Tea - a favorite drink of millions of people. The largest figure of the Japanese art Kakudzo Okakura in his book about tea wrote: "At first, tea was a medicine, then became a drink." In China, in the VII century poets sang of tea, he was a constant companion of refined pastime. In the XV century, tea is being built here in the cult, there is a particular religio-philosophical trend - "tiizm, worship beauty.
The word "tea" comes to us from the Mongolian "tsai". Japanese tea is called "tya" or "cha", that the name came from the Latin botanical term "TEM".
In many countries of Asia and some African countries, tea at one time served as a bargaining chip.
The monks considered a sacred drink tea, doctors - a healing tool. In one of the ancient Chinese chronicles we find the statement: tea strengthens the spirit, softens the heart, relieves fatigue, awakens thought and prevents settling of laziness, facilitating and refreshes the body, clarifies the susceptibility.
There is a legend about the birth of the tea bush. He lived in China, the wise monk Darrama. For days he spent in prayer and meditation. Once Darrama, seeing the Buddha in a dream, was so delighted that made a vow to pray awake, but could not stand it and fell asleep. I woke up in horror, a monk: he broke the oath. But the blame for this was his eyelids - they closed down and induce sleep. Then Darrama cut off his eyelids and threw them on the ground. A spring at the spot where his eyelids fell sage green rose bush. Leaves it has good qualities: they are chasing a dream. Thus was born the tea bush.
Were sung and the other legends, but each of them claimed that the homeland of tea - China. For thousands of years tea has been known only to the peoples of China, India and other Asian countries.
When in the forests of Assam found wild tea bushes, the homeland of tea began to consider the mountains that separate India and China. Later it was proved that the jungle with wild tea bushes are not the primitive forest, but grew up on the site of ancient settlements. This has led many scientists to return to the original approval and considered the birthplace of tea China.
This tea was used as a "cha", about five thousand years ago as a remedy, antihypnotic. In Europe, tea was brought to the beginning of XVI century Portuguese and Dutch sailors.
Initially, the Europeans do not know how to use the new strange plants. And, of course, not without its oddities. History has preserved the story of how at a gala dinner at an English duke to the table, served salad tea leaves. However, he was extremely bitter and caused palpitations among the guests. So suddenly appeared the special properties of tea.
It's been a long time before Europeans learned to drink tea infusion. It was written many treatises on the benefits of tea have contributed to its spread in Europe. This contributed to such well-known doctors, as Sidengam in England, Etmenger in Germany, Koffru and ASU-D in France. Most of all popularized tea traveler Kaempfer.
In 1635 tea appeared in Paris in 1666-meters - in London, and three years later, the royal steward Basil Starikov presented to the Russian Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich expensive and rare gift of the Altyn-Khan - several pounds of tea.
In Russia, love tea, especially in the northern and eastern regions. However, for a long time the drink was considered a rare and had the privilege of the nobility. Equally, he won popularity in France, Germany, the Scandinavian countries and especially in England. Appeared and a special kind of celebration - dinner, tea.
Invitation to tea or dinner, tea has a long tradition. In XVIII-XIX centuries in some countries, identifies the time even invitations to tea: in England, for example, only 17 hours, in Russia - between 20-23 hours.
It was also recommended certain orders (excludes the appearance of women in ball gowns, as well as in linen or cotton), ordered, unlike the ball, banquet or dinner party, check out the dance no later than midnight.
There were strict rules for table setting, a set of foods and drinks. Even established special days, an invitation to tea. Such strict regulation of various forms of techniques, of course, easier for housewife caring for their organization, and guests - preparing for the evening.
Typically, dinner-tea, as well as a cocktail evening, not happy about the festive family or holiday dates. The main purpose of these evenings - frequent contact with relatives, friends and colleagues in a relaxed homely atmosphere: today - in some, next week - from others and as they say in a circle. Not magnificence of balls and the severity of the ritual are called methods, and family comfort and ease of communication - one of human needs.
In some countries (Japan, China, Burma, Indonesia, Sri Lanka) tea has become a ritual, deliver and hosts, and guests of the true spiritual pleasure, especially in cases where the ritual is performed in compliance with all traditions. In Japan, for example, There is a definition: "meeting over tea - the meeting feeling", which accurately reflects the essence of so much admired in this country ceremony of tea drinking. Almost every Japanese house has a special room designed for entertaining guests with tea and committing a kind of ritual - tea action. And today, though more rarely, in the markets of Japan and China can meet dealers "tea water", ie the water of mountain streams, which contains the least amount of salts and other impurities dissolved in it. Such water is preferable to tea, to preserve its taste.
