Tea time
From a light breeze in China to a store in Torrance, the history of tea in a cup
by William Foss
It is said that an ancient Chinese emperor Shen Nung was boiling water before drinking it and the wind blew some leaves from a nearby tree into his cup. He was curious as to what this would do to the taste of the water, and is said to have then enjoyed the world’s first cup of tea. Shen Nung is also given credit for inventing the plow, axe, hoe, acupuncture, calendar and learning how to take a pulse. If all of that were true it would be surprising that he had time to run an empire, but at least between inventions he could sit back and enjoy what has become the world’s most popular beverage – tea.
There is a bewildering variety of things that people call tea – a glance at the local market will show dozens of choices – and many of those are not actually tea. Just ask Theresa Ford, who celebrates all things regarding tea at a store called Restful Steep in Torrance.
Theresa previously was director of marketing for a large healthcare corporation, but became interested in alternative medicine and the use of natural herbs in healing. This led her to an increasing appreciation for tea in all of its forms, and finally to opening up a shrine to this substance.
First, what is tea? “Tea is the leaf or twig of just two Camellia plants – the varieties are called Siniensis and Assamica,” Ford said. “Anything that does not contain these plants is not actually tea.”
See all of those ‘herb tea’ concoctions at the supermarket? None of them are actually a tea – the proper name for them is a ‘Tisane’. However, people don’t know what a tisane is, so they are commonly called tea.
True tea originated both in China and the Assam region of India. It spread nearly worldwide, growing on every inhabited continent. In the US it is grown only in Hawaii and South Carolina.
What color is real tea? “Black, green, white or yellow tea can all be made from the same plant, depending on how it is treated and aged,” Ford said. “Black tea is the more strong and assertive flavor. Green tea is more subtle, and white tea has a very delicate taste. Many people have never tried yellow tea, which is somewhat rare.” In China some people eat the leaves of green tea after the beverage is consumed.
What health claims can really be made for tea and tisanes? “As a certified natural health professional and master herbalist, I am familiar with at least 200 herbs that have medicinal value,” Ford said. “The FDA doesn’t want us to say that herbs can help you, but they do. Teas and tisanes have value as diuretics, laxatives, sleep aids, digestives, and preventing motion sickness. The use of some teas and tisanes is associated with appetite suppressant and weight loss. The different types of true tea also have varying amounts of antioxidants, which studies have shown to have health benefits.”
If you doubt that herbs can actually be medicine, the ancient Greek sage Hippocrates recommended a “tea” of white willow bark for headaches. The bark contains the active ingredient in aspirin, so his prescription was spot-on.
What should we know about tea? “Tea takes time. You can’t rush tea, and you shouldn’t even try,” Ford said. “You have to allow it to brew, and take a little break and relax while you do. Your tea break should begin before the tea is even ready.”
Can you use a tea bag to make a great cup of tea? “Some tea bags, but not all, use the broken pieces of leaves called the ‘dust’ or ‘fannings’. This is not usually the best quality of tea,” Ford said. “I usually recommend whole leaf tea, but some companies have very good quality of tea in bags.” One thing that you shouldn’t do if you use a tea bag is to squeeze the last drops into the cup, which according to Ford releases the most bitter components of the tea.
There are certainly many options to try at Restful Steep. Some are flavored with fruits including sour cherry, banana, orange, lemon, mango, peach, pomegranate, blueberry, strawberry and coconut. For the adventurous there are also Cajun, bourbon and chili pepper flavors. If you ask the staff what you like, they will recommend teas. Part of enjoyment of tea is sampling different kinds.
Old recipes for the perfect cup say that you have to warm the teapot beforehand. Is that really necessary? “If your hot water is being used to heat the teapot then that warmth is not available for the tea,” Ford said. “It really can change the taste of the beverage if it is brewed at the wrong temperature. For black tea, the water should be around 205 degrees; for white tea, 175 and green tea no more than 165. “
How long should a tea steep? For white, green or yellow teas, no more than three minutes, Ford said. For black tea some take five to seven minutes for full flavor. Some of the herbal remedies need to steep even longer.
Can you make good tea with tap water? “You can make good tea, but better tea will be made with filtered water or spring water,” Ford said. “Most of what is in tea is water, so that makes sense. We have also tried it with alkaline water, and I think that it really brings out the flavor.“
Is there an emotional component to tea consumption? “Tea is associated with alertness, but also with a calming mood, and is said to improve concentration,” Ford said. “There is even a euphoric ‘tea high’ that some people get. Tisanes, or ‘herb teas’ can be blended for calming the mind, relaxing before bed, relieving muscle tension, and even as an aphrodisiac.”
Not all of the herbs end up in a cup; on the evening that I was there a group was happily selecting ingredients for Dream Pillows, so that the fragrances inside would help them find restful sleep. A wonderful array of spices are also on offer, some of which are blended specially for the store.
Tea blending is taught, as are classes on the properties of herbs and salves. Recent entertainment events have included a poetry night, cello quartet and a belly dancer, but not at the same time.
Other innovations have been introduced to the lineup. A friend of Ford’s has started commercially baking cookies in flavors that you will never find anywhere else – Restful Steep is the only place that carries them. Would you like to try a pink peppercorn and grapefruit cookie? They have them. There is also natural raw honey from the San Gabriel mountains.
Ford says that Restful Steep changed her life. “In the corporate world I was always on the run, working against deadlines and constantly traveling,” she said. “It was very stressful. Now I slow down, relax and teach other people how to enjoy life a little more.”
Restful Steep, 3525 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite Q, (310) 891-6985, restfulsteep.com. ER
