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Why Does the World Love Drinking Tea?

Tea is the second most popular drink in the world after water. Mike Williams asks how this Asian leaf conquered the globe.

Tea comes in many guises - milky, sweet and spicy for those in India. The Chinese drink it as nature intended green with no milk and strong with two sugars for the average British builder. So how did this Asian leaf conquer the world to become the second most consumed drink after water? Mike Williams slurps and sips his way through this cup of calm to find out how this unassuming shrub conquered the world.

(Photo: Preparations for the Chinese Tea Ceremony, at Chaya Tea House, London)

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18 minutes

Last on

Mon 21 Sep 201513:32GMT
BBC World Service Australasia

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  • Fri 18 Sep 201518:32GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
  • Fri 18 Sep 201519:32GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
  • Fri 18 Sep 201523:32GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Sun 20 Sep 201521:32GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Mon 21 Sep 201502:32GMT
    BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East & Australasia only
  • Mon 21 Sep 201504:32GMT
    BBC World Service Online, South Asia, UK DAB/Freeview & Americas and the Caribbean only
  • Mon 21 Sep 201505:32GMT
    BBC World Service East Asia
  • Mon 21 Sep 201506:32GMT
    BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East
  • Mon 21 Sep 201512:32GMT
    BBC World Service except Americas and the Caribbean & Australasia
  • Mon 21 Sep 201513:32GMT
    BBC World Service Australasia

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