United Arab Emirates – Arabic Tea

by Adelina Aida

Tea is popular worldwide, it is also a prominent part of the Arabic world. They have huge fans of this Arabic Tea which is served with dates and honey. As Arabs are very royal in their specificities, there are huge things served with this tea like rose petals, nuts, peanuts, dates, honey, even they have huge varieties in preference to aromas belong to this tea. As their cultural part, this is served at meetings, parties, aftari, Ramzan, gatherings, before a meal, sometimes after a meal, etc. It is served as a welcome drink to refresh them with warm and cozy aromatic tea. This tea has many health benefits by the addition of different varieties of ingredients. They are served hot and even cold. They have the addition of different herbs that boost up the immune system. There are many varieties of this tea according to the different ingredients.

It is considered a good health benefit for the body. The boiling water kills the bacteria that make it more healthy and toxic-free. It is said that it has additional healthy medical advantages.

Alternative names for this drink is:

• Say
• Arabiyy
• Golden tea
• Arabic tea
• Tea for Arabs

In Arabic society tea has the gesture of following things:

• Hospitality
• It is consider rude to reject the Tea
• Refusal to accept the tea is insult.
• Gesture of friendship

HEALTHY BENEFITS OF ARABIC TEA

1.HEALTHY ENERGY DRINK

It is considered a drink that can relief you from fatigue and warmth your body. This is perfect drink to start your day with the addition of nuts and honey. It is served with dates that also considered as the immune booster.

2.BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM

Saffron addition to the drink make it more with the addition of Vitamin B12.

3.RELEASES STRESS

It may improve the mood, releases stress, anti oxidants make it increase the level. It increases the level of oxytocin, level of happiness increases.

4.IMPROVE THE DIGESTION

This makes the digestion easier and relief from the constipation problem. It cleans the digestive track and peristalsis movement.

5.HEALTHY SKIN

It is good for the healthy skin to make it fresh and acne free.

6.REGULATES THE BLOOD PRESSURE

It regulates the blood pressure level to the moderate level.

7.LOWERS THE CALORIES

After taking the heavy meal, it increases the digestion and lowers the calories.

SERVED WITH

This is served with the following items:

• Honey
• Dates
• Peanuts
• Rose petals
• Cardamom
• Cinnamon
• Mint leaves
• Saffrons, etc.

VARIETIES OF ARABIC TEA

1.SAGE

Sage is a member of the mint family. It is basically a flower of pink, purple color with different aromatic. This flower is known as Salvia or Garden Sage. It is used as the ornamentals for Garden but can be consumed in this tea. It is supposed to be the best nectar for honey bees. It is non-caffeinated and has distinct flavors. It has the following effects on the body:

• Relief from heart burn
• Eliminate gas
• Increase digestion

2.CHAMOMILE TEA

Chamomile is the common name for the daisy flower. This is used as the infused flavors and effective in health benefits. The dried leaf of daisy flowers used in the aroma for the drinks and also with the healthy benefits.

This is simply the herbal dried leaves with hot water used as the herbal tea.

There are two flowers used for the tea in herbal environment. Those are:

• Roman Chamomile
• German Chamomile

3.ANISE HERBAL TEA

Anise is a flowering plant that is dried flowers. It is also called Anix. These are very aromatic flowers that can use in making it more aromatic and give a strong flavor to the tea. This is a more beneficial and healthy element to the tea. The aroma of flowers and seeds is very similar to Star anise, which is the other member of the same family.

4.MAGHREBI MINT TEA

Maghrebi tea is Moroccan Arabian tea. It is prepared with green tea, mint leaves, sugar and aromatic elements like cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. It is very popular in South western countries :

• Morocco
• Algeria
• Tunisia
• Libya
• Mauritius
• France, etc.

5.CINNAMON TEA

This is herbal tea in which a cinnamon stick is infused in hot water and then served with dates and honey for sweetness. This is very healthy with a strong cinnamon aroma. This is also very flavorful because cinnamon has a very strong aroma and taste. Cinnamon is so versatile in tea, it is even added to milk tea, Arabian Coffee, Arabian Tea which gives the health benefits and flavor to enhance the taste.

6.NOOMI BASRA TEA

It is also known as lime-dried tea. It is an herbal tea made up of dried lime. The use of this tea is more towards the medical benefits. This is sour in taste and gives a tangy flavor to the tea. NOOMI BARSA is known as Dried Lime Tea.

It is used as a medical benefits like a medicine:

• Diarrhea
• Stomach upset
• Nausea
• Vomiting

7.THYME (ZA’ATAR)

Thyme is great for improve memory and clean the upset stomach. Rich in following terms:

• Anti-biotic
• Anti-oxidant
• Anti-aging

INGREDIENTS OF THE HERBAL TEA

1. Water = 3 cups
2. Black tea leaves = 3 tbsp
3. Green tea leaves = 1 tbsp
4. Mint leaves = 3 tbsp
5. Honey = 6 tbsp
6. Dates = 8 pieces

COOKING METHOD

1. This is infusion tea that means, all the elements added to the boiling water and let it infuse until all the aromas and fragrance appeared.
2. Add honey at the end, before serving of the tea.
3. Serve dates with them.