Most nations have a metropolis or area which has gained a definitive popularity for his or her drinks. In America, Seattle is synonymous with espresso, whereas Milwaukee serves up beer, and the Napa Valley produces improbable wines. In Germany, Bavaria is thought worldwide for its beer, whereas the East Frisian area within the state of Niedersachsen (Decrease Saxony in Germany) is the unofficial dwelling of tea and tea drinkers. It is likely one of the most vibrant tea-drinking areas on the earth, based on some.
Statista ranks Germany seventeenth of their record of tea-drinking nations, however based on The German Tea Affiliation, East Frisians eat almost 300 liters (79 gallons) per capita a 12 months. That bests the nationwide fee of consumption of the English by 100 liters! In actual fact, Frisians drink, on common, extra tea than anybody else on the earth. They sometimes drink robust black tea comprised largely of Assam leaves with a touch of Ceylon or Sri Lankan tea added to the mix. It’s served in porcelain teapots with a small candle cradled beneath, as a method to maintain the tea heat.
To realize a greater understanding as to why this area stays the guts of German tea consumption, World Tea Information requested two native authorities to provide their skilled opinions. Cultural minister of Niedersachsen (Decrease Saxony, which incorporates the East Fresia area) Björn Thümler was beneficiant together with his time offering societal perception, whereas the present head of Thiele Tee Company (considered one of Germany’s oldest and most revered tea retailers), Lennart Thiele, offered background on their enterprise practices. In the midst of this text, tradition minister Thümler additionally describes the particular method East Friesians combine and eat their tea.
Q&A with Björn Thümler
Science and Tradition Minister Björn Thümler has been serving the state of Niedersachsen (Decrease Saxony, a state in northwest Germany bordering the North Sea with eight million inhabitants) since 2017. Born within the hamlet of Berne, close to the Weser River, the energetic 50-year-old nonetheless resides there when not participating in Authorities duties or sitting on boards of a number of museums and charitable organizations.
Query: Is there a tea occasion or pageant that’s devoted to tea in East Frisia?
Reply: To start with, tea is important and existential for East Frisia. It’s why I’m very blissful East Frisian tea tradition was included within the nationwide register of intangible cultural heritage in 2016. Now on your query, the East Frisian Tea Museum within the metropolis of Norden needs to be talked about. There you will discover all of the details about tea tradition in East Frisia, and even all over the world. A go to is all the time worthwhile since you come out of the museum smarter each time. In any other case, the East Frisian tea tradition doesn’t want any festive events. The “Teetied” [or tea time] is a part of East Frisian sociability and on a regular basis life, and never solely in East Frisia.
Query: Do you drink tea extra on social events, with pals or enterprise companions, or for pleasure?
Reply: I drink tea each morning. Tea is, after all, additionally consumed at social occasions, however particularly in the event that they happen in East Frisia. In the remainder of the nation, far much less tea is consumed. The typical East Frisians drinks over 288 liters [76 gallons] per 12 months. In the remainder of Germany, the common is at solely 28 liters [7.4 gallons].
Query: At what age do folks in East Frisia begin consuming tea?
Reply: Since consuming tea is an integral a part of household life in East Frisia, the youngsters be taught at an early age what significance is hooked up to consuming tea. Particularly, the comfortable get-together. The “Teetied” is like taking a bit of break and can be widespread exterior of East Frisia. Only a time to loosen up!
Query: What makes tea so widespread in East Frisia? Is it simply custom that’s handed on from era to era?
Reply: Because of the generally chilly or windy climate circumstances within the area of East Frisia, a sizzling drink was most likely good for folks within the 18th century, as a result of they might heat themselves up. To today, the “Teetied” is a residing custom and tradition in East Frisia. Consuming tea is to be seen as a component of group, within the household, amongst pals, amongst colleagues and on festive events. Sturdy black tea is poured onto a chunk of white rock sweet in thin-walled porcelain cups, and the brief break begins with the gentle crackling that happens. The cream, which is then poured into the cup in a circle – all the time counterclockwise – first sinks down after which rises as a cloud. The cream is poured counterclockwise into the cup with the cream spoon and, in a figurative sense, stops the time for the tea break collectively. This custom is handed on from era to era, but in addition to newcomers and visitors.
Query: Is tea used to attract for vacationers or customers, particularly since England is simply throughout the channel?
Reply: In a way, the East Frisian tea tradition is an elemental a part of the East Frisian lifestyle. Tea has been a part of life right here for 300 years. One ought to have a look at the Dutch and Frisian long-distance commerce, which introduced items from the Far East to the North Coastline early on. The British affect is reasonably low.
Query: What goes properly with East Frisian tea?
Reply: Relying on the family, tea muffins largely. Or “Krintstuut,” a candy yeast bread buttered and topped with currants.
Query: Is tea a drink for you at any time of the day, or do you favor it at common intervals within the morning or night?
Reply: In East Friesland, you drink tea at any time of the day or 12 months. I drink tea within the morning and, if an possibility at locations I go to, within the afternoon.
Query: What would you want to inform the worldwide tea business about your area and their love for tea?
Reply: Tea is key to all East Frisians. Constant high quality is simply as essential to us as its ecological cultivation, and the consideration of social requirements for the tea farmers. In any other case, the tea would not style actually good.
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Q&A with Lennart Franz Thiele
Lennart Franz Thiele, of Thiele Tee, took over the administration of the Emden primarily based firm in 2019. Filling the sizable footwear of Franz Otto Thiele, who headed the corporate since 1985 earlier than passing away on the age of 100. Lennart Thiele is the fourth era of Thiele to run the agency, tasked with retaining it a household run operation. Given his intensive data of each home and overseas tea commerce, he’s instrumental in shaping the way forward for the corporate and East Frisian tea.
Query: The place do you import your tea leaves from?
Reply: We import our “Originaltees” product line primarily from the North Indian state of Assam, throughout their greatest harvest time – the so known as “second flush” interval. Since 1873, our Emden primarily based household firm has personally vouched for the very best high quality by means of household possession. With our purchases, we pay particular consideration to solely import the very best high quality leaves, and order a adequate quantity to make sure we’ve got sufficient inventory to get our manufacturing by means of the subsequent 12 months’s harvest in case of a provide chain interruption. Tea doesn’t have a selected expiration date, so it won’t go unhealthy in our specialised storage amenities. We regulate a good stock turnover to make sure high quality.
Query: How do you market exterior of East Frisia, in different components of Germany, and do you ship internationally
Reply: We promote in conventional grocery shops, no discounters, and personal tea retailers in addition to specialty shops throughout Germany. At present, we don’t export for giant commerce exterior Germany. We deal in highest high quality, no compromises, delivering one of the best worth for cash, one of the best blends. The actual East Frisian tea. We additionally purchase natural and honest commerce alongside our standard items. The highest quality of mixes is the highest precedence.
Query: Your core shopper base stays in East Frisia then?
Reply: Our buyer base is principally individuals who demand high quality, or a refined style market. Our area can assist that, as its consumption is 13 instances the nationwide common in comparison with German norm consumption. As well as, we’ve got personal prospects throughout Germany, and overseas through our net portal. There are tea lovers in America, in Iowa as an illustration, and there are lots of people of East Friesian heritage.
Query: What makes East Frisian tea particular?
Reply: Right here, tea is a cultural asset with over 450 years of historical past, and our tea ceremony is an intangible cultural heritage which has made it onto the German UNESCO world heritage record. For us, tea stands for far more than a staple merchandise – tea is our regional drink. Tea is lived identification, is hospitality, togetherness, is speaking and being silent, is the start and the tip of the day. It’s enjoyment.