The interesting facts you might not know about coffee

Around the world, coffee production provides a livelihood for 25 million people. For them, coffee is a reason to get up in the morning while, for everyone else, it is the reason they can get up in the morning. Over two billion cups of coffee are drunk every single day, which raises the question of how the other five billion people manage to get anything done.

Here are the things you might not have known about the tasty brown drink.

The word ‘coffee’ has Arabic origins

The word ‘coffee’ comes from the Arabic word “qahwah”, which originally referred to a type of wine. There are a number of theories among linguists about the word’s current association with coffee.

Many believe that like wine, caffeine has an intoxicating effect, but qahwah can also be traced to the Arabic word quwwa, which means power or energy, or qaha which translates to ‘lacking hunger’ and could reference coffee as an appetite suppressant. Another theory is that it originates from Kaffa, a kingdom in medieval Ethiopia from where the coffee plant was first exported to Arabia.

Coffee beans are not really beans

The coffee plant grows berrie all along its branches and, once ripe and red, they are picked and their seeds are removed. It is these seeds that we incorrectly call coffee beans.

Legend has it that coffee was discovered by an Ethiopian farmer called Kaldi, who noticed his goats behaving strangely after eating berries from a coffee plant.

Coffee can keep you young

It has been suggested that the drink offers a range of anti-ageing benefits, including lowering the risk of cirrhosis, diabetes and dementia. It also contains antioxidants, which can prevent cell damage and help reduce wrinkles.

Perhaps with this in mind, Japan has opened a spa where you can bathe in the brown stuff. The resort, in Hakone, offers guests the chance take a dip in a hot tub full of coffee; a welcome opportunity to those who have spent too long in the spa’s other attraction, a hot tub full of red wine.

Coffee has always been an important way of socializing

Public coffee houses, usually associated with Sufism, first gained popularity in the 16th century. The first coffee houses opened in Cairo, Egypt, around an important religious university and slowly spread throughout the region.

People would visit these venues to drink coffee, listen to music, play chess and talk about current affairs and religion.

Source Internet

Visit Japan, enjoy the best ramen in the world

Ramen is a noodle soup dish that was originally imported from China and has become one of the most popular dishes in Japan in recent decades. Ramen is inexpensive and widely available, two factors that also make them an ideal option for budget travelers. Ramen restaurants, or ramen-ya, can be found in virtually every corner of the country and produce countless regional variations of this common noodle dish.

The modern ramen scene has a wealth of serving variations, even if the dishes are all called ramen: cold or hot noodles eaten together with soup, noodles served without soup, and thin noodles are eaten with a hot dipping sauce.

Ramen is a Japanese adaptation of Chinese wheat noodles. Ramen was first introduced to Japan in 1660s by Zhu Shun Shui. There is another theory which claims that the second origin story centers on ramen’s arrival in the nineteenth century as a result of changes in Japanese food practices inspired by American imperialism. It was also said that Ramen was introduced by Chinese immigrants in the late 19thor early 20th century.  According to the record of the Yokohama Ramen Museum, ramen originated in China and made its way over to Japan in 1859. Early versions were wheat noodles in broth topped with Chinese-style roast pork.

The word ramen is a Japanese transcription of the Chinese lamian. In 1910, a Chinese restaurant serving ramen in Yokohama's Chinatown received public praise in Japan. Until the 1950s, ramen was called shina soba but today chūka soba or just ramen is more common, as the word has acquired a pejorative connotation.

Shoyu

Shoyu ramen soup is a clear, brown broth flavored with soy sauce (shoyu). The soup is usually made of chicken broth but often contains other meats such as pork, beef or fish depending on the region. Shoyu ramen is the most common type of ramen and is usually what is served when the menu does not specify a specific type of soup.

Shio

Shio ramen soup is a light, clear broth seasoned with salt. It is typically made from chicken broth, but may also be flavored with other meats such as pork.

Miso

Miso ramen soup is flavored with soybean paste (miso), resulting in a thick, brown soup with a rich, complex flavor. The style originated in Hokkaido where the long cold winters spurred the need for a heartier type of ramen soup, but it has spread to the point where it can be found pretty much anywhere in Japan.

Tonkotsu

Particularly popular around Kyushu, tonkotsu ramen is made of pork bones which have been boiled down until they dissolve into a cloudy white broth. The thick, creamy soup is also often flavored with chicken broth and pork fat.


See more: 8 typical dishes from Northern Japan, Aomori cuisine

Source Internet

The best ecotourists destinations in Taiwan

Known as the beautiful island or Ilha Formosa, Taiwan is a region of many natural wonders. So it’s no surprise that the local tourism board is doing its best to promote it as the perfect ecotourism destination.

Yangmingshan National Park

As the most easily accessed of Taiwan’s parks, Yangmingshan is one of the most popular destinations for tourists staying in Taipei. It’s just a short bus ride out of the city and is home to hot springs, lush countryside, and a geothermal scenic area where you can witness steam rise from the ground. The park is also home to endless hiking trails and some incredible natural scenery. It’s well worth a visit even if you’re only in the city for a weekend.

Taroko National Park

Taroko National Park Taroko National Park is perhaps Taiwan’s most famous national park and is a source of immense local pride. Located in Hualien County, the park is a regular stop for the thousands of organized tours that make their way around the island each year. The park features marble-walled canyons and over half of Taiwan’s animal and plant species. Grottos, scenic bridges, mountainside temples, cliffs, and waterfalls, Taroko National Park is a photographer’s dream and easily Taiwan’s number one tourist attraction.

Shuiyang Forest

Speaking of the dreamy Shuiyang Forest, many describe it as “fallen heaven.” In fact, it is a landslide dam caused by the devastating 921 Earthquake back in 1999. Shuiyang Forest is located within the Sun Link Sea Forest Park. Due to its remote location, it is advised to go on a two-day trip and camp by the forest. To arrive here, there are two routes you should familiarize yourself with, both leaving from the Renting entrance, but the forest road is relatively smooth. As you are spending a night or two here, carrying heavy types of equipment on your back is unavoidable — take the route that is not beyond your physical limits.

Kenting National Park

To many people in Taiwan, Kenting is the ultimate local beach destination and with good reason. Its many beautiful and sometimes deserted beaches are some of the best in Taiwan, but the park is much more than a few stretches of golden sand. Kenting, commonly known as Kenting National Park is at the extreme southern tip of Taiwan. Located on the Hengchun Peninsula of Pingtung Count, it is famous for its beautiful beaches and lush vegetation, and plenty of different corals.

See more: Visit Kenting, the southernmost of Taiwan

Yehliu Geopark

Another destination that is just outside of the capital, Yehliu is easily accessed by public bus or even a private tour. The Geopark boasts some truly amazing rock formations that make for some excellent photo opportunities. Make sure though to visit during the week as at the weekend, and on public holidays, the place can get very busy.

Tianlao Moon World

Tianliao Moon World is a tract of barren land between Chongde Village and Gutin Village of Tianliao District. It has a dreary and desolate beauty of the desert and is famous for its similarity to the landscape of the Moon surface. The Badlands, as some call it, resembles a moonscape, albeit with a few trees scattered throughout the area, and it really is a place that you have to see for yourself to truly appreciate.

Source Internet