0009 From Ancient Rituals to Daily Brews: The Global Story of Tea and Coffee

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Tea and coffee are staples in millions of homes worldwide, including India, but their journeys are far more intriguing than you might imagine. Join us as we trace the fascinating evolution of these beloved beverages, from their mythical origins in ancient lands to their role in shaping economies, cultures, and daily rituals across the globe.

Transcript

00:00Welcome to a very refreshing topic today. Deepak and I are going to talk about something many of

00:13us can't start our day without. Tea and coffee. You know, these simple drinks have such a rich

00:18history. Deepak which one should we start with? Chai or filter coffee?

00:22Ha Sonia ji. A tough choice for an Indian. Let's begin with tea because its history is

00:28incredibly ancient and fascinating. It's believed to have originated in ancient China with Emperor

00:33Shen Nung discovering it by accident around 2737 BC. Wow, that's old. So a simple leaf falling

00:40into boiling water changed the world. It became this global phenomenon. Exactly. Initially it was

00:47used for medicinal purposes, then as a ritualistic drink. From China, it travelled to Japan, then to

00:54Europe and eventually, the British East India Company brought it to India to cultivate it on

00:59a large scale. That's how our beloved Indian chai came into being. Even now, when I visit my grandmother

01:07Mrs Kapoor in Himachal, her homemade chai is a ritual. That's amazing. So the tea we love so much actually

01:14has Chinese roots and then a British connection before becoming so intrinsically Indian. Now let's

01:20move to coffee. The legend says it was discovered by an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi. He noticed

01:27his goats became incredibly energetic after eating berries from a certain tree. Goats discovering coffee?

01:33That's hilarious. So the goats became full of beans. As Americans might say, matlab, very energetic and

01:40Kaldi figured out why. Pretty much. From Ethiopia, coffee spread to the Arabian Peninsula, where it was

01:47first roasted and brewed in the 15th century. It became popular in Sufi monasteries to help monks

01:52stay awake during prayers. Then through trade routes and eventually European colonialism,

01:58it spread globally, reaching India through Baba Budhan in the 17th century. So, from sleepy goats

02:04to spiritual awakenings and then a global phenomenon, what a journey. It's incredible how these two

02:10beverages, both discovered thousands of miles apart, have ended up dominating the world. And not just

02:15dominating Sonia but shaping cultures. Think about the British tea time, the elaborate Japanese tea

02:21ceremonies or our own Indian Chayaddas where so many discussions happen. And then the coffee houses,

02:28which became centres for intellectuals and artists. Yes, the very act of drinking them has created

02:34distinct social rituals and cultural identities. Even in India, there's a huge difference in the way

02:40people drink their strong filter coffee in the south versus the milky spiced chai in the north.

02:45So, these are more than just drinks. They are a reflection of history, trade and cultural

02:50integration. Absolutely. Next time you sip your chai or coffee, remember the incredible journey it took

02:56to reach your cup. It's quite mind-boggling, ki such simple things have such a rich past.

03:02Achha. It truly is. We hope you enjoyed this historical brew of information.

03:07If you found the origins of your favourite beverages as fascinating as we did,

03:11please hit that like button, share this video with fellow tea and coffee lovers

03:15and subscribe to our channel for more amazing stories.

03:19Thank you for watching. Until next time, enjoy your next cup.

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