The Tea Pot’s Magic

Most people would think tea originated in England but the British developed their love of tea from the Chinese. That was centuries ago. Today tea is the second most consumed beverage worldwide next to water.

People drink tea habitually. Most grew up hearing that tea was good for belching gas or to relieve headaches but many do not know what the individual plants are good for. People pour hot water on leaves and barks for all sorts of reasons. For example, cut pieces of ginger into thin strips and pour hot water onto it, wait for the medicinal properties to be extracted and what you drink will relieve stomach ache and menstrual cramps. Pour hot water over a couple Hibiscus flowers and the tea is good for hypertension. Mint is good for soothing the stomach and is also used as a relaxer. Chamomile grows wild along the road, is fed to goats and rabbits and is brewed for a good night’s rest.

The more people learn about brewing tea, the more our grandmothers’ pearl of wisdom about never leaving the house without a cup of tea very smart advice. What many people will not know is that brewing tea in a metal container causes it to lose some of its medicinal properties. That is partly why the Chinese use ceramic containers to extract the nutrients and why the Africans use clay and wooden pots. The teapot makes all the difference in the effectiveness of what is brewed.