All about Tea

 What are the other uses of tea?

Tea has many uses beyond that of a beverage. A popular way of eating eggs in China is to crack them slightly after boiling very briefly and boil them in a pot of leftover or fresh tea. This is well known as "tea egg." Tea leaves are also used in some styles of Chinese cooking, particularly that from Hangzhou in the tea country. They add a new and delicate flavor to familiar meat and fish dishes.

Tea is used as a gargle for fresh breath. Used or dry are chewed to remove the odor of onions or garlic.

The Tea Research Institute in Hangzhou has found a way to extract a natural antioxidant from tea leaves. It is particularly welcomed in the mooncake business. Mooncakes with rich fillings of ham, black bean paste, coconut, sugar, or nuts are in great demand for the Mid-Autumn Festival (the Moon Festival) which usually falls in September. China's entire one billion people want their mooncakes at the same time, but when these delicacies are made too far in advance there is a risk of spoilage. The antioxidant seems to do the trick. Furthermore, it can be made from the low-quality leaves which are usually discarded.

From tea seeds, previously thrown away, the Institute has extracted an oil said to be superior to rapeseed oil, which is commonly used in stir-frying. Also extracted is surface activator which improves the quality of foam construction bricks, and is an ingredients in a new type of shampoo.

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