ADVICE Tea: A Healthy Summer Beverage By Ana María Triana, Business and Human Resources Consultants uring the hottest periods of the year, a wide Growth in Consumption range of refreshing beverages are available in World tea production amounts to more than $18 billion the market. However, you are health-conscious annually, and about 13 million people work in tea production and looking for a healthier alternative to globally. sugary processed drinks. In that case, tea can An estimated nine million tea growers are smallholders in Dbe a great option. It not only helps in balancing the four major producing countries (China, India, Kenya, and your diet but also provides a friendly way Sri Lanka). to do so. Figures show that the world’s consumption of hot tea tends I am a fan of drinking tea, hot to increase. In 2022, just over 6.5 billion kilograms of this or cold. 吀栀erefore, I recommend beverage were consumed globally, and by 2028, consumption looking at this noble product is expected to exceed 7.6 billion. from the East and the result of In the United States, iced tea accounts for approximately the infusion of the leaves and 85% of all consumed. buds of the tea plant Camellia Iced teas became famous in 1904, during the World sinensis, which has gone Exposition in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, founded by from being a simple food Richard Blechynden, owner of a tea leaf plantation. Given the item today. high temperatures during the exposition, Blechynden o昀昀ered visitors hot tea with an ice cube to cool it down. 吀栀is is the 1,500 origin of the famous “Iced Tea.” Any tea can be iced tea, depending on the consumer’s taste. Types of tea are It is better to prepare it at home with any pure or 昀氀avored around the world tea leaves (black, green, white) and mixtures of herbs or spices such as chamomile, valerian, cinnamon, or vanilla. After water, tea Ideally, it is prepared at night and enjoyed the next day. is the second 吀栀is method is longer, but it achieves greater concentration most consumed and 昀氀avor. beverage. It is Benefits traditional to Besides being a refreshing drink, iced tea helps keep the drink tea as body hydrated, improves the immune system due to its a hot or cold Vitamin C content, detoxifies, purifies, and improves beverage, the antioxidant levels, preventing aging. Due to its low caffeine latter being content, it is ideal for children, pregnant women, or being a refreshing consumed at night. and fun way With certainty, the growing wave of sustaining a healthy life to hydrate on and diet will be the pulse that marks that this market days when high continues to gain strength as a substitute for carbonated temperatures beverages because, despite its age, it is still considered a can cause us to lose sophisticated and quality product, that will surely continue to electrolytes. stand out for a great consumption trend in the coming years. In addition, tea keeps us in shape. 6688 MMAAYY//JJUUNNE 2E 200224 4 AABBAASSTOTO..CCOOMM