7 Facts About Tea You Didn't Know
May 17, 2025
Every tea, whether green, black, white, oolong or pu-erh tea, originates from camellia sinensis; only the processing of them makes the difference.
After water, tea is considered to top the global beverage list and beats coffee by a wide margin.
On average, black tea contains about half the caffeine of coffee, which makes it a gentle pick-me-up.
Legend says that it was when in Chinese Emperor Shen Nong was boiling water, leaves blew it was then that tea was discovered, around 2737 BCE.
Especially pu-erh tea from Yunnan, China, which is fermented and can improve in flavors over decades.
Very rare teas like Da Hong Pao or Panda Dung Tea can almost cost up to one thousand dollars per kilogram due to their rarity.
You will be amazed to know that Butterfly pea flower tea shifts from blue to purple with a splash of lemon because of its pH-sensitive pigments. Read Next Story
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Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
How to make restaurant-style chili oil at home with simple ingredients
Want something to jazz up your otherwise ordinary meal? Chili oil is that elixir to elevate the taste of almost every other meal with just a spoonful! Packed with bursting flavor and aroma, chili oil isn't just a mixture of chilis and oil; it has some more 'secret' ingredients that appease your taste buds like no other! Ever wished you could drizzle that dreamy, glossy chili oil, like the one restaurants serve, over your noodles, dumplings, or even eggs at home? Good news: you can! No more gatekeeping the 'secret' recipe of the delicious chili oil that brings the best out of both regular as well as fancy dishes. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal fuss, you can make your own restaurant-style chili oil that's aromatic, spicy, and wildly addictive, and transforms ordinary dishes into flavor fireworks. It's about infusing neutral oil with spices, gentle heat, and a satisfying sizzle. Whether you want to drizzle it over dumplings, stir it into noodles, or jazz up your eggs, homemade chili oil is magic in a jar. Homemade chili oil lets you steer the flavor, more garlic, more crunch, more numbing Sichuan punch, without mystery additives. Ready to level up your kitchen game? Let's make some spicy magic happen. What makes chili oil so special and mouth-watering? Chili oil is a beloved condiment across countries, especially in Chinese cuisine, where it's used for dipping, drizzling, or cooking into dishes to add bold spice and warmth. From fiery Sichuan-style, restaurant-grade red oil to zippy Italian and Mexican versions, chili oil is valued for its ability to elevate flavor with minimal effort. What sets restaurant-style versions apart is their depth: a bright red, fragrant blend of chili heat, subtle aromatics, and, sometimes, a numbing kick from Sichuan peppercorns. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo Typically, it's as simple as pouring heated neutral oil (like vegetable, canola, or avocado) over chili flakes and aromatics to release their full flavor. Some versions even include crunchy bits of garlic or spices, creating the popular 'chili crisp' texture. So.. how do you make it at home? Simple ingredients, maximum flavor Here's what you'll need to create that dazzling, restaurant-grade chili oil; no fancy tools necessary! Neutral oil: Neutral oil, such as vegetable, canola, peanut, or avocado oil. These let the spices shine; olive oil is best avoided for its strong flavor. Chili flakes: Crushed chili flakes, ideally Chinese or Sichuan chilies for brighter flavor, but red pepper flakes work in a pinch. Aromatics (optional but amazing): Optional aromatics, such as Sichuan peppercorns, garlic, scallion, star anise, five-spice, bay leaf, cinnamon, sesame seeds, or even shallot, to deepen the complexity. Seasoning extras (optional): Soy sauce, vinegar, salt for depth. Step-by-step guide to make the restaurant-style chili oil Prep your dry mix in a heatproof bowl. chili flakes + any dry spices or aromatics you like. Heat the oil gently: Start medium, then drop to low. Aim for around 200-225 °F (100-110 °C), you'll see small bubbles and a gentle sizzle, not smoking. If it smokes, pull back the heat. Test with a wooden chopstick or spoon: When bubbles form around it, your oil is ready. Pour the hot oil carefully over your chili mix in the bowl. You should hear a satisfying sizzle and smell a toasty, 'not burnt' aroma, think popcorn, not burnt toast. Stir it well to blend flavors. Let it sit and cool before storing. Pro tips for restaurant-caliber results Want to give it a tasty twist? Infuse aromatics first. As chefs at The Woks of Life explain, begin by infusing oil with spices like star anise, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, or Sichuan peppercorns for deeper flavor layers. Watch your oil temperature. Don't rush; too hot oil burns spices and tastes bitter. Test with a few flakes or use a thermometer if available. Customize. Customize. Customize! Toss in garlic powder, five-spice, onion powder, or even vinegar for your own spin. Boost color and aroma. Use Korean gochugaru or Sichuan peppercorns for sweeter, fruitier tones and a numbing quality. Layer your pour. Some cooks tip in half the oil, wait for it to cool slightly, then add the rest; this avoids burning while giving more depth. Add a splash of soy sauce, vinegar, or even black vinegar. These are all optional, but they add tang and umami. Store smart. Let your chili oil cool completely, then seal in a clean, airtight jar. Refrigeration can help it last for months; just use a clean spoon each time to avoid spoilage. And there it is! Your restaurant-worthy home-made chili oil is ready to pour! Drizzle over dumplings, noodles, fried rice, eggs, salads, and even sweet foods for a surprising kick! Watch: How to make Choco Pie
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
How Crocs Conquered China
SHANGHAI—For the better part of a decade, Crocs stumbled in China. Its stores stocked shoes Chinese people didn't want, such as loafers, and its celebrity endorsers were the likes of reality-show contestants and midtier actresses. Retail experts say that Crocs offers lessons for Western brands. Today, Shanghai subway cars are packed with fashionable Crocs-wearers, often young women in platform clogs studded with charms known as Jibbitz. So many fans of the hole-filled shoes make posts with the hashtag 'dongmen'—Chinese slang for Crocs fan—that the company has announced on earnings calls the number of dongmen mentions, which today tally in the hundreds of millions. Once a tiny fraction of Crocs sales, China has grown into the brand's second-largest market after the U.S. This month, the company said revenue in the most recent quarter fell 6.4% in North America, but was up more than 30% in China. Crocs, which is based in Broomfield, Colo., has become a rarity: an American company that is growing rapidly in China. Nike and Starbucks have struggled against fast-moving local competitors with lower prices, though both say they're turning a corner. China's slowing growth has caused many budget-conscious consumers to turn away from premium American products. Retail experts say that Crocs offers lessons for Western brands. The biggest is to focus on the unique preferences of the Chinese consumer—such as a love for platform clogs, which many Chinese women consider a leg-lengthening, comfortable alternative to heels. Crocs marketing campaigns, such as an ad featuring pop star Tan Jianci in pink platform Crocs riding a pink whale through the sky, are dreamed up in Shanghai, not Colorado. The company recruits the glitziest names in Chinese pop culture as brand ambassadors. It tweaked its global slogan 'Come as you are' to a Chinese-language version, 'Born to Be Free'—appealing to many young Chinese who yearn for a more relaxed and less competitive life. The company has taken creative risks, partnering with Chinese-born designer Feng Cheng Wang, who released a knee-length biker-style Crocs boot that one fashion website called 'straight from the future.' An American TikTok influencer asked, 'Those are Crocs?!' They are. So are the KFC collaboration Crocs, with chicken-shaped Jibbitz charms that smell like fried chicken, released in China and the U.S. The black knee-length Crocs boots seen at Paris Fashion Week. 'Crocs has run a playbook that most global organizations know that they should run,' said Zak Dychtwald of the Young China Group, which researches Chinese youth trends. 'They've just done it well.' While some U.S. brands are tarnished by their association with China's main geopolitical competitor, Crocs has another advantage: Few Chinese know it is American. Even as Crocs revenue has begun to flag in North America, it has more than tripled since 2022 in China, where certain sought-after Crocs can go for $250 or more a pair. It reinvests much of the margin it earns on its shoes into marketing. Anne Mehlman, Crocs's brand president, visited Shanghai in early 2020 and hardly saw any Crocs on the street. When she came back in 2023, she remembers stepping off the plane and immediately seeing a fashionable man with a Balenciaga bag and platform 'Crush' Crocs. 'I was like 'OK, this is real,'' she said. Andrew Rees, Crocs's CEO, said the company groups its buyers into two buckets. There are the 'feel-goods,' represented by a suburban mom looking to purchase durable and affordable shoes for the family. Then there are the 'explorers': young urban women with bold fashion tastes. In the U.S., Crocs-wearers are mainly feel-goods, said Rees. In China and other Asian countries, explorers are better represented. 'We wanted to exaggerate their classic clog and provide height and more fashion and more style,' he said. 'It's a shoe to anywhere,' said Sylvia Yiu, 30 years old, a Shanghai-based marketing professional who clip-clopped into a Shanghai Crocs store in black platform Crocs studded with Jibbitz. She said she wears her Crocs to nightclubs or for daily errands—such as picking up another pair of Crocs. This time she tried on a few, but ended up settling for a shiny flower-shaped Jibbitz. 'I just take what I like, what matches my vibe,' Yiu said. Her vibe, she said, is 'Cool girl, with a bit romantic,' hence the rose Jibbitz displayed prominently on her right Croc. The vibe of Wang Tianyang, 29, has more parts: The athletic young man said the tiger-like creatures in his right clog symbolize his love of animals, while a basketball hoop and football goal post in the left clog symbolize his love of sports, and two fried eggs next to the hoop stand for his love of protein. His collection also includes a red flame-shaped Jibbitz for the dance floor, which lights up when he takes a step. Joseph Ranieri Jr., Crocs's first distributor in China, came to Shanghai in 2006 with a duffel bag full of Crocs. He clomped around the streets of Shanghai wearing matching colored shirts and Crocs, handing out business cards and asking if anyone wanted to buy a pair. 'Guerrilla brand building,' he calls it. The brand gradually gained traction. But a few years after Crocs bought out Ranieri's distributorship in 2008, it began to struggle. Ranieri said the company made misguided decisions such as emphasizing loafers in China instead of clogs. It was a difficult period for Crocs outside of China too. The brand had soared in the 2000s, riding on controversy over whether its signature look was fun or ugly, but it was hit hard by the global financial crisis. In 2013, investment group Blackstone agreed to put $200 million into the company and Rees, the current CEO, became a senior executive the next year. He quickly realized China was both an opportunity and a problem. One issue was Crocs's reliance on local distributors, which often bought too much stock and dumped merchandise in sales that undercut the brand image. The answer was to focus on directly operated stores in buzzy shopping malls. 'It was a long reset because we needed to actually change the entire perception of the brand,' said Mehlman, the Crocs brand president. In 2020, the company announced its first A-list Chinese celebrity ambassador, actress Yang Mi from the drama 'Eternal Love,' a smash hit with tens of billions of views. Off-screen she was photographed in Crocs adorned with personalized Jibbitz charms such as golden bees and foxes. These were a nod to Yang's fans, who are known as 'honey bees' and address her as 'Little Fox.' When Covid hit and foot traffic dwindled, the company debated pulling back as other big brands did. Instead, Crocs doubled down, funding Chinese advertising with money from sales in the U.S., where the pandemic-era work-from-home set drove a boom. 'That was the big turning point,' said Mehlman. Crocs has a roster of celebrity endorsers, including Chinese pop star Tan Jianci, featured in this ad. Mia Wong, 30, a Shanghai tech worker, saw a stranger on the street in 2021 pairing platform Crocs with light-colored socks. 'It was ugly at first, but the more I wore them the more I liked it,' Wong said. She eventually ordered four pairs. Influencers and ordinary people took to posting photos of their Crocs with a customized selection of Jibbitz on the Chinese social-media app RedNote. It played well on a platform based around user-generated content and self-expression, with many posting it under the 'dongmen' hashtag. 'Crocs, just the product itself, lends itself really well to social media and this Gen Z culture around personalization,' said Olivia Plotnick, founder of Wai Social, a China-based marketing agency. Today it has a roster of celebrity endorsers and collaborations. Crocs is working with the hottest Chinese retail brand, PopMart, maker of the viral Crybaby dolls—with Crybaby-themed Jibbitz that can be attached to Crocs. Rees said there was plenty of room for growth in China—despite, or because of, its torpid economy. 'I think in the current environment where people are having a tough time, we're winning because of that fun factor,' Rees said. Write to Jon Emont at How Crocs Conquered China
Mint
7 days ago
- Mint
‘Loser' turns hero: Village man builds stunning body following Japanese manga anime character's workout routine
Li Shuangyong from Shandong, China, once called himself a 'loser'. He was born in a village. His fish farming business failed, leaving him in debt. He was divorced. Feeling lost, he spent his days without purpose until he discovered the Japanese manga One-Punch Man. The hero, Saitama, is a broke, bald man who lives in a shabby flat. Saitama trains daily, not for fame or revenge, but to be a hero. After three years, Saitama could beat any monster with one punch. Li found inspiration and followed Saitama's workout routine for 1,000 days. His body transformation drew over one million followers on Chinese social media. Li's journey from despair to discipline has made him an online inspiration. Li followed the intense training of anime hero Saitama: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats and a 10 km run daily. The 36-year-old began his own journey on August 24, 2021, aiming for 1,000 days. His biggest struggle was money. He ran in shoes costing less than 10 yuan (about ₹ 122) and survived on eggs and instant noodles. 'I had to save myself. I could not keep living like that. It could not get any worse,' the South China Morning Post quoted Li as saying. Li recorded his progress and posted it online, which inspired many. His story attracted sponsors, helping him continue his routine and inspire others with his dedication. Fans sent him shoes and supplements. A Taiwan fan group even live-streamed his runs and trained with him online. 'I cannot believe he turned an anime workout into real life. That takes insane discipline,' SCMP quoted a social media user as saying. Another commented, 'Li's determination is inspiring, but most people should stick to more balanced, science-backed fitness and nutrition plans.' Li met his girlfriend during a marathon, who encouraged him throughout. On July 19, Li completed his 1,000-day challenge, running over 20,000 km and doing more than a million exercises. His body became strong, his outlook positive. To celebrate the final day, he shaved his head and dressed as Saitama to pay tribute to the manga hero. Li now plans to run a marathon every day for one year and create a Guinness World Record, the publication added.
