Tea Around the World: Unique Varieties And Health Benefits
Tea Around the World: Unique Varieties And Health Benefits.
Introduction
Tea is one of the most consumed beverages globally, offering an incredible variety of flavors, aromas, and health benefits. Across different cultures, unique teas have been cultivated and cherished for centuries, each offering distinct benefits. From Japan’s ceremonial matcha to the robust Pu-erh of China, every tea tells a story. Let’s explore some of the most unique teas around the world and their incredible health benefits.
1. Matcha (Japan)
✅ Benefits: High in antioxidants, boosts metabolism, enhances focus, detoxifies the body.
⭐ Why It’s Special:
- Made from shaded green tea leaves, which boosts chlorophyll and amino acids.
- Finely ground into a vibrant green powder for a rich, creamy texture.
- Used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies.
🌿 Harvesting Process:
- Tea plants are shade-grown for 3-4 weeks before harvest to increase nutrients.
- Only the youngest leaves are hand-picked.
- Leaves are steamed, dried, and ground into fine powder using stone mills.
🍵 Taste: Rich, umami, slightly bitter with a creamy texture.
📍 in Calgary:
The Tea Trader- 1902 11 St SE
This tea shop offers a wide range of premium teas, including authentic Japanese Matcha. They have a selection of matcha-based beverages and often focus on high-quality teas from Japan.
2. Cascara - Coffee Cherry Tea (Vietnam)
✅ Benefits: Rich in antioxidants, boosts energy with mild caffeine, aids digestion and gut health, supports heart health.
⭐ Why It’s Special:
- Made from the dried husks of coffee cherries, reducing waste.
- A naturally sweet and fruity tea with mild caffeine.
- Often enjoyed hot or cold, like an herbal infusion.
🌿 Harvesting Process:
- Coffee cherries are hand-picked.
- The outer husks are separated from the coffee beans.
- Sun-dried to develop a natural sweetness.
🍵 Taste: Naturally sweet, fruity, and slightly tangy. Notes of raisins, cherries, and hibiscus
📍 in Calgary:
Y Not Today- 4339 Mcleod trail SW
Y Not Today is an interactive Bingsu and Board game cafe. It offers many types ofpremium teas, including authentic Cascara tea that is made from Coffee Cherry. Also, your experience will be fantastic because you can enjoy cascara tea, board games, and delicious desserts at the same time. The great social atmosphere will be good for you to relax and connect.
3. Masala Chai (India)
✅ Benefits: Aids digestion, boosts immunity, improves heart health.
⭐ Why It’s Special:
- A spiced milk tea deeply rooted in Indian culture.
- Blend of black tea and spices like cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and black pepper.
- Offers warming and digestive benefits.
🌿 Harvesting Process:
- Black tea leaves (often Assam or Darjeeling) are hand-picked.
- Leaves are oxidized to develop bold flavors.
- Dried and packed before being blended with spices.
🍵 Taste: Spiced, warming, slightly sweet.
📍 in Calgary:
Chaiwala: 10474 Cityscape Dr NE
This cozy spot specializes in authentic Indian chai, including traditional masala chai, brewed with spices and served the traditional way. They offer a variety of chai blends to try.
4 Moroccan Mint Tea (Morocco)
✅ Benefits: Aids digestion, refreshes, helps with relaxation.
⭐ Why It’s Special:
- A symbol of hospitality and tradition in Morocco.
- Made with Chinese gunpowder green tea and fresh mint.
- Poured from a height to create foam and enhance flavor.
🌿 Harvesting Process:
- Gunpowder green tea is harvested in China, where young leaves are rolled into pellets.
- Fresh spearmint (nana mint) is locally picked in Morocco.
- The tea and mint are combined for a fragrant, refreshing drink.
🍵 Taste: Sweet, minty, slightly bitter.
📍 in Calgary:
The Casbah Restaurant 720 11 Ave SW
This restaurant offers an authentic Moroccan tea experience. Their Moroccan mint tea is served traditionally, with lots of mint and a touch of sweetness.
5. Yerba Mate (Argentina, South America)
✅ Benefits: Provides energy, rich in vitamins, aids digestion.
⭐ Why It’s Special:
- A social drink often shared in a communal gourd.
- Provides a balanced energy boost without jitters.
- Contains more antioxidants than green tea.
🌿 Harvesting Process:
- Leaves from the Ilex paraguariensis plant are hand-picked.
- Dried using wood smoke for a distinctive flavor.
- Aged for several months to enhance taste.
🍵 Taste: Earthy, grassy, slightly smoky.
📍 in Calgary:
Café Beano 1613 9 St SW
Known for its wide selection of specialty teas and coffees, Café Beano offers Yerba Mate, a traditional South American tea. You can enjoy it in a relaxed setting with knowledgeable staff to guide you through the experience..
6. Butterfly Pea Flower Tea (Thailand)
✅ Benefits: Enhances brain function, rich in antioxidants, changes color with pH.
⭐ Why It’s Special:
- Changes color from blue to purple when lemon is added.
- Used in traditional Thai herbal medicine.
- Naturally caffeine-free and rich in anthocyanins.
🌿 Harvesting Process:
- Vibrant blue flowers are hand-picked.
- Sun-dried to preserve color and nutrients.
- Stored in airtight containers for freshness.
🍵 Taste: Mild, floral, slightly woody.
📍 in Calgary:
Y Not Today- 4339 Mcleod trail SW
Y Not Today is taking extra effort to bring unique tea experience to all customers and it can’t miss ButterFly Pea tea.
This tea fit perfectly with the cozy, artsy atmosphere of the café, allowing customers to enjoy not just the flavor but the sensory experience of watching the color change. In the future, the shop plans to host special events/workshops around this tea, and it will be fun to build a healthy community around tea, games, and connections.
7. Russian Ivan Chai (Russia)
✅ Benefits: Anti-inflammatory, supports digestion, caffeine-free.
⭐ Why It’s Special:
- Made from fireweed instead of traditional tea leaves.
- Caffeine-free, used in Russian folk medicine.
- Has a mildly floral and earthy flavor.
🌿 Harvesting Process:
- Fireweed leaves are hand-picked in summer.
- Fermented naturally to develop flavor.
- Dried and rolled into tea leaves.
🍵 Taste: Earthy, slightly fruity with floral notes.
📍 in Calgary:
Blush Lane Organic Market10 Aspen Stone Blvd SW
This market occasionally carries Ivan Chai as part of its specialty tea selection. It’s worth checking out for this unique Russian tea.
Multicultural Influence on Calgary’s Tea Scene
Calgary is known for its diverse and vibrant cultural scene, and one interesting aspect of this is the growing popularity of intercultural tea experiences. These experiences combine traditional tea-drinking customs from various cultures, creating opportunities to explore the rich and diverse tea traditions from around the world.Calgary’s tea culture is deeply influenced by its multicultural community. Chinese herbal teas, Japanese matcha, Indian masala chai, and British afternoon tea traditions all play a role in shaping the city’s tea offerings. With diverse backgrounds coming together, tea has become a symbol of cultural unity in Calgary.
Innovative Ways Tea is Being Served
Tea isn’t just about traditional brewing anymore. Calgary is witnessing exciting innovations in how tea is served, such as:
Bubble Tea: Originally from Taiwan, bubble tea has become a favorite among young Calgarians.
Nitro Tea: Infused with nitrogen for a creamy texture, nitro tea is becoming a trendy alternative to cold brew coffee.
Tea Lattes: Combining tea with steamed milk and flavors like vanilla or honey, tea lattes are becoming a go-to drink for many.
Tea Events and Festivals in Calgary
Calgary hosts several tea events throughout the year, bringing enthusiasts together to celebrate tea culture. Events such as The Calgary Tea Festival offer tea-tasting sessions, workshops, and cultural performances, allowing people to explore various types of teas from around the world.
Conclusion
Calgary’s tea culture is a beautiful blend of tradition and innovation. As more people embrace different kinds of tea, the city continues to evolve as a hub for tea lovers. From classic brews to modern twists, Calgary is proving that tea is more than just a drink—it’s an experience.
Check out our post about Why Bubble Tea is an Important Part of Asian Culture
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