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Tea is deservedly considered the most popular drink, as it is loved by children and adults. A good tea diversifies the everyday menu and makes a celebratory feast especially memorable.
At the same time, tea drinking is a special ceremony, the participants of which not only enjoy a pleasant drink, but also appreciate its taste. After all, the composition of teas can be very diverse: they add pieces of fruit, flavors, dried berries and flowers, mix different herbs. There are many variations of compositional compositions, but the most popular additive among all known components is bergamot. Adding this ingredient to tea gives the drink an incomparable tart and slightly spicy taste.
What is the peculiarity of bergamot
Bergamot appeared due to the efforts of breeders who decided to cross two different cultures: citron and orange.As a result of this experience, a new type of fruit tree, called the “princely pear”, appeared. In appearance, this plant, covered with prickles, resembles a little lemon and a little bit of its genetic relative - lime. The tree grows in Italy and other countries of the Mediterranean region, as well as in America.
This fruiting tree species can reach heights of up to 10 meters. During flowering, the plant is covered with white or reddish flowers, emitting an unusually pleasant aroma. When it is time for ripening, the fruits of a spherical shape appear on it. The flesh of these gifts of nature is not suitable for cooking, because it has a specific bitter-sour flavor. But the dense rind of ripened fruits, as well as flowers with leaves, have found the widest application. From the so-called orange "nuts" produce essential oil, which is very much appreciated. Especially in demand product obtained by manual spin. Bergamot oil extract is in demand in medicine, food and cosmetic industry. Dry plant components are added to saturate the taste in teas.
Good to know! Prince's pear or bergamot - unpretentious plant. Therefore, if you wish, you can safely grow at home.
Types of teas
There is a version that the promotion of tea with bergamot was promoted by Lord Charles Gray, who held the post of British Prime Minister in the 30s of the nineteenth century. This prominent English politician, in a sign of gratitude for assistance in some affairs, received samples of an amazing tea from one important Chinese person. The drink was so pleased with the inhabitants of Albion that it soon became indispensable in every English family.
And today, the popularity of bergamot remains at the same high level as in the old days. Tea with the aroma of exotic fruits like to drink in different parts of the world.
Drink with bergamot is of two types: green and black. These tea connoisseurs prefer darker varieties, because they are much more useful. Black tea instantly relieves fatigue, gives strength, charges with vital energy. Green tea is known to contain a large percentage of caffeine.
The range of tea products with the inclusion of bergamot is very diverse: it is produced in packaged form and in bulk, for sale you can find compositional compositions with other valuable plants.Although many well-known manufacturers are engaged in the production of tea with the addition of bergamot, Earl Gray tea is the most popular. This variety is different from the rest of the unique composition - it blends a blend of black tea and oil basis of bergamot. For these purposes, take the best varieties of Indian, Ceylon or Chinese tea.
It is interesting! In the UK, this sort of tea is so popular that it is often added to the dough when baking traditional muffins.
What are the useful properties
All the beneficial qualities of a tea drink with bergamot are due to the essential oil content of the plant. This natural component was widely used in ancient times for the treatment of many diseases. Indeed, in the oil there are substances that successfully cope with the function of antibiotics: it is limonene, linalool, linalyl acetate. Thanks to these elements, earlier in Germany, inflammatory processes, skin diseases and other infections were successfully treated.
Modern scientists through scientific studies have shown that tea with bergamot is an excellent antiviral agent and helps strengthen the body's defenses.In addition, it has a pronounced sedative effect and can be used as a disinfectant. Also tea with bergamot is ranked as a powerful aphrodisiac.
Positive properties
The advantages of a tea drink with bergamot include the following features:
- improves appetite;
- stimulates metabolic processes;
- normalizes the digestive system;
- reduces the temperature;
- helps to restore sexual functions;
- eliminates the effects of stress;
- lowers cholesterol and sugar;
- positive effect on brain activity, which, in general, helps to improve memory.
People with problems of the cardiovascular system are concerned with the question of the effect that tea with bergamot has on vascular tone. As shown by clinical trials, this drink has absolutely no effect on blood pressure.
Good to know! It is possible to judge the usefulness of tea or its harm only when there is a natural essential oil in the composition, and not its chemical substitute. When using flavoring talk about the usefulness of the drink does not make sense at all.
When tea with bergamot is not recommended
Princely pear, like any other crop of plant origin, has a number of contraindications. These restrictions include:
- allergic manifestations to citrus fruits;
- hormonal dysfunctions;
- endocrine disorders;
- vascular and heart pathologies;
- diabetes;
- chronic diseases of the intestines and stomach.
Given the specific effect of the drink on the body, giving it to drink to young children is not recommended. Only after reaching the age of 12, this restriction is removed. It is also undesirable to use tea with bergamot during the period when a woman is carrying a child.
When breastfeeding, mom can rarely afford to drink a cup of fragrant tea if the child does not have allergic manifestations. But this relaxation is possible no more than two times a week.
Important! Since bergamot has a tonic effect, it is not recommended to drink tea with it at night.
How to brew tea
- First, the teapot is boiled over.
- Then, the dry component for brewing is loaded into the container at the rate of: 1 l. hours in a glass.
- It is impossible to pour boiling water over tea, it is recommended to use boiled, but slightly cooled water for this purpose.
- Tea should be infused for no more than 5 minutes, otherwise it will turn out too strong drink with a tart flavor.
The process is much simpler if you take ready-made sacks of tea blend as a raw material. The principle of cooking remains the same, only the time of infusion of fragrant tea is reduced to two minutes.
There is another option for making excellent tea. Supporters of the correct observance of tea ceremony adhere to this method. Usually, connoisseurs of tradition prepare the mixture for brewing themselves. For this you need to take:
- 200 g of any quality small leaf tea;
- pour the product into the container for brewing;
- add a few drops of bergamot oil;
- close the dishes with a lid tightly;
- the mixture should be infused for five days, while it must be periodically mixed.
Then from the blank obtained in this way, you can take the desired portion and brew using the method described above.
Bergamot tea will decorate any meal. The drink is perfectly combined with bee products, which emphasize its unusual taste. You can drink it even with milk and lemon. This tea is well suited to sweets and snacks.
Video: tea with bergamot
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