Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages. Welcome to the most awaited fight in the history of drinks and beverages. As per request, here is the ultimate one-on-one match between the two great contenders of all time. Each claims to be the number one, the champion of champions. And tonight we will find out, mano y mano style. So brace yourself. Hold on to your seats because what you are about to witness will be the most spectacular bouts ever to be done. On the blue corner, weighing cup size. Known as the most consumed beverage of the world. Give it a round of applause to, Camellia "tea" sinensis. One the red corner, weighing also cup size. The most traded beverage, lets give a warm welcome to Coffea "coffee" Rubiaceae.
Before we formally begin the fight. Let us first have a recap on the amazing history and statistics each contender has gained and bagged in its lifetime. Read on and find out who think is your bet to win this championship match.
Humble beginnings...
Origins:
Tea:
The leaves of tea plant: All teas come from one plant source - the Camellia sinensis tea plant. This tea plant is described to be an evergreen plant. This plant usually grows mostly on tropical and warm climates as well as sub-tropical places too. Producers pick up and process the leaves to make tea.
Coffee:
The coffee berries of coffee tree: Coffee comes from the coffea's coffee berries. This is where the "beans" or the seeds are derived from. A coffee tree is described as the size smaller than a tree but bigger like most shrubs. It is also evergreen which has leaves with spear shaped appearance.
Varieties:
Tea:
There are three major varieties of Camellia sinensis available for commercial use. The first is the China type, which teas originated. The second is the India type. It is also known as the Assam type. And last but not the least, the Hybrid type. As the name suggests it is the mix between that of the China and of the India type.
Other varieties include the four known or major types of tea known worldwide: The black tea, Green tea, Oolong tea and the white tea. They are different from one another not because of different plant sources but by the processing the tea leaves undergo. Oxidation has a lot to do with it,
Coffee:
Coffee are best known with its two known species. They are the: Coffee arabica and the coffea canephora (or robusta). Coffee Arabica is known for its rich flavor while the coffee canephora or robusta is more subtle than the former. Each has a unique flavor and characteristic.
History:
Tea
No one really knows where tea came from. Only legends whispered and spread by word of mouth as to how it came to be. According to Chinese legends, where it as tea's homeland, the discovery of tea is out of pure luck and accident. And accordingly, due credit should be given to a certain Chinese emperor, Shen Nung. It happened on one hot, summer afternoon. As the emperor was sitting under the shade of the tree and trying to rest and avoid the torture of heat with a hot water in hand, a couple of dried leaves accidently fell on his cup of boiling water. Having the chance to smell the exquisite aroma it emitted, and being a known herbalist himself, he tried to take a few sips to find out if it tastes good. Later, he also discovered its other medicinal properties. And Eureka! Tea at last!
The Japanese tell a different tale. Buddhist monks claimed that it was not a Chinese (emperor) who discovered tea but a Japanese buddhist monk instead. He was Prince Bodhidharma. And he just happened to just been studying China during that time when the discovery was made. Accordingly, he bagan a meditation of nine years in the time 520 AD. But strangely, he could not stop himself and fell asleep after about months of staring at a wall. They said he was mad at himself and lost his temper upon waking up and immediately cut off his eyelids as a price. And legend has it, these very same eyelids that fell to the ground and was where the first tea bush sprouted. This same bush was what he brewed and what he drunk to keep him alert and awake for the rest of the years of his meditation.
Coffee:
Coffee's origin is also unknown. And little information on his background can be found. But interestingly, one legend has a direct link to coffee's humble beginnings. It was said in legends that coffee was discovered by a certain person known as Kaldi. He was known as a young goat herder from Ethiopia. It happened on one fateful day. As he was tending his goats, he noticed that some of his goats were hyper and frolicking around unusually. They were energetic than what they were used to seeing them. Then he also noticed that they were eating berries coming from a bush nearby. With curiousity getting the best of him, he decided to try it for himself. He was very happy with the results. Not only was he pleased by its taste but on the effects the berries had on him. He became energized and it kept him awake. Soon, others will be recommended to try it for themselves. And the world was not the same.
Composition:
Tea:
Teas usually contain:
• Tannins
• Catechins
• Theanine
• Small amounts of theobromine and theophylline
• Vitamin C and E
• Natural fluorine
• and Polysaccharides
Coffee:
Coffees usually contain:
• Caffeine
• Trigonelline
• Acids like: amino, chlorogenic and phenolic
• Minerals
• Carbohydrates
Note: The components mentioned above in coffee have been no way connected with improving health and combating certain health diseases.
The Upside:
Health-wise benefits:
Tea
• Helps you look younger looking skin
• Helps build a stronger immune system
• Promotes weight loss
• Lowers blood pressure and sugar level
• Lowers cholesterol
• Reduce risks of heart diseases
• Reduces possibility of developing certain cancers
• Keeps you energized but does not affect sleep
• Prevents tooth decay and bad breath
Coffee
• Also helps prevent and fight certain types of cancer cancer
• Reduces the risk of getting type 2 diabetes
• May prevent certain heart problems such as strokes
• Aids in protection of liver
• Increases energy and focus
• Anti sleepiness. Prevents you from falling asleep
More on the next article...
No comments:
Post a Comment