Tea has been a beloved drink for centuries, and it's seen some makeovers over time! Back in the day, people would soak fresh tea leaves in hot water, letting it brew for a while.
Fast forward to today, and we've got the speedy instant tea making the rounds. But guess what? There are even more ways to whip up your cup of tea! Check out the awesome tea prep methods we've got in store for you below.
Oldest method in existence that comes down to throwing whole tea leaves into hot water. It is believed to have been discovered in China around 2737 BCE when tea leaves accidentally fell into Emperor Shen Nong's boiling water, creating a delightful and invigorating beverage. Tea made like this is flavor-rich, but time consuming.
The origins of powdered tea can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty in China (7th-10th centuries CE). During this time, tea leaves were ground into fine powder and compressed into tea bricks for easy transportation and storage. It makes the brewing process a bit faster, but you still have to brew it.
The first tea bag prototype is credited to a New York tea merchant named Thomas Sullivan in 1908. Sullivan sent samples of his loose leaf tea to his customers in small silk pouches. Assuming that the customers were meant to brew the tea in the silk bags, they simply placed the entire bag into hot water. To Sullivan's surprise, his customers found this method convenient, and the concept of the tea bag was born. Very convenient indeed, but do we do with the bags after we drink the tea?
In the 1930s, a British company named G. Washington's began producing the first commercially successful instant tea. They utilized a dehydration process to create a powdered form of tea that could be easily reconstituted by adding hot water. This instant tea gained popularity during World War II when traditional tea supplies were limited and instant products offered convenience for the military. It is still the fastest and most eco-friendly method of tea prep. Perfect for the fast paced lifestyle as it doesn't require soaking.
If you are new to tea brewing, then using instant tea may be the best option for you. Instant tea and powdered tea also offer more convenience and are faster to prepare.
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