Tea us A Popular Drink
Tea is the most popular drink in the world today. It is very refreshing and invigorating. Nowadays, it has become so popular that even in a remote village, a guest or visitor is often entertained with a cup of tea. Tea is obtained from the leaves of tea plants.
Tea plants grow well on the slopes of hills where there is abundant rainfall but no waterlogging. In Bangladesh, there are tea gardens in the hilly regions of Sylhet, Comilla, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. In these gardens, tea plants are generally planted in rows at specific intervals. After reaching a certain stage of growth, the twigs are pruned and the buds are nipped so the plants do not grow taller than three feet.
The leaves are plucked four times a year—typically in April, June, July, and August. After being gathered, the leaves and buds are rolled by a machine and dried in a cauldron over a furnace. Through this process, tea becomes ready for consumption.
The preparation of tea is simple but interesting. Water is first boiled, and then the desired quantity of tea dust or leaves is added. After a few minutes, the tea leaves are separated from the liquor. The liquor is then poured into a cup, and milk and sugar are added to taste. Thus, tea becomes a tasty and refreshing drink.
Tea helps remove tiredness, refreshes the mind, and stimulates energy and alertness. It removes drowsiness and fatigue. In our country, it is now commonly used to entertain guests.
Recently, some doctors in China have said that tea—especially green tea—may work as an antidote to cancer and heart disease. However, excessive consumption of tea can harm our health. Too much tea often kills appetite and may lead to gastric problems and peptic ulcers.
