Lunchbox Envy 31: Tea
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Sep 14, 2025 Dive into the fascinating world of tea, from its rich history and cultural significance to the first dangerous automatic tea-making contraptions. Discover the quirky differences between MIFFY and TIFFY and the modern trend of microwaving water for tea. Explore the art and science behind brewing, including the role of temperature and pressure in flavor. With whimsical discussions on Yorkshire tea and the Teasemade invention, this podcast blends humor with intriguing insights about everyone’s favorite beverage.
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One Plant, Many Teas
- Tea comes from a single plant species, Camellia sinensis, despite many varieties like green and black tea.
- Rooibos is unrelated and botanically a legume, not true tea.
Mythical Origins Of Tea
- Manu recounts the Shenong and Buddha myths about tea's origin to highlight cultural stories.
- These legends frame tea as medicinal and divine in early Chinese and Buddhist tales.
Tea Smuggled To India
- Manu and Alex describe Robert Fortune dressing as Chinese to steal tea plants and processing secrets for Britain.
- Fortune's actions enabled large-scale tea cultivation in India, altering global trade.