Why have a cup of tea after a meal? Unraveling the historical background of the custom of drinking tea after meals
Introduction
The custom of drinking tea after a meal is so common that it can be considered a global culture.
But why do we drink tea after a meal?
This behavior is too deeply ingrained to be dismissed as mere habit.
What are the reasons and meanings behind this?
This time, we will explore the depth of this custom by unraveling the effects of having a smoke after a meal and its historical background.
The medicinal properties of tea
One of the primary reasons could be due to all the benefits tea has, including its ability to aid digestion.
Tea has long been said to have medicinal properties, and in fact has been used as a substitute for medicine.
Even before technological advances like today, people knew from experience the effects of tea, such as suppressing blood sugar levels, promoting digestion, and preventing tooth decay, which may have led to the habit of drinking tea after meals.
In fact, the catechins contained in tea suppress sugar absorption and prevent a sudden rise in blood sugar levels after meals, so they may be useful in preventing diabetes.
In addition, it has various other effects, such as activating digestive enzymes, improving the intestinal environment, and promoting gastric juice secretion.
This will help improve food digestion and improve your intestinal environment.
In addition, the strong antibacterial properties of tea can wash away food particles and bacteria remaining in the mouth, and can also be expected to suppress the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath.
It reduces the oily and heavy feeling after meals, leaves your mouth feeling fresh, and helps prevent tooth decay.
Zen Dining Etiquette
There is a theory that the custom of drinking tea after meals originated from the unique culture of Zen temples.
Tea was introduced to Japan by Japanese envoys to the Tang Dynasty and Buddhist monks studying abroad, and became widely popular in temples, especially Zen temples.
At Zen temples, the daily life of monks is strictly regulated, from meals to the etiquette of drinking tea, and one rule is that monks must always drink tea after meals.
It is believed that these strict temple etiquette practices eventually spread among the common people and developed into the present-day custom of taking a smoke after meals.
Habits of Sengoku Warlords
Furthermore, samurai customs may also be a reason.
After a banquet, the generals would always pour boiled water into their own bowls, put the remaining food in there, eat it, and then pour boiled water into their bowls again and drink it. This way they would clean their bowls.
In fact, the origins of this custom are unclear.
There are several possibilities: perhaps finishing a meal with hot water was considered a kind of ritual, or perhaps it was a way of expressing gratitude for the food, as people never knew when they might lose their life.
However, in any case, those days were not when you could boil water as quickly as you can today.
Drinking hot water after a meal must have been a heartwarming moment.
It is speculated that later, hot water was replaced by tea, and the custom of drinking tea after meals spread among the common people.
Finally
What did you think? "After-meal tea" is still a custom seen all over the world today.
In addition to the specific effects of catechin, people in the past drank tea after meals because of historical backgrounds and mindsets, such as Zen, samurai customs, and gratitude for food.
Even today, the custom of drinking tea after meals can be said to have inherited the wisdom and spirit of our ancestors.
In today's busy society, taking the time to slowly sip tea after a meal can be a valuable time to reflect on yourself.
