Tea drinking in China has long been considered as a Chinese social activity. Stories have it that tea drinking began from the Tang Dynasty, when the Buddhist monks gathered to drink their brew after meditation. The practice soon spread to the general public, while the refined scholars that time endeavored to perfect the art of tea drinking. Then, as the volume of tea production increased, the number of Chinese tea houses began to flourish, particularly in the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279).

From the Song Dynasty, the number of Chinese tea houses peaked in the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911). By that period, both the style and function of the Chinese tea houses had become diversified. The tea houses started to adopt elegant setting decorated with paintings, bonsai and calligraphy. They sold only tea. There were also others that combined Chinese tea house and Chinese restaurant and offered the traditional brew. Some locally flavored snacks were also offered at these settings.

Style of a Chinese Tea House

Today's Chinese tea houses can be divided into three different styles: the traditional, modern and fusion. In the first place, the traditional tea house aim to promote the national culture while offering an urban hub for leisure and business. The modern variety is represented by the Taiwanese styled eatery. At these modern settings, the main attraction is a sweetened low-graded green or red tea, which is added with small sticky taro balls. Lastly, the fusion type, as the name implies, is a combination of the two styles.

According to some resources, the Chinese tea houses, especially the traditional type, focus mainly on cultivating a taste for pleasure. The tea houses are more expensive than the Chinese coffee shops, but the cost includes a choice of tea as well as an assortment of snacks like melon seeds, biscuits, preserved plums, and candies.

The visitors at these tea houses usually sit on cushions at low tables to drink the fine quality Chinese teas. Their tea is often brewed in a tiny, Satsuma-sized teapot, and then poured into even smaller cups. Reports noted that the teapot may be infused three or four times.

In the Chinese tea house, the drinking of tea is generally about appreciating tea for its aroma, appearance, and flavor, rather than the quenching of thirsts. For the Chinese, it is a special occasion, without formal dress, at which small snacks accompany the tea.

Chinese Tea House Today

These days, most of the tea houses in China are scattered in the city. They are usually set up on bridge piers along the river, to provide a resting place for the visitors and travelers coming afar. Although not large in size, the tea houses are neat in configuration. As many have claimed, they look like pergolas to some extent.

The tea served in tea houses vary from green tea to black tea, along with local delicacies and desserts. There are some instances that one comes in the early morning and order a pot of tea, chat and enjoy the warm sunshine at the same time, until the tea house closes in twilight. At this setting, refills for the tea are given free of charge as long as the cup is left open.

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Triple Leaf Tea Background

Triple Leaf is in the first place a Chinese-American family owned business. They blend Chinese dieters' teas using a combination of the ancient Chinese herbal formulas with the input of modern day Chinese herbalists who are trained in traditional healing herbalism. With this kind of approach, Triple Leaf is able to produce a result that is the creation of delicious healing teas that meet the modern-day needs.

As claimed, the herbs you find in their formulas are those that used in China by the Chinese herbalists. You may recognize some of the herbs as the renowned Chinese herbs, while others are less well-known in the West but prized in the Orient.

The Three Popular Chinese Dieters' Teas

As mentioned earlier, Triple Leaf currently offers three of its well-known products. These include:

* Dieter's Green Herbal Tea – This is one of the very popular Chinese dieters' teas in the market nowadays. As noted, this has been used traditionally for generations to help promote cleansing as well as healthy digestion. According to its proponents, this tea is best when used along with a detox tea which is best in cleansing and detoxification.

* Super Slimming Tea – This product was formulated with a blend of powerful Chinese herbs. Traditionally, the herbs in this blend were used to help promote detoxification, cleansing, as well as healthy digestion. Also, it has long been considered as the potent Chinese dieters' tea. Licorice root, which is considered as the "Great Detoxifier" in Chinas is included in the formula, and orange peel was used as well to help promote healthy digestion. Perhaps what's nice about this product is that the combination of herbs yields a robust taste.

* Ultra Slim – Just like the above mentioned products, this Chinese dieters' tea is composed of blended herbs that help to promote cleansing and healthy digestion. According to some claims, the herbs used in the formula were believed to help move stagnant Chi (energy). They even help to relieve indigestion and abdominal bloating. What's more, this Chinese dieters' tea was traditionally used to help support harmony and balance in the body's systems. As commonly suggested, you can use this Chinese dieters' tea along with detox tea for additional support in cleaning and detoxification.

Note that although these above mentioned products are considered potent for cleansing and aid healthy digestion, experts still recommend you to follow a balanced weight loss diet. Also consider the advice of your healthcare professional for better results. If possible, try to include plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, juices, and pure water when dieting. And, note that these Chinese dieters' teas are not recommended for children, elderly or sick people, and even to those pregnant and nursing mothers.

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The term "bojenmi" actually means "slim and beautiful" in Chinese. It is produced under the Egret River Brand of the Xiamen Export Corporation (XMEHECO) in Xiamen, an island of Fujian province.

The Herbs and Their Uses

The bojenmi Chinese tea formulation is basically provided in the form of a loose tea and easy to use tea bags. Several ingredients are used for this herb formulation, but the main ingredient is the tea leaf from Fujian Province. Reports have revealed that 50 percent of this product contains tea leaf which has been shown to help lower blood lipids. An extract of other herbs, however, are sprayed onto the tea leaf to make the finished beverage product, which is then prepared by steeping in boiled water for 3 to 4 minutes.

The other well-known ingredients of bojenmi Chinese tea are the following:

* Crataegus (shanzha)
* Malt (maiya)
* Pharbitis (qianniuzi)
* Pogostemon (huoxiang)
* Hoelen (fuling)
* Citrus (chenpi)
* Alisma (zexie)
* Cassia (juemingzi)
* Phaseolus (chixiaodou)
* Shen-chu (shenqu)
* Raphanus (laifuzi)

Accordingly, these herbs are traditionally used to enhance digestion, resolve accumulations of phlegm and moisture, eliminate food stagnation, and provide a slight laxative action. Also, the combination includes the four therapeutic actions relied upon by the Chinese doctors to promote weight loss and reduce blood lipids.

It is interesting to know that malt, shen-chu, cratageus, raphanus, citrus peel and pogostemon are used to invigorate the digestion of foods in the stomach. The holen mushroom, phaseolus, alisma, citrus and pogostemon also have power to remove excess fluid. Then, the cassia and pharbitis are said to provide a laxative effect, while the crataegus, alisma, and cassia reduce blood lipids. In addition, the combination of malt, shen-chu, crataegus and raphanus was shown in a clinical trial to lessen the symptoms of abdominal distention, eructation, acid regurgitation, intestinal gurgling, as well as intestinal cramping in patients with sluggish bowel function.

The Right Dosage

Experts recommend that the right dosage of bojenmi Chinese tea is 3 to 6 grams each time to be taken three times a day. So, about 9 to 18 grams of the bojenmi Chinese tea leaves carrying the herbal extracts is then taken in one day. That would be 3 to 6 bags of bojenmi Chinese tea, as one tea bag contains 3 grams.

According to the bojenmi Chinese tea package information, if no dietary changes are considered, one can still lose weight, though it is best to have a low calorie diet for continued weight loss.

The Bojenmi Chinese tea actually has a mild taste, something like the ordinary black tea, but with a slight added spicy-bitter taste. If desired, you can add a small amount of sugar or other sweetener on it to alter the taste.

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Chinese diet tea, fasting tea, slimming tea, super dieter's tea, weight loss tea, although they come with somewhat different names, all promote a common message – drink this tea and you will lose weight. However, many experts noted that what you are actually drinking from these products is a plant based laxative that can cause certain disorders like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fainting, chronic constipation and perhaps even death when consumed in excessive amounts.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) once stressed that the laxative teas and dietary supplements of most concern are those containing one or more of the substances, such as aloe, senna, rhubarb root, buckthorn, castor oil, and cascara. These products are derived from plants and have been used since time immemorial for their ability to relieve constipation and promote bowel movements. They are deemed effective for such purposes with occasional use.

When the labeled "Chinese diet teas" are excessively used based on the misconception that frequent bowel movements prevent the absorption of calories that problems tend to occur. Numerous studies have shown that the laxative-induced diarrhea does not significantly reduce absorption of calories for the reason that laxatives don't work in the small intestine, where the calories are absorbed. It rather works on the colon, which is the lower end of the bowel.

Also found out is that when the Chinese diet teas are misused by steeping the tea longer than product labeling recommends can lead to short as well as long term adverse condition. This is also true when the Chinese diet teas are taken more than the recommended amount.

It has been noted that for those first-time users who drank Chinese diet teas more than the recommended amount, stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea are the common disorders to occur and will last for several days. When these laxatives are used continually, laxative dependency will tend to develop with bouts of chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain as well as constipation. In the most severe cases, these laxatives can cause fainting, dehydration and serious electrolyte disorders. As noted, these after-effects of excessive use of Chinese diet teas are most likely to develop in people who are nutritionally compromised due to rigorous weight-loss dieting.

Because of these concerns, the FDA is now considering requiring the manufacturers of labeled "Chinese diet teas" to place warning labels on all of their product stimulant laxatives. It is also important that those who are using Chinese diet teas for any purpose must read and follow the recommended directions carefully. The words indicated on the label under "warning" must then be given attention.

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Actually, the health benefits of Chinese green tea have been known throughout the world. The Chinese have known about these medicinal benefits since ancient times, as they have been using green tea to treat everything from headaches to depression. A writer named Nadine Taylor in her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life mentioned that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.

These days, numerous scientific researches conducted both in Asia and the West is providing hard evidences for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. To mention, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study in 1994, indicating that drinking Chinese green tea lowers the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly 60 percent. Also, it was reported by the researches of the University of Purdue just recently that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

There are other medical conditions to which drinking green tea is reputed to be beneficial. To sum up, these conditions include cancer, cardiovascular disease, infection, rheumatoid arthritis, impaired immune function, and even high cholesterol levels.

What Makes Green Tea Special?

The top secret of Chinese green tea lies in the fact that it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly the said epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is basically an anti-oxidant that has the power to fight and kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissue in the body. Studies also revealed that this anti-oxidant has been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and hampering the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter benefit takes on added importance for the fact that the formation of abnormal blood clots, medically known as thrombosis, is the main factor that causes stroke and heart attacks.

Furthermore, the effects of Chinese green tea and the "French Paradox" were highly associated. Researches were in the first place puzzled by the fact that despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a less incidence of heart disease than Americans. The primary answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol. Resveratrol is as polyphenol that restricts the negative effects of smoking as well as a fatty diet. However, in 1997, a certain study reported that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol. And, this somehow explains the lower rate of heart disease among Chinese men even though approximately 70 percent are smokers.

Other Benefits

New evidences that reveal the other benefits of Chinese green tea are now emerging. One of those is the claim that Chinese green tea can help dieters. Researches found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more fats than those given only a placebo and caffeine.

Chinese green tea is also said to prevent tooth decay. Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also fight the bacteria that cause dental plague.

Today, several skin preparations containing green tea, from deodorants to creams, are also starting to appear on the market. This is for the reason that Chinese green tea is found out to be powerful in fighting bacteria that cause skin imperfections.

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Speaking of tea making, it is interesting to know that there are some very important steps involved in tea making. One of those is choosing the right Chinese tea set.

Choosing the right or appropriate tea sets is said to be very crucial in the tea preparation. In particular, it holds a very vital role in brewing tea.

Now, what composes a Chinese tea set?

Basically, the Chinese tea sets are referred to as tea pots, tea saucers, tea bowls, and tea trays. Today, there are different forms and types of Chinese tea sets that have certain characteristics and designs. Because of this, the tea sets are considered a very necessary part of artistry.

Being highly valued, the Chinese tea sets are dedicated to the established tea culture in China. They are actually divided into two categories. The first refers to those that have high artistic value, while the second is those that are used in every day life. I think it is quite understandable that those with high artistic value are commonly used in special tea ceremonies like a Chinese wedding ceremony. They are usually kept in beautiful cabinets and are proudly presented during a tea ceremony. On the other hand, those that are used in every day life are just used plainly for that purpose. As you may know, tea is a very vital part of every meal in China.

How to select the right tea sets and identify their use is not difficult. Selecting Chinese tea sets for every day use largely depends on the types of the tea that people drink. It even depends on where the people live.

For example, in the eastern as well as northern regions of china, the people usually drink floral teas, which are also considered as herbal teas. Now, in drinking floral tea, the people commonly employ large tea pots to boil the tea in water. According to some resources, these tea pots are ceramic, and their size depends on the number of people to be served.

In the Kangnam area, it was reported that green tea is usually drunk. It then follows that using a ceramic tea pot with a lid is very appropriate. Then, in areas like Fujian, Taiwan and Guangdong, the people drink usually oolong teas, so they usually use a regular kettle to brew the tea.

Furthermore, when brewing Gongfu tea or Hong tea, experts suggest using a ceramic pot or a regular kettle. Then, when drinking a high quality tea such as Xihu-long-jing, Jun-shan-yin-zhen, and Ton-ting-bilei-chun, clear glass cups are appropriate to use.

However, when drinking green tea or any tea that has fine leaves, choose a Chinese tea set that has small tea cups, as they are best to use than the large ones. Well, the main reason for this is that when these teas are poured into large cup, there would be too much water. High levels of water is said to brew fine leaves too fast, resulting in discolored tea leaves, and influencing the fragrance as well as taste of the tea. Some people also use a thermos to keep the green tea warm, which affects the color and flavor of the tea. It's no wonder then that today, most of the Chinese tea sets include thermos on it.

Along with those mentioned items included in a Chinese tea set, there are also some tea plates, tea set cover cloths, tea spoons, tea trays, and tea brewing containers to complete the set.

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Traditionally, the Chinese herbal teas are used for their medicinal and healing properties. However, there are many varieties that are also enjoyed simply for their taste. Today, these teas can be bought in China as the country produces an entire pharmacy of herbs.

The Benefits of Chinese Herbal Tea

One of the well-known benefits of Chinese herbal tea is that it offers the tea drinker caffeine free alternatives. Many of them are considered to be very soothing and comforting. The Rosebud and Chrysanthemum herbal teas are just two of them.

The Rosebud and Chrysanthemum teas are known in China as a woman's herb. However, it is also useful for aiding digestion. As noted, even a hardcore tea drinker will surely enjoy the flowery freshness of these miniature rosebuds. The Chrysanthemum in particular has a unique flavor. It has long been used to cool the body and reduce fever.

The Chinese herbal teas are even great beverages to have at night, especially when you might not want caffeine.

The Famous Flower Herbal Teas

There is a number of Chinese herbal tea varieties, one of those are the flower teas. These teas are caffeine free alternatives and offer various benefits. Most of them are calming and soothing, while offering a palatte of flavors.

Here are the most famous flower teas:

* Carnation Flower Tea – This is an attractive red flower tea which is said to help restore the energy of the body. It is also considered great for relaxing.

* Chrysanthemum Herbal Tea – This is but a top grade of the famous cooling tea infusion. It has a subtle sweetness and is highly refreshing.

* Gongju Herbal Tea – Another caffeine-free tea, which is smooth tasting. The whole flower is known for its soothing as well as relaxing attributes.

* Jasmine Bud Flower Tea – According to some experts, this Chinese herbal tea consists solely of the small and beautiful Jasmine flowers that have yet to open. This produces a caffeine-free and sweet brew.

* Forget Me Not Flower Tea – This is also caffeine-free and is said to aid the lungs. It brews a mild and grassy flavored tisane. And, it is known for its beautiful purple flowers.

* Yunnan Flower Bud Tea – As the name implies, this Chinese herbal tea grows in the old forests of Yunnan. This is considered a rare flower and is a local Yunnan drink that is caffeine free.

* Wild New York Ginseng – Here is another well-known Chinese herbal tea intended for those who appreciate the wild growing conditions in which the roots lived. It is said that because of the rugged wild conditions, each root has a unique appearance and personality. Some of these wild roots can be very small but also very old. There are also some larger roots that can be younger. Accordingly, these herbal roots lives for at least seven years and up.

* Kuding Pearl Tea – Many who have tasted this tea noted that this is a bitter tea. This variety is rolled into large pearls which are also called "one leaf tea" because of the size of the leaves. Others call it "one leaf" because one needs only one leaf of this tea to heal a number of things. In addition, this is an ancient leaf and is deemed by many as an interesting herbal tea.

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The Chinese wedding tea ceremony is usually considered when the bride arrive the groom's home. The bride and the groom will gather before the parents and the immediate relatives and the bride will serve tea for his in-laws.

The type of tea that can be used during the Chinese wedding tea ceremony usually range from oolong tea to jasmine tea. This ceremony takes place on the day of the wedding itself. After the serving of the tea, the guests (usually the parents first) would then give their approval to the couple and they would respond by giving them red packets. These red packets contain money to wish the couple a blissful life ahead.

Importance of the Tea

Probably, tea is served during the Chinese wedding because it is the national drink of China and serving it is a sign of respect. Well, using tea is somewhat practical as not everyone can drink alcohol.

During the Chinese wedding tea ceremony, lotus seeds and two red dates are used in the tea for two main reasons. The first reason lies on the fact that the words "lotus" and "year", "seed" and "child" and "date" and "early" are homophones, that is, they have the same sound but different meanings in Chinese. Secondly, it is an ancient Chinese belief that placing lotus seeds and two red dates in the tea would help the newly weds produce children early in their marriage and every year, which would ensure many grandchildren for their parents. Also, the sweetness of the special tea used in the Chinese wedding tea ceremony is a wish for sweet relations between the bride and her new family.

Serving of the Tea

On the wedding day, the bride serves the tea by holding the tea cup with both hands. The tea is served to her parents at home before the groom arrives. According to Chinese belief, this is done out of respect and to thank the bride's parents for raising her. The tea at this time does not need to have the lotus seeds or dates, and there's no need for the bride to ask for an assistance of a "lucky woman". She serves the tea by herself without the groom.

After the wedding ceremony, it is a tradition in China that the newlyweds serve tea by holding the tea cups with both hands. This is what signals the Chinese wedding tea ceremony. During this event, the newlywed will invite the groom's elders to drink tea by way of addressing them by formal title. For example, first uncle and third aunt.

There is one general rule applied during the Chinese wedding tea ceremony, that is, to have the woman on the left side and the man on the right side. The people being served will sit in chairs, while the newlyweds kneel. For instance, when they serve tea to the groom's parents, the bride would kneel in front of her father in-law, while the groom would kneel in front of his mother.

It is further worth noting that the newlyweds serve tea in order. The serving will start with the groom's parents then proceeding from the oldest members of the family to the youngest. In return, the newlyweds welcome lucky red envelopes that are stuffed with jewelry or money. The helpers, who are usually women, are the ones who blessed with a happy marriage or wealth. They are also chosen by the fortune teller or the bride's mother, and they also get lucky red envelopes stuffed with money from those being served. The envelopes are usually placed on the platter which holds the tea cups.

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Chinese Black Tea Basics

As the name implies, the Chinese black tea originates in China and has long been used by the Chinese as part of their daily meals.

The brewed black tea ranges from reddish brown to black in color. According to some resources, one of the most obvious characteristic of the Chinese black tea is that it mellows with age and grows richer and deeper in flavor. The vintage black teas in particular are deemed superlative, boasting flavors and aromas that conjure up the same adjectives used to distinguish fine wine or whiskey.

Storing Chinese black tea is simple. It is usually kept in a well-ventilated place and the tea requires no temperature regulation. Also, unlike the other teas, Chinese black teas come in compressed cakes with a variety o shapes and sizes. It could be round, square, and even bamboo-like tubes.

Types of Chinese Black Tea

According to different processing methods, Chinese black tea can be divided into three different types:

1. Souchong Black Tea – This is a unique type of black tea that grows at the Wuyi Mountain City in Fujian province. According to some experts, the pine-smoking fragrance of Souchong black tea is much different from any other black teas in the world. And, according to different producing area, this variety can be classified into four types:

* Tongmuguan Souchong which is produced in Tongmuguan county
* Lapsang Souchong, produced in Chong'An, Jianyang, Guangzhe
* XingChun Souchong, produced in other areas which around Xingcun town of Chong'An county
* Smoking Souchong, which is not from Wuyi Mountain City

Of these mentioned subclasses, the Lapsang Souchong is considered the best, offering longan flavor. The Smoking Souchong, on the other hand, is made from low grade congou back tea and is processed by imitational method as other Souchong black teas. Also, the smoking fragrance of this type is exactly coming from the burning brushwood of pine plant.

2. Congou Black Tea – This Chinese black tea type evolved from the Souchong variety. The most famous congou Chinese black teas include the Qihong of Anhui (Keemun black), Dianhong of Yunnan, Suhong of Jiangsu, Chuanhong of Sichuan and Huhong of Hunan.

3. Broken Black Tea – Finally, this type is also called "graded black tea" for the reason that there is international uniform grading standard for this type of Chinese black tea. Well, according to different shapes, the broken black tea us classified into four subtypes: the whole leaf black, with short strip shape; broken leaf black, with small grain shape; fannings black, with small slice shape; and dust black, with powdered shape.

It is interesting to know that the origin of Chinese black tea is Chong'An, Fujian. This place is actually the city of the Wuyi Mountain today. In souchong black tea was firstly manufactured in the Wuyi Mountain in the last of 18th century. Following that, the congou black tea came to life. Since then, the manufacturing technique of black tea was brought to Jiangsi province, then to Keemun.

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Well, China is obviously the homeland of tea. According to some Chinese tea history resources, it was in the southwest part of the country that the tea was first found.

Legend has it that the God of Agriculture (GoA) was said to be the one who found the tea. He was one of the prehistoric representatives of Chinese people. It was stated in the GoA's Book of Herbs that GoA personally tasted hundreds of herb. In the single day, he was hit by 72 poisons. But, he discovered the tea tree and used the tea leaves to neutralize all poisons. For many people, this is probably the earliest record of tea among the Chinese.

The Evolution

As often noted in some Chinese tea history resources, the Chinese tea has been around for thousands of years, approximately 4,000 years. It was first discovered and used as a medicine, and then it evolved into a beverage, and later became a major part of the Chinese culture.

Chinese Tea's Infancy

Prior to 8th century B.C., the Chinese tea was used primarily as a medicine. Chinese tea history books noted that during the Chun Qiu Period (770 BC – 476 BC), the Chinese people chewed tea leaves and enjoyed the taste of tea juicy itself.

Tea Evolved into Food and Beverage

From 8th century onwards, the Chinese realized that the tea can be used as food and beverage. So, they started to cook tea like a soup. The tea leaves were eaten along with the soup. The Chinese teas were even blended with food. Ancient Chinese tea history books documented that the tea during that time was even eaten and used with other spices for cooking.

Then, During the Qin, Han Dynasty (221 BC – 8 AD), simple processing of the Chinese tea began. It was further documented in some of the Chinese tea history books that the tea leaves were that time pressed into ball shapes, dried and stored. When served, the tea balls are crushed and mixed with green onion, ginger and other spices, and then blended in teapots. Note that this is actually the point where the Chinese tea turned from a medicine into a beverage. This period also marked the beginning of Chinese tea being used to treat guests.

As Part of the Chinese Culture

During the Jin Dynasty and Nan Bei Zhao (265 AD – 589 AD), the Chinese tea evolved from a palace treat to a common beverage. Later, during the Tang Dynasty (618 AD – 907 AD), tea trading had become extremely busy. Lots of famous teas were then developed.

According to some Chinese tea history books, the tea was processed and circulated in the form of tea cakes in the Tang era. People started to get serious about making tea, and specialized tea tools emerged and tea books were published. The art of Chinese tea then started to take shape.

In the dawn of Song Dynasty, the tea was kept in the shape of balls and cakes. When served, it was crushed and boiled with seasoning material. However, as the drinkers became more particular, they paid more respect to the original color, taste and shape of the leaves. Seasoning then faded out and loose leaf tea began to take the center stage.

From the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) onward, the tea completed the process of moving from boiling to brewing. And, after Ming Dynasty, numerous types were invented. From then on, the art of Chinese tea is perfected continuously, until today.

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