The Caribbean islands, packed between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, was populated by the indigenous ancestors about six thousand years before Christ. Invulnerable to savage storms, the Caribbean supports the most diverse and uniquely beautiful flora & fauna in the world. 

The Caribbean beauty lies in its tropical rain forests, savannas, thorny woodlands, cactus scrubs, and mangrove swamps. It's hard to find a more fantastic range of natural beauty in so small an area anywhere else.

If you are of Caribbean descent, the chances are that your mind is always fancying the soothing thoughts of tea. The tropical rainforest climate of the Caribbean makes it suitable for the cultivation of several different kinds of tea. Everything flavored that is consumed mixed with hot water comes in the tea category. 

The tea culture of the Caribbean is adapted from various cultural and colonial customs. Europeans came to the Caribbean in search of wealth. The Spanish looked for precious metals like gold and silver, but there was so little to be found. 

The British tried their hands-on growing tobacco but failed. The growing of sugarcane worked well. Sugarcane was not a local plant but grew well and was used to produce sugar and alcoholic drinks like rum, to export back home. The sugar went well with tea, coffee, and chocolate.

During the age of imperialism, the Caribbean was caught amid Spanish, French, and English colonies. The Europeans had discovered tea in the 15th century. After the colonization of the Caribbean in the 16th century, Aztecs, Mayans, and native communities were enslaved to work on sugar plantations to meet the demand for tea sweetener. 

The traditional tea made from the Camellia Sinensis plant was far more expensive, being an imported commodity. With the tea being out of reach, the locally grown coffee became the beverage of choice for the local slaves to get energy for the relentless hard work.

Throughout Caribbean history, native plants have been used in bush medicines and herbal remedies for generations curing anything from toothaches to migraines. Ancient healers use to mix different herbs with hot water to cure diseases and illnesses.

The Caribbean people used native plants and herbs to produce bush teas having therapeutic properties and comforting taste. For generations, the Caribbean grandmothers have been brewing tea from the indigenous herb, roots, and bushes, found in the Caribbean.

After the colonization, some of the local population grew tea on their lands, benefiting from tea’s medicinal and economic benefits. The Caribbean entrepreneurs pay homage to their tea tradition by introducing several tea brands brewed from the local herbs and bushes. Backed by science, the Caribbean islands now produce the finest quality of bush and herb tea. Tea growing families grew rich and enjoyed an elevated social lifestyle.

The secret of the premium quality tea lies within the process through which the tea is prepared. The first in the process is drying. Tea leaves are dried very slowly to maximize the nutrient content in the tea. A delicate blend of cinnamon, ginger, clove, cardamom, and mauby bark is added for the magical taste and healing properties. The tea is then treated through scientific processes, and machines are used to remove harmful materials and bacteria like salmonella or E-coli. 

Add the ingredients into some boiling water. Cocoa, nutmeg, and vanilla can also be added if preferred. Some people also add almond milk or condensed milk. Finally, the tea is sweetened with honey or sugar to taste, and our preference is honey.

Tea is now an integral part of every household in the Caribbean lands. The Caribbean islands have different teas, including green & black tea, bush tea, and cocoa tea. 

Following are some prominently used kinds of tea among the Caribbean region;

Green & Black Tea:

Green or black tea is extracted from the Camellia Sinensis plant and is the most common tea consumed worldwide. Green tea has antioxidant properties improving general health. Black tea helps maintain healthy blood pressure and sugar levels. Black tea also improves gut health and aids in detoxing your body.

Bush Tea:

Bush tea dates back to the colonial slaves and ancient civilizations who know the properties of herbs and plants. Bush tea is made from natural medicinal herbs. The roots, stem, leaves, and flowers of some plants are also used to make bush tea. Caribbean people commonly use this type of tea to treat ailments and diseases. Guava and orange leaf tea are used to treat diarrhea and vomiting. Tea made from the bark of the Caribbean Albizia tree is used to cure scorpion sting. Tea made from the leaves of the periwinkle plant is effective against diabetes. Bush tea is medicinal tea used to cure infections, illnesses, and deficiencies. 

Cocoa Tea:

The cocoa plant is indigenous to the Caribbean islands. It is easy to process, roast, and grate cocoa beans to make deliciously excellent tea. The cocoa plant is also used to make chocolate and beverages like champurrado. Cocoa Tea is a delicacy that only the Caribbean people can enjoy every day.

Hibiscus Tea:

Tropical flowers like Hibiscus are also used to make hot or iced tea. The tea is infused with roselle and has a cranberry-like tart flavor. Hibiscus tea regulates blood pressure and has various health benefits.

The slavery plagued islands of the Caribbean have a deep history of tea culture and tradition. From ancient times, the indigenous people were aware of plants and herbs' properties and used them to get the best benefits. Now the tea culture in the Caribbean is even stronger and vital to the local population's survival. If you're sick in the Caribbean, you don't take medicine; you drink tea. The Caribbean beauty is timeless, and the tea is eternal. The tea to the Caribbean people is more like a magical cure rather than just a regular beverage. Although the Caribbean people are more inclined to drink coffee, there is always a special place for tea in their hearts and homes.

Related Reads