5 Tea Discoveries We’re Thankful for this November
5 Tea Discoveries We’re Thankful for this November Thanksgiving is on the horizon, and we’ve got a lot to be thankful for! With that in mind, here’s a list of 5 tea discoveries that we’re thankful for this November:
1. Lapsang Souchong
This dark, smoky-flavored tea was discovered by accident when a batch of tea was dried too quickly with the smoke of freshly cut pinewood. The resulting leaves were considered ruined and ended up being sold to Dutch traders. The Dutch fell in love with this tea’s unique flavor, and returned for more year after year.
2. Milk in Tea
Who first had the idea to put a splash of milk in their tea? It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when people started adding milk to tea, but it’s possible the tradition started in 7th century Tibet. Today’s milk tea is likely an evolution of Tibetan butter tea, a creamy beverage made with tea, yak butter, and salt.
3. Oolong Style Tea
Oolong tea was, purportedly, also discovered by accident! A farmer, tired from a day’s work, is said to have spent too long away from his tea leaves. When he returned to the batch of leaves, they had already started to oxidize, turning dark and curled. What resulted was a beautiful, flavor-rich tea.
4. The Modern Steel Kettle
There’s nothing better than the whistle of a kettle! Long before we had the convenience of steel kettles, kettles were made from heavy iron. Not only were they cumbersome, they required a lot of maintenance. Today’s kettles are more ergonomic and convenient than ever before.
5. Single Cup Tea Strainers
Tea strainers have existed in various forms for hundreds of years, but the mesh strainers that we use today are a more recent development. Single cup tea strainers became popular in the 19th century, after it was discovered they could be produced cheaply using steel and silver. People enjoyed the convenience of being able to whip up a single cup of tea without dirtying a tea pot—just the same as we do today!