陳書耘
People may consider that being
under the sway of globalization, cokes and coffees might be the trendy
choices. However, the successful case of Taiwan shows that the native
drink – tea – can also become an 「in」 style and even more popular than
other thirst-quenchers if it can be hooked up with some very significant
social trends.
Tea, a popular drink among
Asian countries, is well known for its anti-cancer effects. Modern
research reveals that tea contains antioxidants - polyphenols called
catechins - that have been shown to be as powerful as the
well-established antioxidants vitamins C and E at protecting proteins
and DNA from oxidative damage. Green tea contains the most catechins,
followed by oolong and black teas. Moreover, in accordance with a
recent research, EGC (epigallocatechin), which is one kind of catechins
in green tea, can help slow down or stop the growth of new blood
vessels. As cancer tumors are dependent on a constantly growing network
of blood vessels to supply them with nutrients and oxygen, drinking tea
regularly can help shrink the vessels and make the supporting network
disappear, thus stopping the cancerous growth.
Another important area in which
tea has found new life is in weight control. Because tea is rich in
amino acid and fiber which can lower the cholesterol level and resolve
the fat cell in our bodies, while improving the function of diuresis and
metabolism, it has been found to be quite effective in weight loss
programs. As losing weight becomes a fashionable topic, tea has also
become the hottest item on the beverage market.
Through hooking itself up with
health-related trends, the age-old tradition of drinking tea has found
new strength to defeat the other modern western beverages to become the
most fashionable drink on the market. Even the famous American coffee
chain Starbucks is now starting to sell tea products. As we can see, as
long as it can connect with fashionable tides, every old thing can stage
a comeback.