Although China is the second largest grower of tea in the world, right behind India, Chinese consumption of tea per capita is falling.
A recent poll in Chinese cities shows that most white collar workers between the ages of 25 and 40 choose Starbucks coffee, Pepsi, or Coca Cola as their favorite beverages.
Much of the older Chinese population, however, still drinks tea, and China is still a leading exporter of green tea.
Hillsides in central and southern china are being bulldozed to make room for more tea farms, in spite of a threat of soil erosion in many places.
The government's stated goal to end rural poverty seems to be invigorating the tea industry.
Some state-owned tea farms are not faring well, and some have been turned over to capitalistic entrepreneurs who are dramatically increasing production and exports.
It is interesting that a Communist country such as China is beginning to rely heavily on capitalistic competition.
Twelve centuries ago, the popularity of drinking hot tea was beneficial to China's growth.
Tea has powerful antiseptic properties, and its tannic acids kill bacteria that can cause cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.
Since it was easily prepared from dried leaves, it was an easy and effective way to purify drinking water.
For many centuries China's history was greatly affected by drinking tea because it prevented many common waterborne diseases, lowering infant mortality rates and increasing longevity, helping to make it the world's most populous country even today.
As the Chinese are drinking less tea, Americans are drinking more, especially the green variety.
At the same time, many of the world's so-called wonder drugs - penicillin and other antibiotics - are losing their effectiveness, and researchers are beginning to look at natural plant remedies such as tea to prevent infections and treat ill health.
We could do a lot worse than begin drinking more of that Chinese export.
Tea is a tasty drink that gives pleasure to millions of people every day, all over the world.
It can alleviate stress, create feelings of sociability and well-being, improve our health as well as our mood, and probably allow us to live longer.
China's exportation of tea is definitely our gain.
A recent poll in Chinese cities shows that most white collar workers between the ages of 25 and 40 choose Starbucks coffee, Pepsi, or Coca Cola as their favorite beverages.
Much of the older Chinese population, however, still drinks tea, and China is still a leading exporter of green tea.
Hillsides in central and southern china are being bulldozed to make room for more tea farms, in spite of a threat of soil erosion in many places.
The government's stated goal to end rural poverty seems to be invigorating the tea industry.
Some state-owned tea farms are not faring well, and some have been turned over to capitalistic entrepreneurs who are dramatically increasing production and exports.
It is interesting that a Communist country such as China is beginning to rely heavily on capitalistic competition.
Twelve centuries ago, the popularity of drinking hot tea was beneficial to China's growth.
Tea has powerful antiseptic properties, and its tannic acids kill bacteria that can cause cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.
Since it was easily prepared from dried leaves, it was an easy and effective way to purify drinking water.
For many centuries China's history was greatly affected by drinking tea because it prevented many common waterborne diseases, lowering infant mortality rates and increasing longevity, helping to make it the world's most populous country even today.
As the Chinese are drinking less tea, Americans are drinking more, especially the green variety.
At the same time, many of the world's so-called wonder drugs - penicillin and other antibiotics - are losing their effectiveness, and researchers are beginning to look at natural plant remedies such as tea to prevent infections and treat ill health.
We could do a lot worse than begin drinking more of that Chinese export.
Tea is a tasty drink that gives pleasure to millions of people every day, all over the world.
It can alleviate stress, create feelings of sociability and well-being, improve our health as well as our mood, and probably allow us to live longer.
China's exportation of tea is definitely our gain.
Source...