Dominican tea culture

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Periwinkle plants in bloom. Indigenous Caribs made medicinal tea from Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), and it is used today in modern pharmacology.

Dominican tea culture combines many customs adapted from various colonial and immigrant cultures that have mingled in Dominica. "Bush teas", made from local herbal plants and often taken for medicinal purposes, are a traditional part of Dominica's culture.

## Contents

* 1 Tea terms in Dominican culture
* 2 Cocoa tea
* 3 Hibiscus tea
* 4 Medicinal teas
* 5 See also
* 6 References

## Tea terms in Dominican culture

Cocoa plants, commonly cultivated in Dominica, and used to make cocoa tea.

Dominica's tropical rainforest climate makes it suitable for cultivating many types of plant that may be used to make teas. The word "tea" has a broader meaning in Dominica than in most other parts of the English-speaking world. In Dominica, the word is used for many beverages other than the traditional Camellia sinensis imported from Asia. Imported tea from Asia is called "green tea". Dominicans also consume "Cocoa Tea", made of cocoa beans, and several types of "bush tea". Bush teas are brewed from herbs, in some cases using plant roots, bark or flowers, which are traditionally held to have medicinal properties. Dominicans also distinguish between "hot teas" and "cooling teas".[1]

"Tea" is often used instead of "breakfast" for the first meal of the day. This usage has its origins in the colonial era, when plantation workers would have "tea" at sunrise before going to work. The second "tea" of the day took place in mid-morning. This is different from British culture, where "tea" often refers to a light meal with a cup of Assam tea in the late afternoon.[1]

## Cocoa tea

Cocoa is a staple crop in Dominica that most farmers traditionally harvested, and that is common in Caribbean markets. Cocoa tea is made by chopping a cocoa stick or ball into small pieces, or shredding the cocoa on a grater. It is mixed with water, condensed milk, cinnamon, leaves from a Christmas bush or bay leaves, grated nutmeg and sugar. Cocoa tea is served hot, often accompanied by a light snack such as banana fritters.[2] Cocoa tea is similar to hot chocolate.[3]

## Hibiscus tea

Hibiscus flowers are common in Dominica and other Caribbean islands, and make a hibiscus tea popular throughout the region.

Hibiscus tea is popular in Dominica, as in other Caribbean and Latin American cultures. Hibiscus plants are native to the tropics, and have long been associated with health benefits in traditional medicine. Hibiscus tea may be served either hot or as an iced tea.[4] Some studies indicate that hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure in adults with mild hypertension or prehypertension.[5][6]

## Medicinal teas

A bitter melon plant growing near Woodfordhill, Dominica. Bitter melon is one of many plants cultivated in Dominica to make teas with traditional medicinal uses.

Bush teas are usually drunk for medicinal purposes or to maintain health.[3] Many common plants in Dominica are used in these teas. Tea from the Common Guava leaf is used for diarrhea, and tea from the orange leaf is taken to stop vomiting. Caribbean Albizia bark (Albizia niopoides) gives a tea that soothes scorpion stings. Other bush teas are used to treat vitamin deficiencies, digestive ailments, or parasitic infections. Some plants believed to have medicinal properties are located at the Dominica Botanic Gardens. These include varieties that have been used in traditional medicinal teas in Dominica, and plants used in traditional medicine in other Caribbean islands or other parts of the world.[7]

Medicinal teas in Dominica can be traced to the original indigenous Carib inhabitants and to the African slaves who were brought to the islands. The Caribs traditionally made a tea from the leaves of the periwinkle plant (Catharanthus roseus) for use as a treatment for diabetes.[7] Pharmacological companies today extract several medicinal alkaloids from periwinkle sap. The alkaloids derived from this plant include the anti-cancer agents vinblastine and vincristine.[8] Other extracts from periwinkle help lower blood sugar in diabetics and are the basis for powerful tranquilizers.[7][9] The powerful qualities of this plant were known to other cultures; it is known by the name Violette de Sorcier (Sorcerer's Violet) in France.[10][11]

As with many indigenous traditional medicines, the active ingredients of the plants used to make bush teas are not well understood. At incorrect doses, or otherwise misused, teas made from these plants are toxic and may be deadly. Worldwide, researchers are investigating indigenous herbal medicines in an effort to identify active ingredients and traditional preparations, which may have uses for modern medicine.[7]

## See also

* Dominica cuisine
* Tea
* Herbal tea
* Traditional medicine

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "A to Z of Dominican Culture: Tea". Lennox Honychurch. http://www.lennoxhonychurch.com/heritage.cfm?Id=249.
2. ↑ "Caribbean Tea Time". Caribbean Culinary. https://caribbeanculinary.blogspot.com/2011/10/caribbean-tea-time-cocoa-tea-and-banana.html.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Anna McCanse (2011). Dominica (Other Places Travel Guide). Other Places Publishing. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-9822619-7-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=Cpyw8DutnbMC&pg=PT87.
4. ↑ "Hibiscus Tea". Caribarena Dominica. http://www.caribarena.com/dominica/life-a-style/food-a-drink/7041-hibiscus-tea.html.
5. ↑ H Mozaffari-Khosravi; B-A Jalali-Khanabadi; M Afkhami-Ardekani; F Fatehi; M Noori-Shadkam (January 2009). "The effects of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on hypertension in patients with type II diabetes". Journal of Human Hypertension 23 (1): 48–54. doi:10.1038/jhh.2008.100. PMID 18685605.
6. ↑ Diane L. McKay; C.-Y. Oliver Chen; Edward Saltzman; Jeffrey B. Blumberg (February 2010). "Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. Tea (Tisane) Lowers Blood Pressure in Prehypertensive and Mildly Hypertensive Adults". Journal of Nutrition 140 (2): 298–303. doi:10.3945/jn.109.115097. PMID 20018807. http://jn.nutrition.org/content/140/2/298.abstract. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Medicinal Plants". Dominica Botanical Gardens. http://www.da-academy.org/medplants.html.
8. ↑ "Meet the plants: Catharanthus roseus". National Tropical Botanical Garden. http://www.ntbg.org/plants/plant_details.php?rid=413&plantid=2497.
9. ↑ Dholakia, Shamik; Chris John; Michael Schachter (2011). The Final Hurdle: Single Best Answers in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. World Scientific Publishing. p. 66. ISBN 978-1-84816-744-5.
10. ↑ "Petite Pervenche/Violette de Sorcier". Université de Rennes. http://www.med.univ-rennes1.fr/cgi-bin/adm/reponse?prg=1&cod=Z00104.
11. ↑ Bush Medicine: Medicinal Herbs, Trees and Plants of The Bahamas, Bahamasgroup.com (Carib Acquisitions Ltd.), accessed November 26, 2011

* v
* t
* e

Tea (Camellia sinensis)

Common
varieties|

| Black tea|

* Assam
* Bohea
* Ceylon
* Congou
* Darjeeling
* Dianhong
* Kangra
* Keemun
* Lapsang souchong (Jin Jun Mei)
* Nilgiri
* Tibeti
* Rize
* Yingdehong

|

Oolong tea|

* Bai Jiguan
* Ban Tian Yao
* Bu Zhi Chun
* Da Hong Pao
* Darjeeling oolong
* Dong ding
* Dongfang Meiren
* Gaoshan
* Huangjin Gui
* Huang Meigui
* Jin Xuan
* Qilan
* Pouchong
* Rougui
* Ruanzhi
* Shui Jin Gui
* Shui Hsien
* Tieluohan
* Tieguanyin

Green tea|

* Anji bai cha
* Aracha
* Baimao Hou
* Bancha
* Biluochun
* Chun Mee
* Dafang
* Genmaicha
* Lu'an Melon Seed
* Gunpowder
* Gyokuro
* Hōjicha
* Taiping houkui
* Huangshan Maofeng
* Hyson
* Kabusecha
* Kamairicha
* Konacha
* Kukicha
* Longjing
* Matcha
* Maojian
* Mecha
* Mengding Ganlu
* Sencha
* Shincha
* Tamaryokucha

White tea|

* Bai Mudan
* Baihao Yinzhen
* Darjeeling White
* Shoumei

Yellow tea|

* Junshan Yinzhen
* Huoshan Huangya

Fermented tea|

* Pu-erh
* Doncha
* Lahpet

Blended or
flavoured teas|

* Earl Grey (Lady Grey)
* Breakfast tea (English, Irish)
* English afternoon tea
* Jasmine tea
* Lapsang souchong
* Masala chai
* Mint tea
* Maghrebi mint tea
* Prince of Wales
* Russian Caravan

General|

* Australian
* Chinese
* British
* Korean
* Nepali
* Taiwanese
* Turkish
* Vietnamese

Culture|

| Customs|

* Afternoon/High tea/Evening meal
* Tea party
* Tasseography
* Tea ceremony
* Japanese
* Chinese
* Korean
* Yum cha

|

Areas|

* Tea garden
* Teahouse or tearoom
* Cha chaan teng
* Chashitsu
* Mizuya
* Sukiya-zukuri
* Roji

By country|

* American
* Arab
* Argentine
* Azerbaijani
* Brazilian
* Chinese
* Dominican
* Hong Kong
* Indian
* Mexican
* Pakistani
* Russian
* Senegalese
* Taiwanese

History|

* China
* India
* Japan

Production and
distribution|

* Leaf grading
* Processing
* Decaffeination
* Tasting
* Cultivation
* Diseases
* Predation
* Companies
* Consumption by country
* Auctions
* London
* Chittagong
* Guwahati

| By country|

* Bangladesh
* Kenya
* Sri Lanka
* United States

|

Preparation|

* Flowering teas
* Infusion
* Decoction
* ISO procedure
* Steeping
* Tea bag
* Tea brick

Health|

* Health effects
* Phenolic content
* Compounds
* Caffeine
* Theanine
* Flavan-3-ol
* Catechin
* Epigallocatechin gallate
* Theaflavin

Tea-based
drinks|

* Bubble tea
* Builder's tea
* Butter tea
* Chifir
* Doodh pati chai
* Hong Kong-style milk tea
* Iced tea
* Arnold Palmer
* Jagertee
* Kahwah
* Lei cha
* Milk tea
* Noon chai
* Seven-layered tea
* Shahi haleeb
* Suutei tsai
* Sweet tea
* Teh tarik
* Thai tea
* Troq chai
* Yuenyeung

See also|

* Teaware
* Chest
* Caddy
* Strainer
* Infuser
* Teacup
* Teapot
* Gaiwan
* Tea set
* Literature
* Classical
* Coffee
* Herbal tea
* Dried lime
* Ginger
* Guayusa
* Koththamalli
* Kuding
* Mate
* Kombucha
* Bak kut teh
* List of Chinese teas
* Lipton Institute of Tea
* Teas of related species
* Camellia japonica
* Camellia sasanqua
* Camellia taliensis
* Tea Research and Extension Station
* Tea seed oil
* Boston Tea Party

* Drink Portal
* Category:Tea
* Coffee & Tea Task Force

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