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  • Green tea

    Green tea is a type of tea made from the leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis that have not undergone the withering and oxidation process that creates oolong teas and black teas.[1] Green tea originated in China in the late 1st millennium BC, and since then its production and manufacture has spread to other countries in East Asia.

    Several varieties of green tea exist, which differ substantially based on the variety of C. sinensis used, growing conditions, horticultural methods, production processing, and time of harvest.

    History

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    Main articles: History of tea and History of tea in China

    The tea fields in the foothills of Gorreana, Azores Islands, Portugal: the only European region other than Georgia to support green tea production.

    Tea consumption has its legendary origins in China during the reign of mythological Emperor Shennong.[2]

    A book written by Lu Yu in 618–907 AD, The Classic of Tea (Chinesepinyinchájīng), is considered important in green tea history[citation needed]. The Book of Tea (Kissa Yōjōki, lit. Record [of] Drinking Tea [for] Nourishing Life), written by Zen priest Eisai in 1211, describes how drinking green tea may affect five vital organs, the shapes of tea plants, flowers and leaves, and how to grow and process tea leaves[citation needed].

    Steeping, brewing and serving

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    Four small white bowls of tea
    Four varieties of green tea prior to brewing
    The colour of green tea brewed for 3 minutes at 90 °C (194 °F)

    Steeping, or brewing, is the process of making tea from leaves and hot water, generally using 2 grams (0.07 oz) of tea per 100 mL (3.5 imp fl oz; 3.4 US fl oz) of water or about 1 tsp (5 mL) of green tea per 150 mL (5.3 imp fl oz; 5.1 US fl oz) cup. Steeping temperatures range from 61 °C (142 °F) to 87 °C (189 °F) and steeping times from 30 seconds to three minutes.

    Generally, lower-quality green teas are steeped hotter and longer while higher-quality teas are steeped cooler and shorter, but usually multiple times (2–3 typically). Higher-quality teas like gyokuro use more tea leaves and are steeped multiple times for short durations. Steeping too hot or too long results in the release of excessive amounts of tannins, leading to a bitter, astringent brew, regardless of initial quality. The brew’s taste is also affected by the steeping technique; two important techniques are to warm the steeping container beforehand to prevent the tea from immediately cooling down, and to leave the tea leaves in the pot and gradually add more hot water during consumption.[citation needed]

    Extracts

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    Polyphenols found in green tea include epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin gallateepicatechins and flavanols,[1] which are under laboratory research for their potential effects in vivo.[3] Other components include three kinds of flavonoids, known as kaempferolquercetin, and myricetin.[4] Although the mean content of flavonoids and catechins in a cup of green tea is higher than that in the same volume of other food and drink items that are traditionally considered to promote health,[5] flavonoids and catechins have no proven biological effect in humans.[6][7]

    Green tea leaves are initially processed by soaking in an alcohol solution, which may be further concentrated to various levels; byproducts of the process are also packaged and used.[citation needed] Extracts are sold over the counter in liquid, powder, capsule, and tablet forms,[3][8] and may contain up to 17.4% of their total weight in caffeine,[9] though decaffeinated versions are also available.[10]

    Green tea extract is usable as a clean label food preservative, protecting fats from rancidity. The oil-soluble form used is palmitoylated green tea catechins, ruled generally recognized as safe in 2020.[11]

    Health effects

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    Main article: Health effects of tea

    Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
    Energy4 kJ (0.96 kcal)
    Carbohydrates0 g
    Fat0 g
    Protein0.2 g
    showVitamins and minerals
    Other constituentsQuantity
    Water99.9 g
    Caffeine12 mg
    Link to Full USDA Nutrient Report
    Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[12] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[13]

    Regular green tea is 99.9% water, provides 1 kcal per 100 mL serving, is devoid of significant nutrient content (table), and contains phytochemicals such as polyphenols and caffeine.

    Numerous claims have been made for the health benefits of green tea, but human clinical research has not found good evidence of benefit.[14][6][15] In 2011, a panel of scientists published a report on the claims for health effects at the request of the European Commission: in general they found that the claims made for green tea were not supported by sufficient scientific evidence.[6] Although green tea may enhance mental alertness due to its caffeine content, there is only weak, inconclusive evidence that regular consumption of green tea affects the risk of cancer or cardiovascular diseases, and there is no evidence that it benefits weight loss.[14]

    In some cases of excessive consumption, green tea extract is hepatotoxic with evidence of liver damage.[16][17] A 2020 review by the Cochrane Collaboration listed some potential adverse effects of green tea extract including gastrointestinal disorders, higher levels of liver enzymes, and, more rarely, insomnia, raised blood pressure, and skin reactions.[18]

    Cancer

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    Cancer Council Australia and Cancer Research UK have stated that there is not enough reliable evidence that green tea can prevent cancer.[19][20] The National Cancer Institute have noted that “the evidence regarding the potential benefits of tea consumption in relation to cancer is inconclusive at present”.[21]

    Green tea interferes with the chemotherapy drug bortezomib (Velcade) and other boronic acid-based proteasome inhibitors, and should be avoided by people taking these medications.[22]

    Cardiovascular disease

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    A meta-analysis of observational studies reported an increase in one cup of green tea per day was correlated with slightly lower risk of death from cardiovascular causes.[23] Green tea consumption may be correlated with a reduced risk of stroke.[24][25] Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials found that green tea consumption for 3–6 months may produce small reductions (about 2–3 mm Hg each) in systolic and diastolic blood pressures.[25][26][27][28] A separate systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that consumption of 5–6 cups of green tea per day was associated with a small reduction in systolic blood pressure (2 mmHg), but did not lead to a significant difference in diastolic blood pressure.[29]

    Glycemic control

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    Green tea consumption lowers fasting blood sugar but in clinical studies the beverage’s effect on haemoglobin A1c and fasting insulin levels was inconsistent.[30][31][32]

    Hyperlipidemia

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    Drinking green tea or taking green tea supplements decreases the blood concentration of total cholesterol (about 3–7 mg/dL), LDL cholesterol (about 2 mg/dL), and does not affect the concentration of HDL cholesterol or triglycerides.[29][30][33] A 2013 Cochrane meta-analysis of longer-term randomized controlled trials (>3 months duration) concluded that green tea consumption lowers total and LDL cholesterol concentrations in the blood.[30]

    Inflammation

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    A 2015 systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials found that green tea consumption was not significantly associated with lower plasma levels of C-reactive protein levels (a marker of inflammation).[34]

    Weight loss

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    There is no good evidence that green tea aids in weight loss or weight maintenance.[14][35]

    Potential for liver toxicity

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    Excessive consumption of green tea extract has been associated with hepatotoxicity and liver failure.[36][37][38] In 2018, a scientific panel for the European Food Safety Authority reviewed the safety of green tea consumption over a low-moderate range of daily EGCG intake from 90 to 300 mg per day, and with exposure from high green tea consumption estimated to supply up to 866 mg EGCG per day.[17] Dietary supplements containing EGCG may supply up to 1000 mg EGCG and other catechins per day.[17] The panel concluded that EGCG and other catechins from green tea in low-moderate daily amounts are generally regarded as safe, but in some cases of excessive consumption of green tea or use of high-EGCG supplements, liver toxicity may occur.[17]

    Production

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    In 2013, global production of green tea was approximately 1.7 million tonnes, with a forecast to double in volume by 2023.[39] As of 2015, China provided 80% of the world’s green tea market, leading to its green tea exports rising by 9% annually, while exporting 325,000 tonnes in 2015.[40] In 2015, the US was the largest importer of Chinese green tea (6,800 tonnes), an increase of 10% over 2014, and Britain imported 1,900 tonnes, 15% more than in 2014.[40]

    Growing, harvesting and processing

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    Hand-rolling green tea after steaming

    Green tea is processed and grown in a variety of ways, depending on the type of green tea desired. As a result of these methods, maximum amounts of polyphenols and volatile organic compounds are retained, affecting aroma and taste. The growing conditions can be broken down into two basic types − those grown in the sun and those grown under the shade. The green tea plants are grown in rows that are pruned to produce shoots in a regular manner, and in general are harvested three times per year. The first flush takes place in late April to early May. The second harvest usually takes place from June through July, and the third picking takes place in late July to early August. Sometimes, there will also be a fourth harvest. The first flush in the spring brings the best-quality leaves, with higher prices to match.

    Green tea is processed after picking using either artisanal or modern methods. Sun-drying, basket or charcoal firing, or pan-firing are common artisanal methods. Oven-drying, tumbling, or steaming are common modern methods.[41] Processed green teas, known as aracha, are stored under low humidity refrigeration in 30- or 60-kilogram paper bags at 0–5 °C (32–41 °F). This aracha has yet to be refined at this stage, with a final firing taking place before blending, selection and packaging take place. The leaves in this state will be re-fired throughout the year as they are needed, giving the green teas a longer shelf-life and better flavour. The first flush tea of May will readily store in this fashion until the next year’s harvest. After this re-drying process, each crude tea will be sifted and graded according to size. Finally, each lot will be blended according to the blending order by the tasters and packed for sale.[42]

    Import of radioactive Japanese tea

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    On 17 June 2011, at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France, radioactive caesium of 1,038 becquerels per kilogram was measured in tea leaves imported from Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan as a result of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster on 11 March, which was more than twice the restricted amount in the European Union of 500 becquerels per kilogram. The government of France announced that they rejected the leaves, which totalled 162 kilograms (357 lb).[43]

    In response, the governor of Shizuoka Prefecture, Heita Kawakatsu, stated: “there is absolutely no problem when they [people] drink them because it will be diluted to about 10 becquerels per kilogram when they steep them even if the leaves have 1,000 becquerels per kilogram;” a statement backed by tests done in Shizuoka.[44] Japanese Minister for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety Renhō stated on 3 June 2011 that “there are cases in which aracha [whole leaves of Japanese green tea] are sold as furikake [condiments sprinkled on rice] and so on and they are eaten as they are, therefore we think that it is important to inspect tea leaves including aracha from the viewpoint of consumers’ safety.”[45]

    In 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration updated its import status on Japanese products deemed to be contaminated by radionuclides, indicating that tea from the Ibaraki prefecture had been removed from the list by the Government of Japan in 2015.[46]

    Green tea across East Asia

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    Mainland China and Taiwan

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    Chinese name
    Longjing, a green tea from Zhejiang, China
    Traditional Chinese綠茶
    Simplified Chinese绿茶
    Hanyu Pinyinlǜchá
    showTranscriptions

    Further information: History of tea in ChinaChinese teaChinese tea cultureTaiwanese tea, and Taiwanese tea culture


    Loose leaf green tea has been the most popular form of tea in China since at least the Southern Song dynasty.[47][48] While Chinese green tea was originally steamed, as it still is in Japan, after the early Ming dynasty it has typically been processed by being pan-fired in a dry wok.[49] Other processes employed in China today include oven-firing, basket-firing, tumble-drying and sun-drying.[50] Green tea is the most widely produced form of tea in China, with 1.42 million tons grown in 2014.[51]

    Popular green teas produced in China today include:

    • Biluochun (碧螺春)
      Produced in Jiangsu, this tea is named after the shape of the leaves, which are curled like snails.[52]
    • Chun Mee (珍眉)
      Known in English by its Cantonese name, and popular outside China. It has a plum-like flavour.[53]
    • Zhū chá (珠茶)
      “Pearl tea”, also called Gunpowder tea, is a form of tea which is tumble-dried so that each leaf is rolled into a small pellet that resembles gunpowder.[54]
    • Huangshan Maofeng (黄山毛峰)
      A type of maofeng tea grown in the microclimate of the Huangshan mountain range in Anhui province. Maofeng teas are harvested by plucking intact two equal-sized leaves and a bud together.[55]
    • Longjing (龍井茶)
      Also known as “Dragon Well” tea, the English translation of its name. Grown near Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Longjing is the most well-known pan-fired Chinese green tea. Its flavour derives partly from the terroir of the region in which it is produced.[52]
    • Lu’an Melon Seed (六安瓜片)
      Grown in Anhui province. Unlike typical Chinese teas, two leaves are plucked separately from each branch, with no bud and no stems. Harvested later in the season, it has a grassier flavour than typical Chinese green teas.[56]
    • Taiping Houkui (太平猴魁)
      Grown in Anhui province. Uses a cultivar with an unusually large leaf. The production process flattens the tea leaves, creating the so-called “two knives and a pole” shape from the leaves and stem.[57]
    • Xinyang Maojian (信陽毛尖)
      A type of maojian tea grown in XinyangHenan province.[58] Maojian teas are harvested by plucking a bud and one leaf together.[55]

    Japan

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    Further information: History of tea in Japan

    Sencha green tea, the most popular form of tea in Japan

    Tea seeds were first brought to Japan in the early 9th century by the Buddhist monks Saicho and Kūkai. During the Heian period (794–1185), Emperor Saga introduced the practice of drinking tea to the imperial family. The Zen Buddhist priest Eisai (1141–1215), founder of the Rinzai school of Buddhism, brought tea seeds from China to plant in various places in Japan. Eisai advocated that all people, not just Buddhist monks and the elite, drink tea for its health benefits.[59]

    The oldest tea-producing region in Japan is Uji, located near the former capital of Kyoto.[59] It is thought that seeds sent by Eisai were planted in Uji, becoming the basis of the tea industry there.[60] Today, Japan’s most expensive premium teas are still grown in Uji.[61] The largest tea-producing area today is Shizuoka Prefecture, which accounts for 40% of total Japanese sencha production.[62][61] Other major tea-producing regions include the island of Kyushu and the prefectures of ShigaGifu, and Saitama in central Honshu.[61]

    All commercial tea produced in Japan today is green tea,[63] though for a brief period black tea was also produced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Japanese tea production is heavily mechanized, and is characterized by the use of modern technology and processes to improve yields and reduce labour. Because of the high cost of labour in Japan, only the highest quality teas are plucked and processed by hand in the traditional fashion.[64]

    Japanese green teas have a thin, needle-like shape and a rich, dark green colour. Unlike Chinese teas, most Japanese teas are produced by steaming rather than pan-firing. This produces their characteristic colour, and creates a sweeter, more grassy flavour. A mechanical rolling/drying process then dries the tea leaves into their final shape.[63] The liquor of steamed Japanese tea tends to be cloudy due to the higher quantity of dissolved solids.[65]

    Most Japanese teas are blended from leaves grown in different regions, with less emphasis on terroir than in the Chinese market. Because of the limited quantity of tea that can be produced in Japan, the majority of production is dedicated to the premium tea market. Cheaper bottled teas and tea-flavoured food products usually use lower-grade Japanese-style tea produced in China.[66]

    Although a variety of commercial tea cultivars exist in Japan, the vast majority of Japanese tea is produced using the Yabukita cultivar developed in the 1950s.[67]

    Popular Japanese green teas include:

    • Bancha (番茶)
      A lower-grade tea plucked from the same bushes used to produce sencha. It has a somewhat bolder flavour, and is plucked each season after sencha production is finished.[68]
    • Genmaicha (玄米茶)
      Made by combining sencha tea leaves with toasted puffs of rice.
    • Gyokuro (玉露)
      Grown under shade for three weeks prior to plucking, gyokuro is one of the most exclusive varieties of tea produced in Japan.[69] The shading technique imparts a sweeter flavour, and produces a particularly rich colour thanks to the higher amounts of chlorophyll in the shaded leaf. Gyokuro tea is associated with the Uji region, the first tea-growing region in Japan. It is often made using smaller-leaf cultivars of the tea plant.[70]
    • Hōjicha (焙じ茶)
      This type of tea is made by roasting sencha or bancha leaves with kukicha twigs.[71]
    • Kabusecha (かぶせ茶)
      Similar to gyokuro, kabusecha is shaded for only a week prior to plucking. Its flavour is somewhat between that of gyokuro and normal sencha.[69][70]
    • Kukicha (茎茶)
      A blended tea made of sencha leaves and stems.[72]
    • Matcha (抹茶)
      Like gyokuromatcha is shaded before plucking. The plucked and processed leaf is called tencha. This product is then ground into a fine powder, which is matcha. Because the tea powder is very perishable, matcha is usually sold in small quantities. It is typically rather expensive.[71] Matcha is the type of tea used in the Japanese tea ceremony. It is prepared by whisking the tea with hot water in a bowl, until the surface is frothy. If the water is too hot, the tea may become overly bitter.[73]
    • Sencha (煎茶)
      This type of tea is produced throughout the tea season, and is the standard style today, representing 80% of all tea produced in Japan.[74] 90% of sencha is grown from the Yabukita cultivar.[67]
    • Shincha (新茶)
      The first early harvest of tea, plucked before the first flush, is called shinchaShincha is made from the youngest new growth leaves, and is plucked from early April to early May. Shincha typically refers to the early harvest of sencha, but can refer to any type of tea plucked early in the season, before the main harvest. Because of the limited quantities in which it is produced, shincha is highly prized and expensive to obtain.[75]

    Korea

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    Further information: Traditional Korean tea and Korean tea ceremony

    Korean name
    Tea field in Boseong, South Korea
    Korean name
    Hangul녹차
    Hanja綠茶
    Revised Romanizationnokcha
    McCune–Reischauernokch’a
    IPA[nok̚.tɕʰa]
    Gakjeochong, a Goguryeo tomb, shows a knight drinking tea with two ladies (5–6th century).
    Tea leaves: sejak (green tea), ujeon (green tea), and hwangcha (yellow tea) from Hadong County

    According to Record of Gaya cited in Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, the legendary queen Heo Hwang-ok, a princess of the Ayodhya married to King Suro of Gaya, brought the tea plant from India and planted it in Baegwolsan, a mountain in current Changwon.[76]: 3  However, it is a widely held view that systematic planting of tea bushes began with the introduction of Chinese tea culture by the Buddhist monks around the 4th century.[77] Amongst some of the earliest Buddhist temples in Korea, Bulgapsa (founded in 384, in Yeonggwang), Bulhoesa (founded in 384, in Naju) and Hwaeomsa (founded in Gurye, in 544) claim to be the birthplace of Korean tea culture.[77] Green tea was commonly offered to Buddha, as well as to the spirits of deceased ancestors.[77] Tea culture continued to prosper during the Goryeo period, with the tea offering being a part of the biggest national ceremonies and tea towns were formed around temples.[78] Seon-Buddhist manners of ceremony prevailed.[78] During the Joseon period, however, Korean tea culture underwent secularization, along with the Korean culture itself.[78] Korean ancestral rite jesa, also referred to as charye (차례; 茶禮, “tea rite”), has its origin in darye (다례; 茶禮, “tea rite”), the practice of offering tea as simple ancestral rites by the royal family and the aristocracy in Joseon.[78]

    Tea culture of Korea was actively suppressed by the Japanese during the Japanese forced occupation period (1910‒1945), and the subsequent Korean War (1950‒1953) made it even harder for the Korean tea tradition to survive.[79] The restoration of the Korean way of tea began in the 1970s, around Dasolsa.[79] Commercial production of green tea in South Korea only began in the 1970s,.[80] By 2012 the industry was producing 20% as much tea as Taiwan and 3.5% as much as Japan.[81][82] Green tea is not as popular as coffee or other types of Korean teas in modern South Korea. The annual consumption per capita of green tea in South Korea in 2016 was 0.16 kg (5+12 oz), compared to 3.9 kg (8 lb 10 oz) coffee.[83] Recently however, as the coffee market reached saturation point, South Korean tea production doubled during 2010‒2014,[84] as did tea imports during 2009–2015,[85] despite very high tariff rate (513.6% for green tea, compared to 40% for black tea, 8% for processed/roasted coffee, and 2% for raw coffee beans).

    Korean green tea can be classified into various types based on several different factors. The most common is the flush, or the time of the year when the leaves are plucked (and thus also by leaf size).

    • Ujeon
      Ujeon (우전; 雨前; lit. “pre-rain”), or cheonmul-cha (첫물차; lit. “first flush tea”), is made of hand-picked leaves plucked before gogu (20–21 April).[86][87][88] The ideal steeping temperature for ujeon tea is 50 °C (122 °F).[89]
    • Sejak
      Sejak (세작; 細雀; lit. “thin sparrow”), or dumul-cha (두물차; lit. “second flush tea”), is made of hand-picked leaves plucked after gogu (20–21 April) but before ipha (5–6 May).[86][87][88] The tea is also called jakseol (작설; 雀舌; lit. “sparrow tongue”) as the tea leaves are plucked when they are about the size of a sparrow‘s tongue.[87] The ideal steeping temperature for sejak tea is 60–70 °C (140–158 °F).[89]
    • Jungjak
      Jungjak (중작; 中雀; lit. “medium sparrow”), or semul-cha (세물차; lit. “third flush tea”), is made of leaves plucked after ipha (5–6 May) until the mid May.[86][87] The ideal steeping temperature for jungjak tea is 70–80 °C (158–176 °F).[89]
    • Daejak
      Daejak (대작; 大雀; lit. “big sparrow”), or kkeunmul-cha (끝물차; lit. “final flush tea”), is made of tea leaves plucked in late May and after.[87] It is usually made into tea bags or used in cooking.[87] The ideal steeping temperature for daejak tea is 80–90 °C (176–194 °F).[89]

    The mode of preparation also differs:

    • Ipcha (yeopcha)
      The synonyms ipcha (잎차; lit. “leaf tea”) and yeopcha (엽차; 葉茶; lit. “leaf tea”) refer to loose leaf tea, often in contrast to tea in tea bags. As the words mean “leaf tea”, they can also be used in contrast to powdered tea.[90]
    • Garucha (malcha)
      The synonyms garucha (가루차; lit. “powder tea”) and malcha (말차; 末茶; lit. “powder tea”) refer to powdered tea.[91][92]

    Leaf teas are processed either by roasting or steaming.

    • Deokkeum-cha (bucho-cha)
      Roasting is the most common and traditional way of tea processing in Korea. Also translated into “pan-fried tea”, the deokkeum-cha (덖음차; lit. “roasted tea”) or bucho-cha (부초차; 麩炒茶; lit. “roasted tea”) varieties are richer in flavour.[93][94][95]
    • Jeungje-cha
      Steaming is less popular in Korean green tea processing, but the method is still used in temple cuisine. Tea prepared with steamed tea leaves, called jeungje-cha (증제차; 蒸製茶; lit. “steamed tea”), are more vivid in colour.[96]

    Southern, warmer regions such as Boseong in South Jeolla ProvinceHadong in South Gyeongsang Province, and Jeju Island are famous for producing high-quality tea leaves.[97]

    • Banya-cha
      Banya-cha (반야차; 般若茶; lit. “prajñā tea”) is one of the most renowned Korean green teas.[98] This steamed tea is developed by Buddhist monks in Boseong.[citation needed] The tea is grown on sandy loam near mountains and sea.[citation needed] The word banya is a Korean transliteration of the Buddhist concept prajñā.
    • Jungno-cha
      Jungno-cha (죽로차; 竹露茶; lit. “bamboo dew tea”) is one of the most renowned Korean green teas.[99] The roasted variety of tea is made of tea leaves grown among the bamboo in GimhaeHadong, and Jinju in South Gyeongsang Province.[100]

    Green tea can be blended with other ingredients.

    • Hyeonmi-nokcha
      Nokcha (green tea) blended with hyeonmi-cha (brown rice tea) is called hyeonmi-nokcha (현미녹차; 玄米綠茶; lit. “brown rice green tea”).
    • Remon-nokcha
      Nokcha (green tea) blended with lemon is called remon-nokcha (레몬 녹차; lit. “lemon green tea”).

    Vietnam

    [edit]

    Thái Nguyên green tea

    Green tea is the most popular tea among the Vietnamese people. In 2011, it accounted for over 63% of overall retail volume sales.[101] Vietnamese tea culture is ancient, but large scale cultivation was introduced in the late 19th century by French colonists who ran the first plantations in the Phú Thọ area.

    Though less well known than Japanese and Chinese green teas, there are various types of Vietnamese green tea and various cultivars. They have recently entered the international market, usually at lower prices. Vietnam is fifth in the world for tea production today.[102]

    There is a long tradition of growing and processing green tea in the Thái Nguyên area, north of Hanoi, which has been called the “cradle” of Vietnamese tea.[103] This region is now known for its green tea, which is shipped internationally.[104]

    There are also many scented varieties of Vietnamese green tea, most of which are scented with a certain flower petals. These include:

  • Hippopotamus

    The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) (/ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs/; pl.: hippopotamuses; often shortened to hippo (pl.: hippos), further qualified as the common hippopotamusNile hippopotamus and river hippopotamus, is a large semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis). Its name comes from the ancient Greek for “river horse” (ἱπποπόταμος).

    After elephants and rhinoceroses, the hippopotamus is the next largest land mammal. It is also the largest extant land artiodactyl. Despite their physical resemblance to pigs and other terrestrial even-toed ungulates, the closest living relatives of the hippopotamids are cetaceans (whalesdolphinsporpoises, etc.), from which they diverged about 55 million years ago. Hippos are recognisable for their barrel-shaped torsos, wide-opening mouths with large canine tusks, nearly hairless bodies, pillar-like legs, and large size: adults average 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) for bulls (males) and 1,300 kg (2,900 lb) for cows (females). Despite its stocky shape and short legs, it is capable of running 30 km/h (19 mph) over short distances.

    Hippos inhabit rivers, lakes, and mangrove swamps. Territorial bulls each preside over a stretch of water and a group of five to thirty cows and calves. Mating and birth both occur in the water. During the day, hippos remain cool by staying in water or mud, emerging at dusk to graze on grasses. While hippos rest near each other in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and hippos typically do not display territorial behaviour on land. Hippos are among the most dangerous animals in the world due to their aggressive and unpredictable nature. They are threatened by habitat loss and poaching for their meat and ivory (canine teeth).

    Etymology

    The Latin word hippopotamus is derived from the ancient Greek ἱπποπόταμος (hippopótamos), from ἵππος (híppos) ‘horse’ and ποταμός (potamós) ‘river’, together meaning ‘horse of the river’.[3][4][5] In English, the plural is “hippopotamuses”.[6]

    Taxonomy and origins

    Classification

    Closeup photo, top of head, feeding while partially submerged
    Interactive 3D partial skull scan
    Interactive 3D scan of the remaining mandible

    Head, skull and mandible of Hippopotamus amphibius

    The modern hippopotamus and the pygmy hippopotamus are the only living members of the family Hippopotamidae. Some taxonomists place hippos and anthracotheres in the superfamily Anthracotheroidea. Hippopotamidae are classified along with other even-toed ungulates in the order Artiodactyla.[7]: 39–40 

    Five subspecies of hippos have been described based on morphological differences in their skulls as well as differences in geographical range:[7]: 3 [8][9][10]

    • H. a. amphibius – (the nominate subspecies) ranges from Gambia east to Ethiopia and then south to Mozambique and historically ranged as far north as Egypt; its skull is distinguished by a moderately reduced preorbital region, a bulging dorsal surface, elongated mandibular symphysis and larger chewing teeth.
    • H. a. kiboko – found in Kenya and Somalia; was noted to be smaller and more lightly coloured than other hippos with wider nostrils, somewhat longer snout and more rounded and relatively raised orbits with the space between them being incurved.
    • H. a. capensis – found in Zambia and South Africa; distinguished by wider orbits.
    • H. a. tschadensis – ranges between Chad and Niger; featured a slightly shorter but broader face, and pronounced, forward-facing orbits.
    • H. a. constrictus – ranged from the southern Democratic Republic of Congo to Angola and Namibia; skull characterised by a thicker preorbital region, shorter snout, flatter dorsal surface, reduced mandibular symphysis and smaller chewing teeth.

    The suggested subspecies above were never widely used or validated by field biologists; the described morphological differences were small enough that they could have resulted from simple variation in nonrepresentative samples.[7]: 2  A study examining mitochondrial DNA from skin biopsies taken from 13 sampling locations found “low, but significant, genetic differentiation” among H. a. amphibiusH. a. capensis, and H. a. kiboko. Neither H. a. tschadensis nor H. a. constrictus have been tested.[9]

    Evolution

    Evolutionary relationships among hippo and Cetacea (whales, dolphins)[11]

    Until 1909, naturalists classified hippos together with pigs based on molar patterns. Several lines of evidence, first from blood proteins, then from molecular systematics,[12] DNA[13][14] and the fossil record, show their closest living relatives are cetaceans (whalesdolphins, and porpoises).[15][16] The common ancestor of hippos and whales branched off from Ruminantia and the rest of the even-toed ungulates; the cetacean and hippo lineages split soon afterwards.[13][16]

       Artiodactyla    Tylopoda   Artiofabula    Suina       Cetruminantia    Ruminantia   Whippomorpha    Hippopotamidae Cetacea
    Anthracotherium magnum from the Oligocene of Europe

    The most recent theory of the origins of Hippopotamidae suggests hippos and whales shared a common semiaquatic ancestor that branched off from other artiodactyls around 60 million years ago.[13][15] This hypothesised ancestral group likely split into two branches again around 54 million years ago.[12]

    One branch would evolve into cetaceans, possibly beginning about 52 million years ago, with the protowhale Pakicetus and other early whale ancestors collectively known as Archaeoceti. This group eventually underwent aquatic adaptation into the completely aquatic cetaceans.[16] The other branch became the anthracotheres, a large family of four-legged beasts, the earliest of which in the late Eocene would have resembled skinny hippos with comparatively smaller, narrower heads. All branches of the anthracotheres, except that which evolved into Hippopotamidae, became extinct during the Pliocene, leaving no descendants.[15][16]

    A rough evolutionary lineage of the hippo can thus be traced from Eocene and Oligocene species: from Anthracotherium and Elomeryx to the Miocene species Merycopotamus and Libycosaurus and finally the very latest anthracotheres in the Pliocene.[17] These groups lived across Eurasia and Africa. The discovery of Epirigenys in East Africa, which was likely a descent of Asian anthracotheres and a sister taxon to Hippopotamidae, suggests that hippo ancestors entered Africa from Asia around 35 million years ago.[18][19] An early hippopotamid is the genus Kenyapotamus, which lived in Africa from 15 to 9 million years ago.[17] Hippopotamid species would spread across Africa and Eurasia, including the modern pygmy hippo. From 7.5 to 1.8 million years ago, a possible ancestor to the modern hippo, Archaeopotamus, lived in Africa and the Middle East.[20] The oldest records of the genus Hippopotamus date to the Pliocene (5.3–2.6 million years ago).[21] The oldest unambiguous records of the modern H. amphibius date to the Middle Pleistocene, though there are possible Early Pleistocene records.[22]

    Choeropsis madagascariensis skeleton with a modern hippopotamus skull

    Extinct species

    Three species of Malagasy hippopotamus became extinct during the Holocene on Madagascar, the last of them within the past 1,000 years. The Malagasy hippos were smaller than the modern hippo, a likely result of the process of insular dwarfism.[23] Fossil evidence indicates many Malagasy hippos were hunted by humans, a factor in their eventual extinction.[23] Isolated individual Malagasy hippos may have survived in remote pockets; in 1976, villagers described a living animal called the kilopilopitsofy, which may have been a Malagasy hippo.[24]

    Hippopotamus gorgops from the Early Pleistocene to the early Middle Pleistocene of Africa and West Asia grew considerably larger than the living hippopotamus, with an estimated body mass of over 4,000 kg (8,800 lb).[21][25][26] Hippopotamus antiquus ranged throughout Europe, extending as far north as Britain during the Early and Middle Pleistocene epochs, before being replaced by the modern H. amphibius in Europe during the latter part of the Middle Pleistocene.[27] The Pleistocene also saw a number of dwarf species evolve on several Mediterranean islands, including Crete (Hippopotamus creutzburgi), Cyprus (the Cyprus dwarf hippopotamusHippopotamus minor), Malta (Hippopotamus melitensis), and Sicily (Hippopotamus pentlandi). Of these, the Cyprus dwarf hippo survived until the end of the Pleistocene or early Holocene. Evidence from the archaeological site Aetokremnos continues to cause debate on whether or not the species was driven to extinction or even encountered by humans.[28][29]

    Characteristics

    Hippopotamus skull, showing the large canines and incisors used for fighting

    The hippopotamus is a megaherbivore and is exceeded in size among land animals only by elephants and some rhinoceros species. The mean adult weight is around 1,480 kg (3,260 lb) for bulls and 1,365 kg (3,009 lb) for cows. Exceptionally large males have been recorded reaching 2,660 kg (5,860 lb).[30] Male hippos appear to continue growing throughout their lives, while females reach maximum weight at around age 25.[31] It is 2.90 to 5.05 m (9 ft 6 in to 16 ft 7 in) long,[32] including a tail of about 35 to 56 cm (14 to 22 in) in length and 1.30 to 1.65 m (4 ft 3 in to 5 ft 5 in) tall at the shoulder,[33][34] with males and females ranging 1.40 to 1.65 m (4 ft 7 in to 5 ft 5 in) and 1.30 to 1.45 m (4 ft 3 in to 4 ft 9 in) tall at the shoulder respectively.[34] The species has a typical head–body length of 3.3–3.45 m (10.8–11.3 ft) and an average standing height of 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) at the shoulder.[35]

    Hippos have barrel-shaped bodies with short tails and legs, and an hourglass-shaped skull with a long snout.[36][7]: 3, 19  Their skeletal structures are graviportal, adapted to carrying their enormous weight,[7]: 8  and their dense bones and low centre of gravity allows them to sink and move along the bottom of the water.[37] Hippopotamuses have small legs (relative to other megafauna) because the water in which they live reduces the weight burden.[38] The toes are webbed and the pelvis rests at an angle of 45 degrees.[7]: 3, 9  Though chubby-looking, hippos have little fat.[7]: 3  The eyes, ears, and nostrils of hippos are placed high on the roof of their skulls. This allows these organs to remain above the surface while the rest of the body is submerged.[39]: 259  The nostrils and ears can close when underwater while nictitating membranes cover the eyes.[7]: 4, 116  The vocal folds of the hippo are more horizontally positioned, much like baleen whales. Underneath are throat tissues, where vibrations are transmitted to produce underwater calls.[40]

    Characteristic “yawn” of a hippo

    The hippo’s jaw is powered by huge masseter and digastric muscles which give them large, droopy cheeks.[39]: 259  The jaw hinge allows the animal to open its mouth at almost 180°.[7]: 17  A folded orbicularis oris muscle allows the hippo to attain an extreme gape without tearing any tissue.[41] On the lower jaw, the incisors and canines grow continuously, the former reaching 40 cm (16 in), while the latter can grow to up to 50 cm (20 in). The lower canines are sharpened through contact with the smaller upper canines.[36] The canines and incisors are used mainly for combat instead of feeding. Hippos rely on their flattened, horny lips to grasp and pull grasses which are then ground by the molars.[39]: 259, 263  The hippo is considered to be a pseudoruminant; it has a complex three-chambered stomach, but does not “chew cud“.[7]: 22 

    Completely submerged hippo (San Diego Zoo)

    Hippo skin is 6 cm (2.4 in) thick across much of its body with little hair.[36][39]: 260  The animal is mostly purplish-grey or blue-black, but brownish-pink on the underside and around the eyes and ears.[39]: 260  Their skin secretes a natural, red-coloured sunscreen substance that is sometimes referred to as “blood sweat” but is neither blood nor sweat. This secretion is initially colourless and turns red-orange within minutes, eventually becoming brown. Two highly acidic pigments have been identified in the secretions; one red hipposudoric acid and one orange norhipposudoric acid, which inhibit the growth of disease-causing bacteria and their light-absorption profile peaks in the ultraviolet range, creating a sunscreen effect.[42][43] Regardless of diet, all hippos secrete these pigments so food does not appear to be their source; rather, they may be synthesised from precursors such as the amino acid tyrosine.[43] This natural sunscreen cannot prevent the animal’s skin from cracking if it stays out of water too long.[44]

    The testes of the males do not fully descend and a scrotum is not present. In addition, the penis retracts into the body when not erect. The genitals of the female hippos are unusual in that the vagina is ridged and the vulval vestibule has two large, protruding diverticula. Both of these have an unknown function.[7]: 28–29 

    A hippo’s lifespan is typically 40 to 50 years.[39]: 277  Donna the Hippo was one of the oldest living hippos in captivity. She lived at the Mesker Park Zoo in Evansville, Indiana, in the US[45][46] until her death in 2012 at the age of 61.[47] The oldest hippo ever recorded was called Bertha; she had lived in the Manila Zoo in the Philippines since it first opened in 1959. When she died in 2017, her age was estimated to be 65.[48] The oldest living hippopotamus in captivity is Lu the Hippo, from the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. As of 2024, he is 64 years old.[49]

    Distribution and status

    Ugandan tribespeople with hippo slain for food (early 20th century)
    Incised hippopotamus ivory tusk (upper canine) with four holes around top (Naqada Tomb 1419, Egypt; Naqada period)

    Hippopotamus amphibius arrived in Europe around 560–460,000 years ago, during the Middle Pleistocene.[50] The distribution of Hippopotamus amphibius in Europe during the Pleistocene was largely confined to Southern Europe, including the Iberian Peninsula,[51] Italy,[52][53] and Greece,[54] but extended into northwestern Europe, including Great Britain (as far north as North Yorkshire), the Netherlands, and western Germany during interglacial periods, such as the Last Interglacial (130–115,000 years ago).[55][56][57] The youngest records of the species in Europe are from the Late Pleistocene of Greece, dating to around 40–30,000 years ago.[54][51]

    Archaeological evidence exists of its presence in the Levant, dating to less than 3,000 years ago.[58][59] The species was common in Egypt‘s Nile region during antiquity, but it has since been driven out. According to Pliny the Elder, in his time, the best location in Egypt for capturing this animal was in the Saite nome;[60] the animal could still be found along the Damietta branch of the Nile after the Arab Conquest in 639. Reports of the slaughter of the last hippo in Natal Province were made at the end of the 19th century.[61] Hippos are still found in the rivers and lakes of the northern Democratic Republic of the CongoUgandaTanzania, and Kenya, north through to EthiopiaSomalia, and Sudan, west to The Gambia, and south to South Africa.[1]

    Genetic evidence suggests common hippos in Africa experienced a marked population expansion during or after the Pleistocene, attributed to an increase in water bodies at the end of the era. These findings have important conservation implications, as hippo populations across the continent are currently threatened by loss of access to fresh water.[9] Hippos are also subject to unregulated hunting and poaching. The species is included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning international export/import (including in parts and derivatives) requires CITES documentation to be obtained and presented to border authorities.[1][62]

    As of 2017, the IUCN Red List drawn up by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the species as vulnerable, with a stable population estimated between 115,000 and 130,000 animals.[1] The hippo population has declined most dramatically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[63] By 2005, the population in Virunga National Park had dropped to 800 or 900 from around 29,000 in the mid-1970s.[64] This decline is attributed to the disruptions caused by the Second Congo War.[64] The poachers are believed to be Mai-Mai rebels, underpaid Congolese soldiers, and local militia groups.[64][65] Reasons for poaching include the belief hippos are harmful to society, as well as financial gain.[66] As of 2016, the Virunga hippo population appears to have increased again, possibly due to better protection from park rangers, who have worked with local fishermen.[67] The sale of hippo meat is illegal, but black-market sales are difficult for Virunga National Park officers to track.[65][66] Hippo meat is highly valued in some areas of central Africa and the teeth may be used as a replacement for elephant ivory.[68]

    A population of hippos exists in Colombia, descended from captive individuals that escaped from Pablo Escobar‘s estate after his death in 1993. Their numbers grew to 100 by the 2020s and ecologists believe the population should be eradicated, as they are breeding rapidly and are an increasing menace to humans and the environment. Attempts to control them include sterilisation and culling.[69]

    Behaviour and ecology

    Video of hippos in the wild

    Hippos are semiaquatic and require enough water to immerse in, while being close to grass.[36] They mostly live in freshwater habitat, but can be found in estuaries.[1] They prefer relatively still waters with gently sloping shores, though male hippos may also be found in very small numbers in more rapid waters with rocky slopes.[39]: 264  Like most herbivores, hippos will consume a variety of plants if presented with them in captivity, but their diet in nature consists almost entirely of grass, with only minimal consumption of aquatic plants.[70] Hippos spend most of the day in water to stay cool and hydrated. Just before night begins, they leave the water to forage on land. A hippo will travel 3–5 km (1.9–3.1 mi) per night, eating around 40 kg (88 lb) of grass. By dawn, they are back in the water.[36]

    Despite being semiaquatic, an adult hippo is not a particularly good swimmer, nor can it float. It rarely enters deep water; when it does, the animal moves by bouncing off the bottom. An adult hippo surfaces every four to six minutes, while young need to breathe every two to three minutes.[7]: 3–4  Hippos move on land by trotting, and limb movements do not change between speeds. They can reach an airborne stage (a stage when all limb are off the ground) when they move fast enough. Hippos are reported to reach 30 km/h (19 mph) but this has not been confirmed.[71] They are incapable of jumping but can walk up steep banks.[36] The hippopotamus sleeps with both hemispheres of the brain resting, as in all land mammals, and usually sleeps on land or in water with the nostrils exposed. Despite this, it may be capable of sleeping while submerged, intermittently surfacing to breathe without waking. They appear to transition between different phases of sleep more quickly than other mammals.[72]

    Because of their size and their habit of taking the same paths to feed, hippos can have a significant impact on the land across which they walk, keeping the land clear of vegetation and depressing the ground. Over prolonged periods, hippos can divert the paths of swamps and channels.[73] By defecating in the water, the animals also appear to pass on microbes from their gut, affecting the biogeochemical cycle.[74] On occasion, hippos have been filmed eating carrion, usually near the water. There are other reports of meat-eating and even cannibalism and predation.[75] Hippos’ stomach anatomy lacks adaptions to carnivory and meat-eating is likely caused by lack of nutrients or just an abnormal behaviour.[7]: 82–84 

    Social life

    Hippopotamus pod

    It is challenging to study the interaction of bulls and cows because hippos are not sexually dimorphic, so cows and young bulls are almost indistinguishable in the field.[76] Hippo pods fluctuate but can contain over 100 hippos. Although they lie close together, adults develop almost no social bonds. Males establish territories in water but not land, and these may range 250–500 m (820–1,640 ft) in lakes and 50–100 m (160–330 ft) in rivers. Territories are abandoned when the water dries up. The bull has breeding access to all the cows in his territory. Younger bachelors are allowed to stay as long as they defer to him. A younger male may challenge the old bull for control of the territory. Within the pods, the hippos tend to segregate by sex and status. Bachelor males lounge near other bachelors, females with other females, and the territorial male is on his own. When hippos emerge from the water to graze, they do so individually.[7]: 4–5, 49–50 

    Male hippos fighting

    Hippos engage in “muck-spreading” which involves defecating while spinning their tails to distribute the faeces over a greater area. Muck-spreading occurs both on land and in water and its function is not well understood. It is unlikely to serve a territorial function, as the animals only establish territories in the water. They may be used as trails between the water and grazing areas.[7]: 5, 51–52  “Yawning” serves as a threat display.[36] When fighting, bulls use their incisors to block each other’s attacks and their large canines as offensive weapons.[39]: 259–260  When hippos become over-populated or a habitat shrinks, bulls sometimes attempt infanticide, but this behaviour is not common under normal conditions.[77]

    The most common hippo vocalisation is the “wheeze honk”, which can travel over long distances in air.[78] This call starts as a high-pitched squeal followed by a deeper, resonant call.[7]: 5  The animals can recognise the calls of other individuals. Hippos are more likely to react to the wheeze honks of strangers than to those they are more familiar with.[78] When threatened or alarmed, they produce exhalations,[36] and fighting bulls will bellow loudly.[7]: 5  Hippos are recorded to produce clicks underwater which may have echolocative properties.[79] They have the unique ability to hold their heads partially above the water and send out a cry that travels through both water and air; individuals respond both above and below water.[80]

    Reproduction

    Preserved hippopotamus fetus
    Cow and calf

    Cows reach sexual maturity at five to six years of age and have a gestation period of eight months.[81] A study of endocrine systems revealed cows may begin puberty at as early as three or four years.[82] Bulls reach maturity at around 7.5 years. Both conceptions and births are highest during the wet season. Male hippos always have mobile spermatozoa and can breed year-round.[7]: 59–61, 66  After becoming pregnant, a female hippo will typically not begin ovulation again for 17 months.[82] Hippos mate in the water, with the cow remaining under the surface,[7]: 63  her head emerging periodically to draw breath. Cows give birth in seclusion and return within 10 to 14 days. Calves are born on land or shallow water[36] weighing on average 50 kg (110 lb) and at an average length of around 127 cm (50 in). The female lies on her side when nursing, which can occur underwater or on land. The young are carried on their mothers’ backs in deep water.[7]: 4, 64 

    Mother hippos are very protective of their young, not allowing others to get too close.[36] One cow was recorded protecting a calf’s carcass after it had died.[83] Calves may be temporarily kept in nurseries, guarded by one or more adults, and will play amongst themselves.[36] Like many other large mammals, hippos are described as K-strategists, in this case typically producing just one large, well-developed infant every couple of years (rather than many small, poorly developed young several times per year, as is common among small mammals such as rodents).[82][77] Calves no longer need to suckle when they are a year old.[7]: 64 

    Interspecies interactions

    A hippopotamus and Nile crocodile side by side in Kruger National Park

    Hippos coexist alongside a variety of large predators in their habitats. Nile crocodileslions, and spotted hyenas are known to prey on young hippos.[36] Beyond these, adult hippos are not usually preyed upon by other animals due to their aggression and size. Cases where large lion prides have successfully preyed on adult hippos have been reported, but it is generally rare.[84] Lions occasionally prey on adults at Gorongosa National Park and calves are sometimes taken at Virunga.[85] Crocodiles are frequent targets of hippo aggression, probably because they often inhabit the same riparian habitats; crocodiles may be either aggressively displaced or killed by hippos.[86] In turn, very large Nile crocodiles have been observed preying occasionally on calves, “half-grown” hippos, and possibly also adult female hippos. Groups of crocodiles have also been observed finishing off still-living male hippos that were previously injured in mating battles with other males.[87][88]

    Hippos occasionally visit cleaning stations in order to be cleaned of parasites by certain species of fishes. They signal their readiness for this service by opening their mouths wide. This is an example of mutualism, in which the hippo benefits from the cleaning while the fish receive food.[89] Hippo defecation creates allochthonous deposits of organic matter along the river beds. These deposits have an unclear ecological function.[70] A 2015 study concluded hippo dung provides nutrients from terrestrial material for fish and aquatic invertebrates,[90] while a 2018 study found that their dung can be toxic to aquatic life in large quantities, due to absorption of dissolved oxygen in water bodies.[91][92]

    The parasitic monogenean flatworm Oculotrema hippopotami infests hippopotamus eyes, mainly the nictitating membrane. It is the only monogenean species (which normally live on fish) documented to live on a mammal.[93]

    Hippos and humans

    Hippopotamus (“William”), Middle Kingdom of Egypt, c. 1961–1878 BC
    Roman mosaic showing a hippopotamus in the river Nile, Roman Egypt, 1st century AD

    Cut marks on bones of H. amphibius found at Bolomor Cave, a site in Spain preserving fossils dating from 230,000 to 120,000 years ago, provides evidence for Neanderthal butchery of hippopotamuses.[94][95] The earliest evidence of modern human interaction with hippos comes from butchery cut marks on hippo bones found at the Bouri Formation and dated to around 160,000 years ago.[96] 4,000–5,000 year art showing hippos being hunted have been found in the Tassili n’Ajjer Mountains of the central Sahara near Djanet.[7]: 1  The ancient Egyptians recognised the hippo as ferocious, and representations on the tombs of nobles show humans hunting them.[97]

    The hippo was also known to the Greeks and Romans. The Greek historian Herodotus described the hippo in The Histories (written circa 440 BC) and the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder wrote about the hippo in his encyclopedia Naturalis Historia (written circa 77 AD).[60][98] The Yoruba people called the hippo erinmi, which means “elephant of the water”.[99] Some individual hippos have achieved international fame. Huberta became a celebrity during the Great Depression for trekking a great distance across South Africa.[100][101]: 111–112 

    Attacks on humans

    The hippo is considered to be extremely aggressive and has frequently been reported charging and attacking boats.[102] Small boats can easily be capsized by hippos and passengers can be injured or killed by the animals, or drown in the water. In one 2014 case in Niger, a boat was capsized by a hippo and 13 people were killed.[103] Hippos will often raid farm crops if the opportunity arises, and humans may come into conflict with them on these occasions. These encounters can be fatal to either humans or hippos.[104]

    According to the Ptolemaic historian Manetho, the pharaoh Menes was carried off and then killed by a hippopotamus.[105]

    In zoos

    Obaysch lounging at the London Zoo in 1852

    Hippos have long been popular zoo animals. The first record of hippos taken into captivity for display is dated to 3500 BC in Hierakonpolis, Egypt.[106] The first zoo hippo in modern history was Obaysch, who arrived at the London Zoo on 25 May 1850, where he attracted up to 10,000 visitors a day and inspired a popular song, the “Hippopotamus Polka”.[107]

    Hippos generally breed well in captivity; birth rates are lower than in the wild, but this can be attributed to zoos’ desire to limit births, since hippos are relatively expensive to maintain.[107][108] Starting in 2015, the Cincinnati Zoo built a US$73 million exhibit to house three adult hippos, featuring a 250,000 L (55,000 imp gal; 66,000 US gal) tank. Modern hippo enclosures also have a complex filtration system for the animal’s waste, an underwater viewing area for the visitors, and glass that may be up to 9 cm (3.5 in) thick and capable of holding water under pressures of 31 kPa (4.5 psi).[101]: 158–159 

    Cultural significance

    Ijaw hippopotamus masks

    In Egyptian mythology, the god Set takes the form of a red hippopotamus and fights Horus for control of the land, but is defeated. The goddess Tawaret is depicted as a pregnant woman with a hippo head, representing fierce maternal love.[109] The Ijaw people of the Niger Delta wore masks of aquatic animals like the hippo when practising their water spirit cults,[110] and hippo ivory was used in the divination rituals of the Yoruba.[111] Hippo masks were also used in Nyau funerary rituals of the Chewa of Southern Africa.[101]: 120  According to Robert Baden-PowellZulu warriors referred to hippos in war chants.[112] The Behemoth from the Book of Job, 40:15–24 is thought to be based on the hippo.[113]

    Hippos have been the subjects of various African folktales. According to a San story, when the Creator assigned each animal its place in nature, the hippos wanted to live in the water, but were refused out of fear they might eat all the fish. After begging and pleading, the hippos were finally allowed to live in the water on the condition they would eat grass instead of fish, and fling their dung so it can be inspected for fish bones. In a Ndebele tale, the hippo originally had long, beautiful hair, but it was set on fire by a jealous hare and the hippo had to jump into a nearby pool. The hippo lost most of his hair and was too embarrassed to leave the water.[114]

    The “Hippopotamus Polka”

    Hippopotamuses were rarely depicted in European art during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, due to less access to specimens by Europeans. One notable exception is Peter Paul Rubens‘ The Hippopotamus and Crocodile Hunt (1615–1616).[101]: 122–123  Ever since Obaysch inspired the “Hippopotamus Polka”, hippos have been popular animals in Western culture for their rotund appearance, which many consider comical.[107] The Disney film Fantasia featured a ballerina hippo dancing to the opera La Gioconda. The film Hugo the Hippo is set in Tanzania and involves the title character trying to escape being slaughtered with the help of local children. The Madagascar films feature a hippo named Gloria.[101]: 128–129  Hippos even inspired a popular board game, Hungry Hungry Hippos.[115]

    Among the most famous poems about the hippo is “The Hippopotamus” by T. S. Eliot, where he uses the animal to represent the Catholic Church. Hippos are mentioned in the novelty Christmas song “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” that became a hit for child star Gayla Peevey in 1953. They also featured in the popular “The Hippopotamous Song” by Flanders and Swann