Inked Mag Staff
June 4th, 2020
Are These Tattoos Your Cup of Tea?
Celebrate the rich history of tea with beautiful ink
Many say the world is run on coffee (or is that Dunkin?), but tea has been caffeinating societies for centuries. Tea is the second most consumed drink in the world, after water, and originated near north Burma and southwest China. Medical records first began including tea during 3rd century AD, but it didn’t become a popular recreational drink in China until the Tang Dynasty, soon spreading throughout East Asia. Portuguese priests and merchants introduced tea to Europe in the 16th century, and by the 17th century, it boomed in popularity in England. England started large scale production of tea in India and today, China and India supply the majority of the world’s tea.
There are many different variations of teas and tea is commonly divided into six different types: white, yellow, green, oolong, black and dark. These types depend on the oxidation levels of the leaves, creating an assortment of different flavors.
In Europe, tea is commonly served hot and with milk, however in the United States, the most popular tea is iced. Iced tea makes up approximately 85% of tea drank in the United States. Iced tea was officially introduced to the states at the 1904 World’s Fair by merchant Richard Blechynden. Today, iced tea is most synonymous with the American south, particularly the Carolinas.
In honor of National Iced Tea Day, we’re celebrating the wonderful world of tea with some of our favorite tea tattoos worn by proud tea enthusiasts. Take a look at these terrific tea tattoos in the gallery below and let us know your favorite type of tea in the comments section on social media.
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