March is National Nutrition Month®, and this year’s theme, “Food Connects Us,” resonates with me because food connects me to my family, friends and other cultures. Memories, social connections, traditions and availability influence our relationships with foods and beverages.

Successful aging relies on social connections, and worldwide, people share tea to maintain social connections using leaves harvested from the evergreen shrub Camellia sinensis.

  • Aromatic White tea
    • is highly prized. Workers handpick the freshest, tenderest leaves and unopened buds, and to minimize oxidation, the processors expose the leaves to the gentle sunlight of morning and late afternoon.
    • Producers oxidize the tea leaves for a short time to make
    Oolong tea
    • . Experts say that the best tea leaves are grown in the high mountain regions of Taiwan and Japan.

    Black tea

    • is completely oxidized, and its flavor varies depending on the growing region, harvesting methods and processing techniques.

    Green tea

    • is not oxidized because the experts immediately steam the freshly harvested leaves.

    So, brew your favorite tea to sip and savor while you learn how people worldwide use tea for social and cultural connections.

    Cha Dao

    “Cha” is the Chinese word for tea, and the Dao philosophy honors the principles of balance, grace, serenity, mindfulness, simplicity and harmony with nature. “Cha Dao” refers to the complex art of tea-making. Oolong and Jasmine are two more familiar teas, but the country’s diverse climate allows for hundreds of different types.

    Otemae

    The art and performance of preparing and presenting matcha powdered green tea is otemae and reinforces some of Japan’s classic philosophies on harmony, respect, purity and tranquility. The word “matcha” is Japanese for “ground tea.” Growers shade the shrub to increase the chlorophyll content. Producers grind the whole leaves, and the resulting beverage is a vibrant green with a unique flavor and high nutritional value.

    Chai

    India produces and consumes more tea than any other country. The national drink is chai, a black tea infused with ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, cardamom and cloves. Hosts make a ritual of offering Chai to all guests.

    Afternoon Tea

    Even though many Brits prefer coffee, tea is synonymous with England and maintains a special place in the hearts of British adults. The ritual of afternoon tea was introduced in Britain in the early 1840s by the seventh Duchess of Bedford to stem hunger when she served the evening meal at 8 p.m.

    Morocco

    The Moroccans combine gunpowder tea (green Chinese tea) with water, fresh mint and sugar. Mint tea is fully engrained in Moroccan culture and strongly linked to hospitality. Hosts prepare three unique servings, and as guests sip each one, they are encouraged to reflect on the meanings of life, love and death as they relate to the taste: “gentle as life,” “strong as love,” and “as bitter as death.”

    Reflecting on the Health BenefitsBesides the benefits of social connection associated with enjoying a “cuppa,” tea has many proven health benefits. After water, tea is the oldest beverage consumed by humans, and we have used it as medicine for millennia. Tea contains polyphenols and antioxidant plant compounds that vary with the degree of oxidation.

    • Heart Health: Evidence suggests that drinking about two cups of unsweetened tea, daily, may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and help lower blood pressure, total cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol.
    • Cancer: Catechins, a specific type of polyphenol, may be potent inhibitors of cancer cell reproduction.
    • Diabetes: Polyphenols in tea may lower the risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes by helping regulate blood sugar and reduce insulin resistance.
    • Gut Health: Many polyphenols in tea are unabsorbed until they reach the large intestine, enhancing the diversity of the gut microbiome and helping to improve gut function and maintain a robust immune system.

    Nancy Teeter is a Registered Dietitian and a resident of SaddleBrooke. Though mostly retired, she is passionate about sharing her nutrition knowledge with others. Always consult your medical provider before making lifestyle changes.


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