NATIONAL TEA DAY APRIL 21st, 2023…

National Tea Day – 21st April 2023- #tea #British #hot

The British love of anything to do with TEA dates back centuries and this soft spot seems to only get stronger with time! National Tea Day’s slogan is “Brew More. Do More.” The vision is to inspire special moments with tea. Working with a variety of partner companies throughout the year, they desire to bring tea drinkers, tea servers and the entire tea industry together.

Although tea originated from China, a lot of people associate it primarily with the United Kingdom, since it was the British who helped popularize tea in Europe.

Contrary to popular misconception, tea wasn’t introduced to Europe by the British; it was Dutch sailors who first brought it to the European continent from China. The earliest known mention of tea by an Englishman was by an agent for the British East India Company in 1615.

It is celebrated in tea rooms, hotels, pubs and cafés through special events, and charitable fundraising events held across the country, including a tea ‘Fes-Tea-Val’ at Chiswick House & Gardens in London. 

Despite the fact that tea has been popular in the UK for hundreds of years, the question of when to add the milk is one which still provokes many an argument! Most people first pour the tea into the cup, then add the milk, but others disagree. It is said that this was a way for the rich to show off their wealth. They often drank tea in porcelain cups, and it was only the better-quality porcelain that could withstand the temperature of very hot tea. This meant that people who had lower-quality cups needed to first pour the milk so that the cup wouldn’t break.

One fascinating fact – The average Brit drinks 876 cups of tea every single year – enough to fill two bath tubs. 

Source: National Today, Discover Britain Magazine, Learn English Wikipedia

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A FEW TEAS THAT CAN HELP YOU TO LOSE A FEW POUNDS…

Cinnamon is a great addition to your diet as it lowers blood sugar levels. They suggest you only have one teaspoon to help lower your blood sugar level.

Cinnamon is a popular spice, especially for baked goods and desserts. Aside from its distinctive aroma, cinnamon is believed to help lower the blood sugar level, making it suitable for obese patients who are at higher risk of diabetes. However, consumption should be limited to one teaspoon per day, as excessive amounts can result in liver problems.

The website Livestrong says whether or not you take your coffee with cream and sugar, milk and honey or with nothing at all, cinnamon tea is a simple, healthful beverage that many enjoy. Cinnamon tea has a sweet, spicy flavour as well as significant health benefits. To prepare this tea, boil a 3-inch piece of cinnamon stick in 1 1/4 cups of water for 15 to 25 minutes, and then let it steep and rest for another 15 minutes. Or, mix 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder with hot water and stir. One gram of cinnamon equals 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder or 1/2 cinnamon stick.

Failing that there are a number of Cinnamon Teas you can buy like Pukka Teas Organic Three Cinnamon Tea Bags, Holland and Barrett Yogi Organic Cinnamon Spiced Tea or Rooibos Ahmad Cinnamon Tea.

Green tea is one of the most well-known types of tea and is linked with many health benefits.

It’s also one of the most effective teas for weight loss. There is substantial evidence linking green tea to decreases in both weight and body fat.

Another study writes Healthline found that people who consumed green tea extract for 12 weeks experienced significant decreases in body weight, body fat and waist circumference, compared to a control group.

Black tea is a type of tea that has undergone more oxidation than other types, such as green, white or oolong teas.

There are many different types and blends of black tea available, including popular varieties like Earl Grey and English breakfast. Several studies have found that black tea could be effective when it comes to weight control.

One study of 111 people found that drinking three cups of black tea each day for three months significantly increased weight loss and reduced waist circumference, compared to drinking a caffeine-matched control beverage.

Source: Healthline, Livestrong