Have a Cuppa Tea...

Boh puts the Ummph in Your Life!

The Tea Tree - must be many years old, looking at the moss-covered trunks and branches

Sunday 31 October 2010

Today, I went up Cameron Highlands just to accompany my other half who has some work to do up there.  What a wonderful time we had  visiting the Boh Tea Plantation at Sg Palas. We also visited the Tea Cafe, the Tea Gallery as well as the Tea Factory owned by Boh Tea Plantations. The moment we reached the Tea Cafe, I felt like I was in some foreign land because the weather, the ambiance, the feel and the facilities around were clean and welcoming. It was only later after touring the Galeri and Exhibition that we found out that Boh Tea Plantation is owned by a Md Salleh, Caroline Russell, the great, great grandchild of the founder, John Russell. Way back in the1930's, John Russell foresaw the potential of tea production in Cameron Highlands, which is situated about 1,500 metres above sea level. Boh Tea's tagline is Boh Puts the Ummph in your Life! I rather like the tagline of another tea plantation, Bharat Tea Plantation, down the road at Tanah Rata. It says Any Time is Tea Time, very Malaysian  indeed!

NB : The Chinese history of tea began in 2737BC when Chinese Emperor Shen Nung sat beneath a tree waiting for his servant to boil drinking water. A leaf from the tree fell into the water and he decided to try out the brew from the wild tea tree. The Indians too have a saga on the tea. It was said that Gautama Buddha tore his eyelids off and threw them on the ground because he fell asleep despite vowing to remain awake during a pilgrimage. His eyelids took root and germinated into tea plants that sprouted leaves the shape of eyelids.

Legends abound, the tea have found a permanent place in the lives and hearts of diverse people in the world for over 4,500 years. The English enjoy their afternoon tea with hot scones. The Muslims in Mecca break fast with their tea (called chai) and dates. Malaysians are now mixing their tea with all the specific herbs, Misai Kuching, Mas Cotek, Pandanus Leaves, not only for the flavour but also to benefit from their healing properties. Assoc Prof Dr Faridah Qamaruz Zaman of Universiti Pertanian Malaysia(UPM) told me that the University had come up with tea made from oil palm leaves. I suppose this is to take advantage of the abundance of the vitamin E content in the palm leaves.

It is well known fact that tea drinking is a healthy habit. Tea leaves contain flavanoids and other antioxidants which are healthy for the total body system.

Psst...Have you had your cuppa today?