Excerpts

Introduction In China and Japan, green tea is the fuel that drives and invigorates the daily lives of millions. From early morning until late at night, cups of fresh, fragrant green tea poured from steaming teapots provide an uplifting and relaxing break from the hectic pace of daily life. Much like westerners and their beloved cups of coffee, many Asians never let their lidded cups of tea stray too far from sight. Today, as in the past, housewives, students, workers, and travelers rely on the social pleasures of the local teahouse to provide a calm and meditative place for relaxing or catching up with a friend on the latest news. Accompanied by simple snacks, a modest cup of green tea soothes away the rough edges of the day and connects the drinker with social and cultural traditions of tea drinking that have endured for centuries. The culture of green tea drinking in China and Japan goes beyond mere refreshment, as it is meant to engage and delight the senses through careful attention to both the preparation and the drinking of the tea. Much has been written by Chinese monks and Japanese Zen scholars to underscore the necessity for ritual in tea preparation. Additionally, writers and poets enthusiastically note the pleasures one can expect from drinking a cup of this tranquil, liquid jade. Even with today's busy schedules, the classical nature of tea drinking in China and Japan is still respected. Tea drinking in Asia involves more than just the drinking of tea. The cups, water, room decorations, and sounds--or absence of sounds--are all important, and were deemed so in the Tang Dynasty. It is these elements that give tea its "classical nature." For the tea drinker, the sound of hot tea being poured from teapot to cup is reminiscent of pure, clean water gently coursing in a rocky stream. The translucent golden-green color of the tea in the hollow of a teacup should be visually pleasing, and the shape and design of the teacup should be engaging and feel good in the hand. The fragrance of the tea should stimulate the palate in anticipation of the flavor of the brew, which, upon tasting, should be delicate and fresh, reminding one of the cool, misty mountain of its origin. Light in flavor, lower in caffeine than black tea or coffee, clean and contemporary in style, green tea is the beverage of choice for more than half the world's population. Twenty-somethings worldwide seem to find that the essence of green tea is more to their liking than black tea, and are spreading the idea that green tea is "not your grandmother's cup of tea." Consumption of this pleasing beverage is spiraling upward in the West. Americans are challenging the popularity of traditional black tea by embracing the numerous styles of green tea available in specialty tea shops and from online tea merchants. Additionally, bottled green tea beverages are gaining a larger presence on grocers' shelves, and cafés and restaurants continue to add more choices of green tea. Green tea is the perfect, easy-to-brew, and delicious beverage of choice for a new generation of tea drinkers. It's healthful as well: medical research is finding that drinking three to four cups of green tea a day may help to reduce blood pressure, bolster immunity, protect skin from free-radical damage, and lower the incidence of cancer. Hot or iced, plain or with spice or citrus, green tea is one of life's simple and satisfying pleasures. Adopt an Asian attitude and enjoy the many delights of this timeless beverage. Excerpted from Green Tea: 50 Hot Drinks, Cool Quenchers, and Sweet and Savory Treats by Mary Lou Heiss All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.