Tea and Hot Climates
Imagine yourself baking in the midday sun in a desert climate, or sweating in a tropical heat. Naturally, you reach for a cold one but found to have run out of anything cold and the only hot tea is available. A bummer right?
I’m practically cold-blooded. I’d drink the hot tea happily.
Actually in China, green teas are considered appropriate for the heat of summer. In Chinese nutrition and medicine, food are considered ‘heaty’ or ‘cooling’. Green tea is supposedly cooling and even though it is consumed, it dispels the inner body heat and cools the body
That is certainly interesting and understandable, because it does not cause a temperature drop in the body. I’d happily drink a hot tea, but nothing beats a cold one although I’am likely to sweat more(especially in the tropics). Humidity not matter what temperature the beverage is in will make you sweat no less. I still wonder though if there is actually science to back it up or its kinda like a placebo .
I’ve definitely noticed that. I don’t drink green tea very often, because when I do I actually shiver afterwards.
If you eat too much fried foodstuffs for example, you will get a sore throat and general ‘heatiness’, your body temperature might or might not change but your breath definitely feels hot. That’s kind how it works.
Because green tea is less fermented, it retains more of the cooling properties of the plant, something like that, I am not trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine- which incidentally is more than just old wives tales.
Yet another reason why I love winter— and Canada.
ugh winter….makes me go to sleep and hibernate till spring:) But a hot cuppa or hot chocolate is definitely hits the spot! I can whip up a mean thick hot coco with a side of churros (really spanish) or some English Breakfast with scones…I am sure hungry about now!
"chuuros"mmm I fell in love with it visiting a tapas restaurant and its very simple to make
Ingredients:
17 fl oz water
9 oz sifted flour
1 tsp salt
Plenty of oil for frying
Sugar (optional)
Churro maker
Preparation:
Bring the salted water to a boil in a high-sided pot. When it starts to boil, pour in all the flour and mix with a wooden spatula over the heat until a consistent, even dough is formed. Remove from the heat and continue to work the dough with the same spatula. When completely smooth, fill the churrera, a large tin or brass syringe( hand making it would be messy) that has a variety of nozzles and several handles to grip it while pressing the dough through. Heat the oil to 375 degrees F in a large frying pan and drop in strips of dough forming loops. Cook as many as will fit without touching each other. After 3-4 minutes, when golden, remove with a slotted spoon or a spike and leave to drain in a colander or on kitchen paper. Serve hot, sprinkled with sugar if desired.
Love the stuff and certainly it tastes so good if made yourself. Every food tastes great all made by ones effort I certainly not a chef but its certainly a tasty way than buying…
Fun fact #1: Extremely cold drinks in super hot climates( aka Sahara desert) induces stomach cramps. I have not tried out drinking something below freezing if in the middle of a heat wave or desert trekking but its certainly tempting. I certainly risk drinking a Super Iced Moroccan mint tea or water!
But would a glass of the finest Darjeeling would tempt you to drink it at 110 degree weather? I sure would! Not because I am about to die of hydration but to satisfy my urge for that luxury…
I live in Canada so I get cold winters and hot summers. Well, at least Spring and Fall are usually temperate. I drink hot tea all year round, though a bit less in the summer. I rarely if ever drink iced tea as I just don’t like it – If I’m having a cold drink, I want water. I drink a lot of water as it is though.
I lived in South Florida for a couple years, I still drank hot tea every day, even in the Summer…
Ancient Chinese Proverb, “better to go 3 days without food, than one day without tea…”
that true of us all! I sure as hell know I am truly british! Having tea almost everyday day than most of any my friends would be used too or have. It is nice drinking tea in a humid climate as its gives a therapeutic feeling and healing. Its like rejuvenating your energy, keeping you awake which heat really causes fatigue and a cleansing affect to wash away the staleness of the day.
I’ve lived in hot places where there is no AC or fans or refrigerators nearby (had to borrow neighbors fridge) and all we did is drink hot tea. :) Its nice to have cold tea nearby when I feel really really hot. Even with water, I don’t always like drinking water cold… rather I prefer room temperature water :)
I agree with Derek Chew that green teas are considered as the best dink for hot summer in China. It will have a great refreshing affect in hot whether. For me, I like drink hot tea even in hot summer. In my opinion, whatever hot tea or cold tea in summer, this is also depend on one’s personal preference, just follow your own feelings about the tea and enjoy the tea journey.
I live in Honolulu and it’s basically 85º all year around with slight dips in to the mid 60’s around peak winter and high 90’s in peak summer. We drink hot tea almost anytime. Hawaii has a large Japanese and Chinese population so most of the tea drinking in very cultural and boy do we love our AC here. I can drink hot tea any day and time. I went to college in Japan and that started my addiction and even with high humidity and very hot summers we drank hot tea whenever there too. I can say on super hot days I kinda lean towards room temp teas after proper brewing.
No kidding, AC is a must and so are de-humidifiers! I can’t stand getting outta a shower and feel all sticky, but outside in a porch with some breeze or a fan is pure heaven and made better with tea:) I agree on you on super hot days, hot tea is kinda questionable source of hydration.
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