You heard right, tea is making a comeback! The world’s second most consumed drink is trendy again! As a result, from hip new tea shops and trendy tea lounges to receiving many glowing praises of its health benefits, tea is hot.
See also: Tea is a wonderful beverage. Learn more about its place as a health drink!
Tea is making an Amazing Comeback
“A bouquet of stone-fruit and ripe, caramelized pears with floral notes. Full bodied and quite substantial, with a long, slightly sweet and spicy finish”. What sounds like a tasting note clipped from the pages of Aspiring Winos could also very well be actually a description of the characteristics of many high quality teas. Like wine, tea is a complex beverage with a staggering variety of tastes and aromas. There is a plethora of tea out there, from green tea, black tea, white tea and oolong to the many varieties of herbal teas (not from the Camellia Sinensis plant) including yerba mate, rooibos and honeybush.
The Many Varieties of Tea
All true tea comes from the leaves of same plant, Camellia Sinensis. Different types of tea come from the method of processing. Green and white tea are the least oxidized, producing more vegetal flavors and aromas. Oolong is semi-oxidized and can have some of the same characteristics as green and black tea, along with it’s own unique flavor profile. Black tea is the most oxidized of all, and produces a deep, full bodied cup.
Herbal teas, like rooibos and yerba mate, are getting a lot of buzz in recent times. Because of their amazing health benefits, as both are teeming with antioxidants. This is a huge part of tea’s comeback! Rooibos is naturally caffeine free, which is a boon to those who are trying to reduce their caffeine intake. Yerba mate, on the other hand, is loaded with enery-boosting xanthines like caffeine, and is becoming a healthy alternative to sugary energy drinks.
Specialty Tea: A Hot New Trend
The tea trend is booming. They’re really available. From online tea purveyors like Adagio to modern, upscale tea boutiques like DAVIDsTEA. this ancient drink is becoming a major specialty item once again. In San Fransisco, Samovar Tea Lounge is a hugely popular hangout for caffeine-craving hipsters and techies. That being said, a lot of us are seeking a healthy alternative to coffee, sodas and energy drinks. On the east coast, Teany, a tea cafe owned by musician Moby, is introducing tea to New York City.
Even Starbucks has recently introduced their new and improved full leaf tea sachets, upping quality tea’s mainstream credibility and visibility. Tea is the world’s second most consumed beverage after water. But tea has always been popular. Today people are learning about the health benefits of matcha green tea. As a result, they’re sipping on tea lattes in upscale cafes and making their own inspired iced teas at home. High quality tea has become much more accessible and desirable, and is an affordable luxury. Let the tea renaissance soar!