As a drink dating back to an early Chinese emperor about 2700 B.C., tea has a long and varied history. It is older than coffee and about the same age, maybe a tad younger, than beer. As wine now dates back to the Neolithic era due to fairly recent research, it has tea beat hands down as the oldest beverage. However, tea has been around for a long time.

In addition to being old, tea is a very popular product. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the yield in 2006 was about 3.6 million tonnes. When you consider it takes only about two grams of tea to make a cup of tea, you can see we are swimming in it.

Some people worry about the amount of caffeine in their coffee and drink tea as a means of reducing it. How much caffeine you will get though depends upon several factors such as the type of tea, the brewing time, and preparation. The most is about 110mg in a six ounce cup of black tea. But even black tea can have less.

Tea has many benefits as well like many of the other major beverages consumed. In tea's case there are antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. There is some evidence, from studies published in such magazines as the Lancet and Phytotherapy Research, that these antioxidants in green and black tea can help prevent some cancers and fight Alzheimer's.

However, most people couldn't care less about the health benefits or how many people drink tea or even the history. We simply love a good cup of tea or a nice glass of iced tea. It soothes away the stresses of the day or centers a quiet conversation. Tea is great.

Tea drinking has been the focus for several social ceremonies and social commentaries over the years. The Japanese tea ceremony and the English afternoon tea are two examples of the social events that have arisen from the drinking of tea, though one could argue strongly that the Japanese tea ceremony is a spiritual ceremony that involves many aspects of Japanese life.

Even though East and West can seldom agree on anything, one thing we all do agree upon is that wonderful cup of tea. It is savored both in the northern and southern hemispheres of the world and is the center of many social gatherings all around the world. It is even way of life in some places.

You can brew your tea in a clay pot or a floral Staffordshire teapot. You can use tea bags or loose tea. You can serve it in glass cups or the finest china., But one thing the many, many people around the world who drink tea know. Tea is irresistible.

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