Tea is the e world’s top drink k?

> Worldwide, about six billion cups are consumed a day. It is also the national drink of India and China, the two most populous countries in the world.

> Legend has it that in 2737BC, Emperor Shen Nung of China discovered tea when leaves accidentally blew into a pot of boiling water. China is said to have the world’s oldest tea tree, estimated to be 3,200 years old. > The 1,500 varieties of tea are derived from six main types: black, green, oolong, white, yellow and post-fermented or dark tea leaves. > All varieties of tea come from just one plant: Camellia sinensis. Tea plants can grow up to 15m tall if not continuously pruned.

> The Duchess of Bedford is credited with creating afternoon tea in 1840 when she began taking tea with a light snack around 4pm to ward off her midafternoon hunger pangs. > Ameerican tea dealeer Thomas Sullivvan was the firstt to market the moddern teabag in 19008 when he began distributing tea in silk bags instead of the more expensive tin containers.

> Antioxidants in tea are said to be beneficial to health. Tea has 10 times the amount of antioxidants compared to fruits and vegetables. > In 1946, George Orwell wrote an essay, A Nice Cup of Tea, in which he laid down 11 golden rules for tea preparation and consumption. He stated that only Indian or Ceylon tea should be drunk and advised against adding sugar to your cuppa. > Tasseography is a fortune-telling method of interpreting the future according to the shape of tea leaves or patterns of sediment left in a teacup after the beverage has been consumed or poured away.