Coffee and Tea around the World (German Speak-up -Club)
On the 21st of December one German couple and 10 other Japanese took part in a discussion. The topic was all of a sudden changed. The former topic was about "What do we expect the new German Goverment?" We were supposed to talk about the German Prime Minister Merkels new policies, such as Euro crisis, energy turnaround and its dipolomatic relations with other European countries.
The new topic: "Coffee and Tea around the World."
First of all the discussion leader breifly touched on the history of coffee beans. In the ancient Arabian countries coffee beans were used as medicine to prevent from sleeping. Probably it's due to the religeious reasons. They have the custome to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca. During this period they have to go through a fast time. In other words they have to pray for God day and night without eating. They'd have to stay up until wee hours in the morning. I am afraid I don't know if this story is true or not. But anyway coffee was introduced to Europe as late as in the 17th century.
As far as the Germans are concerned, they like drinking Espresso (Italian style), Wiener cofffee (Austrian style), Milk-coffee(French style) and Apple-coffee(German style).
American coffee with a big mug is for the Germans yucky. The taste is so "thin" that they feel like drinking rinsing water(Spuelwasser). Everybody laughed.
Then the German woman referred to the fact, workers in a cofffe plant in Columbia and Brazil are cheaply paid and exploited.
Last not but least I'd like to thank Iida-san for filling in me on coffee's advantages in the last English lesson on the 19th of December.
I just told them what I learned from Iida-san.
"By the way, coffee drinking is good for health. Statistics show that coffee has a healthy substance, like Polyphenol which has good effects on liver. It makes a contribution to the decrease of liver cancer." That sounded intellectual. A decent woman from the residential area admired me for that.
She also went to the most expensive coffee shop located in Ginza, Tokyo. A cup of coffee cost her as much as 2000 Yen.
The next discussion will be held on the 3rd Saturday of Janauary. I'm looking forward to taking part in a discussion.
The new topic: "Coffee and Tea around the World."
First of all the discussion leader breifly touched on the history of coffee beans. In the ancient Arabian countries coffee beans were used as medicine to prevent from sleeping. Probably it's due to the religeious reasons. They have the custome to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca. During this period they have to go through a fast time. In other words they have to pray for God day and night without eating. They'd have to stay up until wee hours in the morning. I am afraid I don't know if this story is true or not. But anyway coffee was introduced to Europe as late as in the 17th century.
As far as the Germans are concerned, they like drinking Espresso (Italian style), Wiener cofffee (Austrian style), Milk-coffee(French style) and Apple-coffee(German style).
American coffee with a big mug is for the Germans yucky. The taste is so "thin" that they feel like drinking rinsing water(Spuelwasser). Everybody laughed.
Then the German woman referred to the fact, workers in a cofffe plant in Columbia and Brazil are cheaply paid and exploited.
Last not but least I'd like to thank Iida-san for filling in me on coffee's advantages in the last English lesson on the 19th of December.
I just told them what I learned from Iida-san.
"By the way, coffee drinking is good for health. Statistics show that coffee has a healthy substance, like Polyphenol which has good effects on liver. It makes a contribution to the decrease of liver cancer." That sounded intellectual. A decent woman from the residential area admired me for that.
She also went to the most expensive coffee shop located in Ginza, Tokyo. A cup of coffee cost her as much as 2000 Yen.
The next discussion will be held on the 3rd Saturday of Janauary. I'm looking forward to taking part in a discussion.
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