Monthly Archives: June 2016

Tea Customs Around the World: It’s Not Just Another Drink

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Tea Customs Around the World - It's Not Just Another DrinkIn all of its many iterations, tea is the second most consumed drink in the world behind water. Whether it’s black, herbal, chai or green tea, the beverage that so many consider their favorite is consumed in practically every country on the planet.

The most fascinating thing about tea is that it is not just another drink. In many countries, there are ancient traditions that go along with every cup. Following those traditions is as important to the enjoyment of tea as flavor and aroma. Below are just a few examples.

India – Tea in Clay Cups

Although India is not considered the birthplace of tea, it is the world’s largest producer and consumer of tea. Tea is so popular here that you can buy it just about anywhere – in train stations, on street corners, and in every market. Furthermore, people prefer to drink their tea out of clay cups made of local soil in the belief that residue from the soil is key to giving the tea a unique, local flavor.

China – The Tea Experience

If you want to experience traditional Chinese tea, be prepared for a long, participatory ritual of preparation and brewing. When the tea is ready, it will be served by filling cups arranged in a circle using a continuous pouring motion that does not stop until every cup is full. Then, cradle your cup in your hands and slowly take in the taste and aroma through a series of delicate sniffs and sips.

Britain – Afternoon Tea

We usually associate tea in Britain with the exercise of afternoon tea. Believe it or not, this custom was not introduced until the mid-1840s. Today, the tradition continues with a mild and flavorful tea served in mid-to-late afternoon along with a selection of small sandwiches and cakes. It has been said that the best place to enjoy afternoon tea is in a quiet garden.

Malaysia – Pulled Tea

Malaysia’s favorite tea drink is known as ‘teh tarik’ (pulled tea). It is a rather frothy mixture with a unique texture resulting from the way the ingredients are mixed. There is actually an art form to doing this. Tea masters put all of the ingredients in a glass mug to start. Then, they swiftly transfer the mixture to a second glass mug, continuing back and forth for some time. The process exposes the mixture to cool air which creates the drink’s frothiness.

United States – Tea for Health

The tea culture in the United States is just emerging. As such, we do not really have any tea customs as yet. The closest we come to custom is the fact that most of us who drink tea do so for health reasons. We are replacing sugary drinks, coffee and alcohol with something that is perceived to be much better for us.

Here at Galaxie, we offer a full range of teas along with our coffees and other beverages. Feel free to ask about your favorite tea drink next time you order.

Social and Cultural Impacts of Coffee Have Been Profound

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Social and Cultural Impacts of Coffee Have Been ProfoundContemplating the common coffee bean can be a very enlightening experience if you allow it to be. For example, what is coffee really? Is it just a plant from which we make a delicious beverage, or is it a commodity that has had a significant impact on society? Your knowledge of the history of coffee probably dictates how you answer these two questions.

National Public Radio presented a very compelling piece back in 2013 demonstrating the social and cultural impacts of coffee over hundreds of years of history. Needless to say, coffee is more than just a beverage we drink. It has been part of world-changing political decisions, the creation of beautiful works of art, and the development of strong economic engines in multiple countries across the globe. Below are a few highlights from the NPR piece that provide a clear picture of how important coffee has been throughout history.

The London Coffeehouse Scene

We do not typically associate coffee houses with London, but they had such establishments long before we did. According to NPR, the world-renowned Lloyd’s of London insurance company was formed in a London coffeehouse by the same name in 1688. Proprietor Edward Lloyd established his coffeehouse as a gathering place for ship owners, sailors, and merchant marines. It eventually became a place where mariners and insurers could meet to discuss insurance, leading Lloyd to establish his own insurance company.

NPR also notes those same London coffeehouses were meeting places for journalists, authors, and even great composers like Bach and Beethoven. They say that some of the greatest compositions of classical music and literature may have been born in 17th- and 18th-century coffeehouses.

Coffee and the American Revolution

Coffee played a significant role as a political statement at the start of the American Revolution. As you might guess, once patriots dumped all that tea into Boston Harbor in 1773, citizens and politicians alike stopped drinking British tea and took up coffee instead. Coffee became an important political symbol in that it signified one’s allegiance to America and a subsequent disdain for Britain.

Modern Coffee Movement

Today, coffee continues to have a significant social and cultural impact. While the coffeehouses of the Pacific Northwest have generated an entirely separate coffee culture that is as distinct as the wine, chocolate and cheese cultures, socially-minded coffee drinkers are championing the cause of growers and laborers who they believe are not being treated fairly.

Of course, coffee has also spawned new technologies and inventions that have made millions of dollars for their inventors. The single-cup coffee machine is but one example. And with every such invention, there is another paradigm shift in the way we make and consume coffee.

Coffee has undoubtedly shaped cultures and societies for hundreds of years. We are just happy to be able to be a part of it here at Galaxie. If it were not for coffee, we would be doing something else for a living.