In his eighth century monograph, “Classic of Tea: Origins and Rituals,” Chinese tea master Lu Yu writes: “Tea tempers the spirits and harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens thought and prevents drowsiness, lightens or refreshes the body, and clears the perceptive faculties.” Although these words were written more than a 1,000 years ago, it seems that today’s tea drinkers are seeking these same attributes from the teas they consume and more.
In fact, Chicago-based Mintel’s “The US and RTD Tea Market Report 2021” describes tea as a go-to drink in the COVID-19 pandemic as people are looking for ways to support immunity.