) of rainfall per year and prefer acidic soils . Many high-quality tea plants are cultivated at elevations of up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level. Though at these heights the plants grow more slowly, they acquire
2394-544: A prayer to the Mesopotamian goddess of beer, served as both a prayer and as a method of remembering the recipe for beer in a culture with few literate people. Today, the brewing industry is a global business, consisting of several dominant multinational companies and many thousands of smaller producers ranging from brewpubs to regional breweries . Cider is a fermented alcoholic drink made from fruit juice , most commonly and traditionally apple juice , but also
2520-523: A refined setting. One form of Chinese tea ceremony is the Gongfu tea ceremony , which typically uses small Yixing clay teapots and oolong tea. In the United Kingdom , 63% of people drink tea daily. It is customary for a host to offer tea to guests soon after their arrival. Tea is consumed both at home and outside the home, often in cafés or tea rooms . Afternoon tea with cakes on fine porcelain
2646-422: A revised taxonomy based on a concept strongly resembling clades, although the term clade itself would not be coined until 1957 by his grandson, Julian Huxley . German biologist Emil Hans Willi Hennig (1913–1976) is considered to be the founder of cladistics . He proposed a classification system that represented repeated branchings of the family tree, as opposed to the previous systems, which put organisms on
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#17327724901272772-832: A role in historical events – the Tea Act of 1773 provoked the Boston Tea Party that escalated into the American Revolution . The need to address the issue of British trade deficit because of the trade in tea resulted in the Opium Wars . The Qing Kangxi Emperor had banned foreign products from being sold in China, decreeing in 1685 that all goods bought from China must be paid for in silver coin or bullion. Traders from other nations then sought to find another product, in this case opium, to sell to China to earn back
2898-610: A subject of many studies; however, results have varied in terms of coffee's relative benefit. Coffee cultivation first took place in southern Arabia ; the earliest credible evidence of coffee-drinking appears in the middle of the 15th century in the Sufi shrines of Yemen . Coffee may have been used socially in the renaissance period of the 17th century . The increasing trades between Europe and North Africa regions made coffee more widely available to Europeans gathering at social locations that served coffee, possibly contributing to
3024-429: A suffix added should be e.g. "dracohortian". A clade is by definition monophyletic , meaning that it contains one ancestor which can be an organism, a population, or a species and all its descendants. The ancestor can be known or unknown; any and all members of a clade can be extant or extinct. The science that tries to reconstruct phylogenetic trees and thus discover clades is called phylogenetics or cladistics ,
3150-467: A treatise on tea and its preparations, was written by the 8th century Chinese writer, Lu Yu . He was known to have influenced tea drinking on a large part in China. Through the centuries, a variety of techniques for processing tea, and a number of different forms of tea, were developed. During the Tang dynasty, tea was steamed, then pounded and shaped into cake form, while in the Song dynasty , loose-leaf tea
3276-428: A tree of up to 16 m (52 ft) if left undisturbed, but cultivated plants are generally pruned to waist height for ease of plucking. The short plants bear more new shoots which provide new and tender leaves and increase the quality of the tea. Only the top 2.5–5 centimetres (1–2 in) of the mature plant are picked. These buds and leaves are called 'flushes'. A plant will grow a new flush every 7 to 15 days during
3402-562: Is a cultural stereotype. In southwest England, many cafés serve a cream tea , consisting of scones, clotted cream , and jam alongside a pot of tea. Drink A drink or beverage is a liquid intended for human consumption. In addition to their basic function of satisfying thirst , drinks play important roles in human culture . Common types of drinks include plain drinking water , milk , juice , smoothies and soft drinks . Traditionally warm beverages include coffee , tea , and hot chocolate . Caffeinated drinks that contain
3528-498: Is a highly nutritious and refreshing juice. Many kinds of berries are crushed; their juices are mixed with water and sometimes sweetened. Raspberry, blackberry and currants are popular juices drinks but the percentage of water also determines their nutritive value. Grape juice allowed to ferment produces wine . Fruits are highly perishable so the ability to extract juices and store them was of significant value. Some fruits are highly acidic and mixing them with water and sugars or honey
3654-469: Is a spirit created by distilling wine, whilst vodka may be distilled from any starch - or sugar -rich plant matter; most vodka today is produced from grains such as sorghum , corn , rye , or wheat . Clade In biological phylogenetics , a clade (from Ancient Greek κλάδος (kládos) 'branch'), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group , is a grouping of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of
3780-689: Is also served differently from country to country: in China , Japan and South Korea tiny cups are used to serve tea; in Thailand and the United States tea is often served cold (as " iced tea ") or with a lot of sweetener; Indians boil tea with milk and a blend of spices as masala chai ; tea is brewed with a samovar in Iran, Kashmir , Russia and Turkey; and in the Australian Outback it
3906-499: Is also used with a similar meaning in other fields besides biology, such as historical linguistics ; see Cladistics § In disciplines other than biology . The term "clade" was coined in 1957 by the biologist Julian Huxley to refer to the result of cladogenesis , the evolutionary splitting of a parent species into two distinct species, a concept Huxley borrowed from Bernhard Rensch . Many commonly named groups – rodents and insects , for example – are clades because, in each case,
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4032-433: Is an alcoholic drink made from fermented grapes or other fruits. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars , acids , enzymes , water, or other nutrients . Yeast consumes the sugars in the grapes and converts them into alcohol and carbon dioxide . Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts produce different styles of wine. The well-known variations result from
4158-891: Is an evergreen plant that grows mainly in tropical and subtropical climates. Some varieties can tolerate oceanic climates and are cultivated as far north as Cornwall in England, Perthshire in Scotland, Washington in the United States , and Vancouver Island in Canada. In the Southern Hemisphere, tea is grown as far south as Hobart in Tasmania and Waikato in New Zealand. Tea plants are propagated from seed and cuttings; about 4 to 12 years are needed for
4284-621: Is believed to have been created by the Mayans around 2,500-3,000 years ago, and a cocoa drink was an essential part of Aztec culture by 1400 AD, by which they referred to as xocōlātl. The drink became popular in Europe after being introduced from Mexico in the New World and has undergone multiple changes since then. Until the 19th century, hot chocolate was even used medicinally to treat ailments such as liver and stomach diseases. Hot chocolate
4410-465: Is chewed. Tea drinking may have begun in the region of Yunnan , where it was used for medicinal purposes. It is believed that in Sichuan , "people began to boil tea leaves for consumption into a concentrated liquid without the addition of other leaves or herbs, thereby using tea as a bitter yet stimulating drink, rather than as a medicinal concoction." Chinese legends attribute the invention of tea to
4536-675: Is consumed throughout the world and comes in multiple variations, including the spiced chocolate para mesa of Latin America, the very thick cioccolata calda served in Italy and chocolate a la taza served in Spain, and the thinner hot cocoa consumed in the United States. Prepared hot chocolate can be purchased from a range of establishments, including cafeterias , fast food restaurants , coffeehouses and teahouses . Powdered hot chocolate mixes, which can be added to boiling water or hot milk to make
4662-495: Is derived from a plant source. The most common varieties internationally are soy milk , almond milk , rice milk , coconut milk and oat milk . A nightcap is a drink taken shortly before bedtime to induce sleep. For example, a small alcoholic drink or a cup of warm milk can supposedly promote a good night's sleep. Today, most nightcaps and relaxation drinks are generally non-alcoholic beverages containing calming ingredients. They are considered beverages which serve to relax
4788-478: Is estimated to have diverged from Assam tea around 22,000 years ago, while Chinese Assam tea and Indian Assam tea diverged 2,800 years ago. The divergence of Chinese small-leaf tea and Assam tea would correspond to the last glacial maximum . People in ancient East Asia ate tea for centuries, perhaps even millennia , before ever consuming it as a beverage. They would nibble on the leaves raw, add them to soups or greens , or ferment them and chew them as areca nut
4914-476: Is in turn included in the mammal, vertebrate and animal clades. The idea of a clade did not exist in pre- Darwinian Linnaean taxonomy , which was based by necessity only on internal or external morphological similarities between organisms. Many of the better known animal groups in Linnaeus's original Systema Naturae (mostly vertebrate groups) do represent clades. The phenomenon of convergent evolution
5040-482: Is known as mashing . Hops are added for flavouring, then the yeast is added to the mixture (now called wort ) to start the fermentation process. Distillation is a method of separating mixtures based on differences in volatility of components in a boiling liquid mixture. It is one of the methods used in the purification of water. It is also a method of producing spirits from milder alcoholic drinks. An alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients
5166-448: Is often consumed with additions to the basic tea leaf and water added during preparation or drinking. Examples of additional processing steps that occur before tea is sold are blending, flavouring, scenting, and decaffeination of teas. Examples of additions added at the point of consumption include milk, sugar and lemon. Tea blending is the combination of different teas together to achieve the final product. Such teas may combine others from
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5292-551: Is one that contains little or no alcohol . This category includes low-alcohol beer , non-alcoholic wine , and apple cider if they contain a sufficiently low concentration of alcohol by volume (ABV). The exact definition of what is "non-alcoholic" and what is not depends on local laws: in the United Kingdom , "alcohol-free beer" is under 0.05% ABV, "de-alcoholised beer" is under 0.5%, while "low-alcohol beer" can contain no more than 1.2% ABV. The term "soft drink" specifies
5418-477: Is recommended and temperature variation kept to a minimum). Tea is divided into categories based on how it is processed. At least six different types are produced: After picking, the leaves of C. sinensis soon begin to wilt and oxidize unless immediately dried. An enzymatic oxidation process triggered by the plant's intracellular enzymes causes the leaves to turn progressively darker as their chlorophyll breaks down and tannins are released. This darkening
5544-454: Is referred to as a cocktail. Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters . The term is now often used for almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol, including mixers, mixed shots, etc. A cocktail today usually contains one or more kinds of spirit and one or more mixers , such as soda or fruit juice . Additional ingredients may be sugar , honey , milk , cream , and various herbs . A non-alcoholic drink
5670-515: Is responsible for many cases of misleading similarities in the morphology of groups that evolved from different lineages. With the increasing realization in the first half of the 19th century that species had changed and split through the ages, classification increasingly came to be seen as branches on the evolutionary tree of life . The publication of Darwin's theory of evolution in 1859 gave this view increasing weight. In 1876 Thomas Henry Huxley , an early advocate of evolutionary theory, proposed
5796-649: Is speculative. Given their genetic differences forming distinct clades , Chinese Assam-type tea ( C. sinensis var. assamica ) may have two different parentages – one being found in southern Yunnan ( Xishuangbanna , Pu'er City ) and the other in western Yunnan ( Lincang , Baoshan ). Many types of Southern Yunnan Assam tea have been hybridized with the closely related species Camellia taliensis . Unlike Southern Yunnan Assam tea, Western Yunnan Assam tea shares many genetic similarities with Indian Assam-type tea (also C. sinensis var. assamica ). Thus, Western Yunnan Assam tea and Indian Assam tea both may have originated from
5922-425: Is still a good-tasting cup of tea, if you like your tea strong and sweet. But let it cool enough to be quaffed and enjoyed, and your lips will be coated with a sticky scum that forms across the surface, which if left undisturbed will become a leathery membrane that can be wound around your finger and flipped away... Canned tea is sold prepared and ready to drink. It was introduced in 1981 in Japan. The first bottled tea
6048-489: Is still controversial. As an example, see the full current classification of Anas platyrhynchos (the mallard duck) with 40 clades from Eukaryota down by following this Wikispecies link and clicking on "Expand". The name of a clade is conventionally a plural, where the singular refers to each member individually. A unique exception is the reptile clade Dracohors , which was made by haplology from Latin "draco" and "cohors", i.e. "the dragon cohort "; its form with
6174-447: Is stopped at a predetermined stage by heating, which deactivates the enzymes responsible. In the production of black teas, halting by heating is carried out simultaneously with drying. Without careful moisture and temperature control during manufacture and packaging, growth of undesired molds and bacteria may make tea unfit for consumption. After basic processing, teas may be altered through additional processing steps before being sold and
6300-490: Is sweetened with either sugar or honey; tea with milk is called a bawarka (" Bavarian style") in Polish and is widely popular. In Australia, tea with milk is known as "white tea". The order of steps in preparing a cup of tea is a much-debated topic and can vary widely between cultures and individuals. Some say it is preferable to add the milk to the cup before the tea, as the high temperature of freshly brewed tea can denature
6426-459: Is the world's most consumed drink, however, 97% of water on Earth is non-drinkable salt water. Fresh water is found in rivers, lakes, wetlands, groundwater, and frozen glaciers. Less than 1% of the Earth's fresh water supplies are accessible through surface water and underground sources which are cost effective to retrieve. In western cultures, water is often drunk cold. In the Chinese culture, it
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#17327724901276552-417: Is traditionally brewed in a billycan . Tea leaves can be processed in different ways resulting in a drink which appears and tastes different. Chinese yellow and green tea are steamed, roasted and dried; Oolong tea is semi-oxidised and appears green-black and black teas are fully oxidised. Around the world, people refer to other herbal infusions as "teas"; it is also argued that these were popular long before
6678-561: Is typically drunk hot. Milk is regarded as one of the "original" drinks; milk is the primary source of nutrition for babies. In many cultures of the world, especially the Western world, humans continue to consume dairy milk beyond infancy, using the milk of other animals (especially cattle , goats and sheep ) as a drink. Carbonated drinks refer to drinks which have carbon dioxide dissolved into them. This can happen naturally through fermenting and in natural water spas or artificially by
6804-422: Is used in the production of teas , herbal teas and can be used to prepare coffee (when using a coffee press ). The name is derived from the word " percolate " which means to cause (a solvent) to pass through a permeable substance especially for extracting a soluble constituent . In the case of coffee-brewing the solvent is water, the permeable substance is the coffee grounds, and the soluble constituents are
6930-729: The Chronicles of Huayang , it was recorded that the Ba people in Sichuan presented tu to the Zhou king. The Qin later conquered the state of Ba and its neighbour Shu , and according to the 17th century scholar Gu Yanwu who wrote in Ri Zhi Lu ( 日知錄 ): "It was after the Qin had taken Shu that they learned how to drink tea." Another possible early reference to tea is found in a letter written by
7056-463: The Balkans by c. 4500 BC and was consumed and celebrated in ancient Greece and Rome . From its earliest appearance in written records, wine has also played an important role in religion. Red wine was closely associated with blood by the ancient Egyptians , who, according to Plutarch , avoided its free consumption as late as the 7th-century BC Saite dynasty , "thinking it to be
7182-493: The Camellia sinensis shrub was used for tea making. Leaves, flowers, roots or bark can be used to make a herbal infusion and can be bought fresh, dried or powdered. Fruit juice is a natural product that contains few or no additives. Citrus products such as orange juice and tangerine juice are familiar breakfast drinks, while grapefruit juice , pineapple, apple, grape, lime, and lemon juice are also common. Coconut water
7308-564: The Dr Pepper Snapple Group . These drinks are often served warm or hot. Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from the roasted seeds of several species of an evergreen shrub of the genus Coffea . The two most common sources of coffee beans are the highly regarded Coffea arabica , and the "robusta" form of the hardier Coffea canephora . Coffee plants are cultivated in more than 70 countries . Once ripe, coffee "berries" are picked, processed, and dried to yield
7434-641: The Manchus do, and the elite of the Qing Dynasty of the Chinese Empire continued to do so. Hong Kong-style milk tea is based on British habits. Tibetans and other Himalayan peoples traditionally drink tea with milk or yak butter and salt. In Eastern European countries, and in Russia and Italy, tea is commonly served with lemon juice. In Poland, tea is traditionally served with a slice of lemon and
7560-512: The Qin dynasty general Liu Kun who requested that some "real tea" to be sent to him. The earliest known physical evidence of tea was discovered in 2016 in the mausoleum of Emperor Jing of Han in Xi'an , indicating that tea from the genus Camellia was drunk by Han dynasty emperors as early as the second century BC. The Han dynasty work "The Contract for a Youth", written by Wang Bao in 59 BC, contains
7686-550: The 16th century, at which time it was termed chá . The earliest European reference to tea, written as chiai , came from Delle navigationi e viaggi written by Venetian Giambattista Ramusio in 1545. The first recorded shipment of tea by a European nation was in 1607 when the Dutch East India Company moved a cargo of tea from Macao to Java, then two years later, the Dutch bought the first assignment of tea which
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#17327724901277812-592: The 1930s, with Nestlé introducing the first commercial product in 1946, while Redi-Tea debuted instant iced tea in 1953. Additives such as chai , vanilla, honey or fruit, are popular, as is powdered milk . During the Second World War British and Canadian soldiers were issued an instant tea in their composite ration ("compo") packs. These blocks of instant tea, powdered milk, and sugar were not always well received. As Royal Canadian Artillery Gunner, George C Blackburn observed: But, unquestionably,
7938-660: The 1950s because of a successful advertising campaign by the India Tea Board. The British introduced tea industry to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in 1867. Physically speaking, tea has properties of both a solution and a suspension . It is a solution of the water-soluble compounds extracted from the tea leaves, such as the polyphenols and amino acids. Tea infusions are among most consumed beverages globally. Caffeine makes up about 3% of tea's dry weight, which translates to between 30 and 90 milligrams per 250-millilitre ( 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 US fl oz) cup depending on
8064-463: The Himalayan countries and Mongolian steppes. In Mongolia, tea bricks were ubiquitous enough to be used as a form of currency. Among Himalayan peoples, compressed tea is consumed by combining it with yak butter and salt to produce butter tea . "Instant tea", similar to freeze-dried instant coffee and an alternative to brewed tea, can be consumed either hot or cold. Instant tea was developed in
8190-406: The absence of alcohol in contrast to "hard drink" and "drink". The term "drink" is theoretically neutral, but often is used in a way that suggests alcoholic content. Drinks such as soda pop, sparkling water , iced tea , lemonade , root beer , fruit punch , milk , hot chocolate , tea , coffee , milkshakes , tap water , bottled water , juice , and energy drinks are all soft drinks. Water
8316-482: The addition of chemicals, such as chlorination . The importance of purified water is highlighted by the World Health Organization , who point out 94% of deaths from diarrhea – the third biggest cause of infectious death worldwide at 1.8 million annually – could be prevented by improving the quality of the victim's environment, particularly safe water. Pasteurization is the process of heating
8442-720: The blood of those who had once battled against the gods". The Greek cult and mysteries of Dionysus , carried on by the Romans in their Bacchanalia , were the origins of western theater . Judaism incorporates it in the Kiddush and Christianity in its Eucharist , while alcohol consumption was forbidden in Islam . Spirits are distilled beverages that contain no added sugar and have at least 20% alcohol by volume (ABV). Popular spirits include borovička , brandy , gin , rum , slivovitz , tequila , vodka , and whisky . Brandy
8568-425: The cake using a small knife, and steeping the extracted pieces in water. During the Tang dynasty, as described by Lu Yu, compressed tea was ground into a powder, combined with hot water, and ladled into bowls, resulting in a "frothy" mixture. In the Song dynasty , the tea powder would instead be whisked with hot water in the bowl. Although no longer practiced in China today, the whisking method of preparing powdered tea
8694-500: The chemical compounds that give coffee its color, taste, aroma, and stimulating properties. Carbonation is the process of dissolving carbon dioxide into a liquid, such as water. Fermentation is a metabolic process that converts sugar to ethanol . Fermentation has been used by humans for the production of drinks since the Neolithic age . In winemaking , grape juice is combined with yeast in an anaerobic environment to allow
8820-544: The chief creators of beer throughout history due to its association with domesticity and it, throughout much of history, being brewed in the home for family consumption. Only in recent history have men begun to dabble in the field. It is thought by some to be the oldest fermented drink . Some of humanity's earliest known writings refer to the production and distribution of beer: the Code of Hammurabi included laws regulating beer and beer parlours, and "The Hymn to Ninkasi ",
8946-401: The connoisseurs' arguments against paper tea bags by way of its three-dimensional tetrahedron shape, which allows more room for tea leaves to expand while steeping. However, some types of pyramid tea bags have been criticised as being environmentally unfriendly, since their synthetic material is not as biodegradable as loose tea leaves and paper tea bags. The tea leaves are packaged loosely in
9072-463: The definition of "alcohol" includes many other compounds). Beer has been a part of human civilisation for around 8,000 years. Beer is an alcoholic drink produced by the saccharification of starch and fermentation of the resulting sugar. The starch and saccharification enzymes are often derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat. Most beer is also flavoured with hops , which add bitterness and act as
9198-454: The dissolution of carbon dioxide under pressure. The first commercially available artificially carbonated drink is believed to have been produced by Thomas Henry in the late 1770s. Cola, orange, various roots, ginger, and lemon/lime are commonly used to create non-alcoholic carbonated drinks; sugars and preservatives may be added later. The most consumed carbonated soft drinks are produced by three major global brands: Coca-Cola , PepsiCo and
9324-1046: The drink at home, are sold at grocery stores and online . Tea, the second most consumed drink in the world, is produced from infusing dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis shrub, in boiling water. There are many ways in which tea is prepared for consumption: lemon or milk and sugar are among the most common additives worldwide. Other additions include butter and salt in Bhutan , Nepal , and Tibet ; bubble tea in Taiwan ; fresh ginger in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore; mint in North Africa and Senegal ; cardamom in Central Asia; rum to make Jagertee in Central Europe; and coffee to make yuanyang in Hong Kong. Tea
9450-417: The drinking of alcoholic drinks for various reasons. In some regions with a dominant religion the production, sale, and consumption of alcoholic drinks is forbidden to everybody, regardless of religion. Toasting is a method of honoring a person or wishing good will by taking a drink. Another tradition is that of the loving cup , at weddings or other celebrations such as sports victories a group will share
9576-494: The earlier milk is added, the slower the drink cools. A 2007 study published in the European Heart Journal found certain beneficial effects of tea may be lost through the addition of milk. In 1907, American tea merchant Thomas Sullivan began distributing samples of his tea in small bags of silk with a drawstring. Consumers noticed they could simply leave the tea in the bag and reuse it with fresh tea. However,
9702-635: The east, and from this line generally south through the hills to Burma and Thailand to Vietnam . The west–east axis indicated above is about 2,400 km long extending from longitude 95°-120°E. The north–south axis covers about 1,920 km, starting from the northern part of Burma, latitude 29°N passing through Yunnan , Tongkin , Thailand, Laos and on to Annan, reaching latitude 11°N. Chinese (small-leaf) type tea ( C. sinensis var. sinensis ) may have originated in southern China possibly with hybridization of unknown wild tea relatives. However, since there are no known wild populations of this tea, its origin
9828-491: The exception of the dietary mineral manganese , at 0.5 mg per cup or 26% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI). Fluoride is sometimes present in tea; certain types of "brick tea", made from old leaves and stems, have the highest levels, enough to pose a health risk if much tea is drunk, which has been attributed to high levels of fluoride in soils, acidic soils, and long brewing. Camellia sinensis
9954-462: The feature of Compo rations destined to be remembered beyond all others is Compo tea...Directions say to "sprinkle powder on heated water and bring to the boil, stirring well, three heaped teaspoons to one pint of water." Every possible variation in the preparation of this tea was tried, but...it always ended up the same way. While still too hot to drink, it is a good-looking cup of strong tea. Even when it becomes just cool enough to be sipped gingerly, it
10080-446: The fermentation. The amount of sugar in the wine and the length of time given for fermentation determine the alcohol level and the sweetness of the wine . When brewing beer, there are four primary ingredients – water, grain, yeast and hops. The grain is encouraged to germinate by soaking and drying in heat, a process known as malting . It is then milled before soaking again to create the sugars needed for fermentation. This process
10206-408: The first known reference to boiling tea. Among the tasks listed to be undertaken by the youth, the contract states that "he shall boil tea and fill the utensils" and "he shall buy tea at Wuyang". The first record of tea cultivation is dated to this period, during which tea was cultivated on Meng Mountain ( 蒙山 ) near Chengdu . Another early credible record of tea drinking dates to the 3rd century AD, in
10332-546: The group consists of a common ancestor with all its descendant branches. Rodents, for example, are a branch of mammals that split off after the end of the period when the clade Dinosauria stopped being the dominant terrestrial vertebrates 66 million years ago. The original population and all its descendants are a clade. The rodent clade corresponds to the order Rodentia, and insects to the class Insecta. These clades include smaller clades, such as chipmunk or ant , each of which consists of even smaller clades. The clade "rodent"
10458-642: The growing season. Leaves that are slow in development tend to produce better-flavoured teas. Several teas are available from specified flushes; for example, Darjeeling tea is available as first flush (at a premium price), second flush, monsoon and autumn. Assam second flush or "tippy" tea is considered superior to first flush, because of the gold tips that appear on the leaves. Pests that can afflict tea plants include mosquito bugs, genus Helopeltis , which are true bugs and not to be confused with dipterous insects of family Culicidae ('mosquitos'). Mosquito bugs can damage leaves both by sucking plant materials, and by
10584-444: The growth of coffeehouses . Hot chocolate , also known as drinking chocolate or cocoa, is a heated drink consisting of shaved chocolate , melted chocolate or cocoa powder , heated milk or water, and usually a sweetener. Hot chocolate may be topped with whipped cream. Hot chocolate made with melted chocolate is sometimes called drinking chocolate, characterized by less sweetness and a thicker consistency. The first chocolate drink
10710-496: The history of Camellia sinensis 's consumption, there is no high-quality evidence showing that tea consumption gives significant benefits other than possibly increasing alertness, an effect caused by caffeine in the tea leaves. In clinical research conducted in the early 21st century, it was found there is no scientific evidence to indicate that consuming tea affects any disease or improves health. Black and green teas contain no essential nutrients in significant amounts, with
10836-400: The human body becomes dehydrated , a person experiences thirst . This craving of fluids results in an instinctive need to drink . Thirst is regulated by the hypothalamus in response to subtle changes in the body's electrolyte levels, and also as a result of changes in the volume of blood circulating . The complete deprivation of drinks (that is, water ) will result in death faster than
10962-552: The infusions of fruit, leaves, or other plant parts , such as steeps of rosehip , chamomile , or rooibos . These may be called tisanes or herbal infusions to prevent confusion with tea made from the tea plant. The etymology of the various words for tea reflects the history of transmission of tea drinking culture and trade from China to countries around the world. Nearly all of the words for tea worldwide fall into three broad groups: te , cha and chai , present in English as tea , cha or char , and chai . The earliest of
11088-436: The juice of peaches , pears ("Perry" cider) or other fruit. Cider may be made from any variety of apple, but certain cultivars grown solely for use in cider are known as cider apples . The United Kingdom has the highest per capita consumption of cider, as well as the largest cider-producing companies in the world, As of 2006 , the U.K. produces 600 million litres of cider each year (130 million imperial gallons). Wine
11214-475: The largest leaves; China type, characterised by the smallest leaves; and Cambodian type, characterised by leaves of intermediate size. The Cambodian-type tea ( C. assamica subsp. lasiocaly ) was originally considered a type of Assam tea. However, later genetic work showed that it is a hybrid between Chinese small-leaf tea and Assam-type tea. Darjeeling tea appears to be a hybrid between Chinese small-leaf tea and Assam-type large-leaf tea. A tea plant will grow into
11340-590: The last few decades, the cladistic approach has revolutionized biological classification and revealed surprising evolutionary relationships among organisms. Increasingly, taxonomists try to avoid naming taxa that are not clades; that is, taxa that are not monophyletic . Some of the relationships between organisms that the molecular biology arm of cladistics has revealed include that fungi are closer relatives to animals than they are to plants, archaea are now considered different from bacteria , and multicellular organisms may have evolved from archaea. The term "clade"
11466-518: The latter term coined by Ernst Mayr (1965), derived from "clade". The results of phylogenetic/cladistic analyses are tree-shaped diagrams called cladograms ; they, and all their branches, are phylogenetic hypotheses. Three methods of defining clades are featured in phylogenetic nomenclature : node-, stem-, and apomorphy-based (see Phylogenetic nomenclature§Phylogenetic definitions of clade names for detailed definitions). The relationship between clades can be described in several ways: The age of
11592-862: The laying of eggs (oviposition) within the plant. Spraying with synthetic insecticides may be deemed appropriate. Other pests are Lepidopteran leaf feeders and various tea diseases . Tea is mainly grown in Asia and Africa, with smaller areas in South America and around the Black and Caspian Seas. The four biggest tea-producing countries are China, India, Kenya and Sri Lanka, together representing 81% of world tea production. Smaller hubs of production include such places as São Miguel Island, Azores , in Portugal, and Guria , in Georgia. In 2022, global production of tea
11718-544: The mythical Shennong (in central and northern China) in 2737 BC, although evidence suggests that tea drinking may have been introduced from the southwest of China (Sichuan/Yunnan area). The earliest written records of tea come from China. The word tú 荼 appears in the Shijing and other ancient texts to signify a kind of "bitter vegetable" ( 苦菜 ), and it is possible that it referred to many different plants such as sow thistle , chicory , or smartweed , as well as tea. In
11844-479: The potential of this distribution and packaging method would not be fully realised until later. During World War II, tea was rationed in the United Kingdom. In 1953, after rationing in the UK ended, Yorkshire -based tea manufacturer Tetley launched the tea bag in the UK, and it was an immediate success. The "pyramid tea bag" (or sachet), introduced by Lipton and PG Tips/Scottish Blend in 1996, attempts to address one of
11970-502: The presence of polyphenols . These are the most abundant compounds in tea leaves, making up 30–40% of their composition. Polyphenols in tea include flavonoids , epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and other catechins . Although there has been preliminary clinical research on whether green or black teas may protect against various human diseases, there is no evidence that tea polyphenols have any effect on health or lowering disease risk. Although health benefits have been assumed throughout
12096-586: The probable center of origin of tea is near the source of the Irrawaddy River from where it spread out fan-wise into southeast China, Indo-China and Assam . Thus, the natural home of the tea plant is considered to be within the comparatively small fan-shaped area between Nagaland , Manipur and Mizoram along the Burma frontier in the west, through China as far as the Zhejiang Province in
12222-545: The product from which they are produced (for example, rice wine , pomegranate wine, apple wine and elderberry wine ) and are generically called fruit wine . The term "wine" can also refer to starch-fermented or fortified drinks having higher alcohol content, such as barley wine , huangjiu , or sake . Wine has a rich history dating back thousands of years, with the earliest production so far discovered having occurred c. 6000 BC in Georgia . It had reached
12348-405: The proteins found in fresh milk, similar to the change in taste of UHT milk, resulting in an inferior-tasting beverage. Others insist it is better to add the milk to the cup after the tea, as black tea is often brewed as close to boiling as possible. The addition of milk chills the beverage during the crucial brewing phase, if brewing in a cup rather than using a pot, meaning the delicate flavour of
12474-429: The purpose of drinking was known as a symposium , where watered down wine would be drunk. The purpose of these gatherings could be anything from serious discussions to direct indulgence. In ancient Rome , a similar concept of a convivium took place regularly. Many early societies considered alcohol a gift from the gods, leading to the creation of gods such as Dionysus . Other religions forbid, discourage, or restrict
12600-644: The removal of any other substance besides oxygen . Water and milk have been basic drinks throughout history. As water is essential for life, it has also been the carrier of many diseases . As society developed, techniques were discovered to create alcoholic drinks from the plants that were available in different areas. The earliest archaeological evidence of wine production yet found has been at sites in Georgia ( c. 6000 BCE) and Iran ( c. 5000 BCE). Beer may have been known in Neolithic Europe as far back as 3000 BCE, and
12726-653: The same cultivation area or several different ones. The aim is to obtain consistency, better taste, higher price, or some combination of the three. Flavoured and scented teas are enhancements of the base tea. This can be accomplished through directly adding flavouring agents, such as ginger , cloves , mint leaves , cardamom , bergamot (found in Earl Grey ), vanilla , and spearmint . Alternatively, because tea easily retains odours, it can be placed in proximity to an aromatic ingredient to absorb its aroma, as in traditional jasmine tea . The addition of milk to tea in Europe
12852-466: The same parent plant in the area where southwestern China, Indo-Burma, and Tibet meet. However, as the Indian Assam tea shares no haplotypes with Western Yunnan Assam tea, Indian Assam tea is likely to have originated from an independent domestication. Some Indian Assam tea appears to have hybridized with the species Camellia pubicosta . Assuming a generation of 12 years, Chinese small-leaf tea
12978-424: The seeds inside. The seeds are then roasted to varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor, before being ground and brewed to create coffee. Coffee is slightly acidic (pH 5.0–5.1 ) and can have a stimulating effect on humans because of its caffeine content. It is one of the most popular drinks in the world. It can be prepared and presented in a variety of ways. The effect of coffee on human health has been
13104-631: The silver they were required to pay for tea and other commodities. The subsequent attempts by the Chinese Government to curtail the trade in opium led to war. Chinese small-leaf-type tea was introduced into India in 1836 by the British in an attempt to break the Chinese monopoly on tea. In 1841, Archibald Campbell brought seeds of Chinese tea from the Kumaun region and experimented with planting tea in Darjeeling . The Alubari tea garden
13230-547: The stimulant caffeine have a long history. In addition, alcoholic drinks such as wine , beer , and liquor , which contain the drug ethanol , have been part of human culture for more than 8,000 years. Non-alcoholic drinks often signify drinks that would normally contain alcohol, such as beer , wine and cocktails , but are made with a sufficiently low concentration of alcohol by volume . The category includes drinks that have undergone an alcohol removal process such as non-alcoholic beers and de-alcoholized wines. When
13356-469: The tax on tea, thereby eliminating the smuggling trade, by 1785. In Britain and Ireland, tea was initially consumed as a luxury item on special occasions, such as religious festivals, wakes, and domestic work gatherings. The price of tea in Europe fell steadily during the 19th century, especially after Indian tea began to arrive in large quantities; by the late 19th century tea had become an everyday beverage for all levels of society. The popularity of tea played
13482-400: The tea and over-brewing. A traditional method uses a three-piece lidded teacup called a gaiwan , the lid of which is tilted to decant the tea into a different cup for consumption. Tea bricks or compressed tea are produced for convenience in transport, storage, and ageing. It can usually be stored longer without spoilage than loose leaf tea. Compressed tea is prepared by loosening leaves from
13608-545: The tea-drinking habit to the English court when she married Charles II in 1662. Tea, however, was not widely consumed in the British Isles until the 18th century and remained expensive until the latter part of that period. English drinkers preferred to add sugar and milk to black tea, and black tea overtook green tea in popularity in the 1720s. Tea smuggling during the 18th century led to the general public being able to afford and consume tea. The British government removed
13734-681: The three to enter English is cha , which came in the 1590s via the Portuguese, who traded in Macao and picked up the Cantonese pronunciation of the word. The more common tea form arrived in the 17th century via the Dutch, who acquired it either indirectly from the Malay teh , or directly from the tê pronunciation in Min Chinese . The third form chai (meaning "spiced tea") originated from
13860-423: The type, brand, and brewing method. A study found that the caffeine content of one gram of black tea ranged from 22 to 28 mg, while the caffeine content of one gram of green tea ranged from 11 to 20 mg, reflecting a significant difference. Tea contains small amounts of theobromine and theophylline , which are xanthines and stimulants , similar to caffeine. The astringency in tea can be attributed to
13986-411: The vegetable juice taste better. Many popular vegetable juices, particularly ones with high tomato content, are high in sodium, and therefore consumption of them for health must be carefully considered. Some vegetable juices provide the same health benefits as whole vegetables in terms of reducing risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer . Plant milk is a general term for any milk-like product that
14112-410: The very complex interactions between the biochemical development of the fruit, reactions involved in fermentation, terroir and subsequent appellation , along with human intervention in the overall process. The final product may contain tens of thousands of chemical compounds in amounts varying from a few percent to a few parts per billion. Wines made from produce besides grapes are usually named after
14238-412: The world. There are many different types of tea; some have a cooling, slightly bitter, and astringent flavour, while others have profiles that include sweet, nutty, floral, or grassy notes . Tea has a stimulating effect in humans, primarily due to its caffeine content. An early credible record of tea drinking dates to the third century AD, in a medical text written by Chinese physician Hua Tuo . It
14364-538: Was 29.8 million tonnes , led by China with 49% and India with 20% of the world total. Kenya , Sri Lanka , and Turkey were secondary producers. Storage conditions determine the shelf life of tea; that of black teas is greater than that of green teas. Some, such as flower teas, may last only a month or so. Others, such as pu-erh, improve with age. To remain fresh and prevent mold, tea needs to be stored away from heat, light, air, and moisture. Tea must be kept at room temperature in an air-tight container. Black tea in
14490-435: Was associated with rebellious political activities in Europe. A drink is a form of liquid which has been prepared for human consumption. The preparation can include a number of different steps, some prior to transport, others immediately prior to consumption. Water is the chief constituent in all drinks, and the primary ingredient in most. Water is purified prior to drinking . Methods for purification include filtration and
14616-452: Was developed and became popular. During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, unoxidized tea leaves were first stirred in a hot dry pan, then rolled and air-dried, a process that stops the oxidation process that would have turned the leaves dark, thereby allowing tea to remain green. In the 15th century, oolong tea, in which the leaves are allowed to partially oxidize before being heated in the pan,
14742-457: Was developed. Western tastes, however, favoured the fully oxidized black tea , and the leaves were allowed to oxidize further. Yellow tea was an accidental discovery in the production of green tea during the Ming dynasty, when apparently careless practices allowed the leaves to turn yellow, which yielded a different flavour. Tea was first introduced to Western priests and merchants in China during
14868-543: Was first mentioned in 1680 by the epistolist Madame de Sévigné . Many teas are traditionally drunk with milk in cultures where dairy products are consumed. These include Indian masala chai and British tea blends. These teas tend to be very hearty varieties of black tea which can be tasted through the milk, such as Assams, or the East Friesian blend. Milk is thought to neutralise remaining tannins and reduce acidity. The Han Chinese do not usually drink milk with tea but
14994-721: Was from Hirado in Japan to be shipped to Europe. Tea became a fashionable drink in The Hague in the Netherlands, and the Dutch introduced the drink to Germany , France , and across the Atlantic to New Amsterdam (New York). In 1567, Russian people came in contact with tea when the Cossack Atamans Petrov and Yalyshev visited China. The Mongolian Khan donated to Tsar Michael I four poods (65–70 kg) of tea in 1638. According to Jeremiah Curtin , it
15120-589: Was introduced by an Indonesian tea company, PT. Sinar Sosro in 1969 with the brand name Teh Botol Sosro (or Sosro bottled tea). In 1983, Swiss-based Bischofszell Food Ltd. was the first company to bottle iced tea on an industrial scale. In many cultures, tea is consumed at elevated social events, such as the tea party . Tea ceremonies have arisen in different cultures, such as the Chinese and Japanese traditions, each of which employs certain techniques and ritualised protocol of brewing and serving tea for enjoyment in
15246-522: Was mainly brewed on a domestic scale. The invention of beer (and bread ) has been argued to be responsible for humanity's ability to develop technology and build civilization . Tea likely originated in Yunnan , China, during the Shang dynasty (1500 BCE–1046 BCE) as a medicinal drink. Drinking has been a large part of socialising throughout the centuries. In ancient Greece , a social gathering for
15372-532: Was often necessary to make them palatable. Fruits can also be blended with ice and other ingredients to make a smoothie . Early storage of fruit juices was labor-intensive, requiring the crushing of the fruits and the mixing of the resulting pure juices with sugars before bottling. Vegetable juices are usually served warm or cold. Different types of vegetables can be used to make vegetable juice such as carrots , tomatoes, cucumbers , celery and many more. Some vegetable juices are mixed with some fruit juice to make
15498-714: Was opened in 1856, and Darjeeling tea began to be produced. In 1848, Robert Fortune was sent by the East India Company on a mission to China to bring the tea plant back to Great Britain. He began his journey in high secrecy as his mission occurred in the lull between the First Opium War and the Second Opium War . The Chinese tea plants he brought back were introduced to the Himalayas , though most did not survive. The British had discovered that
15624-628: Was popularised as a recreational drink during the Chinese Tang dynasty , and tea drinking subsequently spread to other East Asian countries. Portuguese priests and merchants introduced it to Europe during the 16th century. During the 17th century, drinking tea became fashionable among the English , who started to plant tea on a large scale in British India . The term herbal tea refers to drinks not made from Camellia sinensis . They are
15750-584: Was possibly in 1636 that Vassili Starkov was sent as envoy to the Altyn Khan . He was given 250 pounds of tea as a gift to the tsar. Starkov at first refused, seeing no use for a load of dead leaves, but the Khan insisted. Thus was tea introduced to Russia. In 1679, Russia concluded a treaty on regular tea supplies from China via camel caravan in exchange for furs. It is today considered the de facto national beverage. The first record of tea in English came from
15876-454: Was transmitted to Japan by Zen Buddhist monks, and is still used to prepare matcha in the Japanese tea ceremony . Chinese pu-erh is often distributed in the form, as other teas may sometimes be. Compressed tea was the most popular form of tea in China during the Tang dynasty. By the beginning of the Ming dynasty, it had been displaced by loose-leaf tea. It remains popular, however, in
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