To make tea, you must put young leaves and buds of the C Amellia Sinensis plant in boiling water. The leaves of a plant called Camellia Sinensis make all tea. Even though tea that isn’t made from the leaves of this plant is called tea, it isn’t pure tea. There are two main types of tea plants. Camellia Sinensisis most common. All teas come from the same plant: Camellia Sinensis. According to legend, the story of tea began in China when one of Shen Nung’s servants accidentally made an infusion.

This story dates back to ancient China, more than 5000 years ago, or around 2737 BC. The emperor had a passion for herbs. When the leaves from a wild tree were accidentally added to the boiling water, his servant made a herbal mixture. The pleasant aroma of the herbal mix drew the emperor to it. This is how tea was discovered. Since ancient times, Chinese people have used tea as a drink, herbal tonic, and for various medicinal purposes.

The story of tea discovery in India is very different. The discovery of tea in India took place during British rule in 1824. Tea plants were discovered in Burma, India, and Assam hills. The British introduced tea culture to India in 1836. Tea is a popular drink in India and China. Over the years, tea has been used as a herbal tonic in China and India. Tea was initially used as a medicine. After a few years, tea became a popular daily beverage in China. In India, initially, seeds were used from China. Later, Assam plant seeds were also used.

THE TEA PLANT

Camellia Sinensis grows well in high mountains like China and Japan. It has smaller leaves. Camellia Assamica is the other variety that grows in tropical climates of northeast India, Szechuan, and China. Camellia Assamica has broad, dark-green, shiny leaves. Camellia Senensis does not.

Tea gardens in Assam and Darjeeling receive enough rainfall to allow plants to flourish at a cool temperature. Everything must be perfect with the weather and rain. Both the processing and product are done with care. The best tea comes from the most suitable soil, the altitude, the temperature, and rainfall, as well as the level of humidity. The climate at the time the tea is harvested and the way and when it’s removed will determine the quality of the tea. Temperature is essential from production until harvesting or when the tea is ready to be brewed.

WATER TEMPERATURE BEFORE BREWING

Water temperature is crucial to the taste of tea. The water must be boiled to allow the tea to mix and produce a rich flavor. The tea will take on a new dimension of taste. Different types of tea need different water temperatures because it could ruin the taste by over-extraction of polyphenols or under-extraction. Each type of tea requires a specific range of water temperatures.

Here is the brewing guide.

PROCESS

Tea processing involves the tea leaf going through some or all of the stages, such as withering and rolling, fermentation, and drying. The entire process has two goals: to dry the leaves and to allow their chemical components to produce the unique flavor of each type of tea. Not all teas go through the entire process. Only black tea goes through the production process as a whole. Green tea and oolong have distinct characteristics due to variations in the crucial fermentation stage.

TYPES TEAS

There are many types of tea and two varieties of tea plants. Six different ways to process tea produce six different types of tea:

Green tea (or oolong)

Black tea (or puerh)

Yellow tea (or white tea)

Oolong

White tea

Green Tea

Green tea is popular in China, Japan, and America. It is also growing in India and America. The leaves are heated immediately after harvesting to prevent too much oxidation. This also preserves their green color. The amino acids, antioxidants, and grassy notes are also held. From now on, the leaves will be rolled and roasted. Green tea contains half as much caffeine as black tea and one-fourth that of coffee.

Black Tea

Black tea has been a popular tea for centuries. The leaves are oxidized to a blackish color. The leaves are rolled and then allowed to deteriorate. This darkens the leaves and gives them a black color and flavor. Tea is dried at just the right moment to prevent oxidation. Black tea contains half as much caffeine as coffee.

Yellow Tea

Yellow tea has slowly gained popularity. It is different from all other types of tea. The tea has a pleasant aroma and a fruity taste. The perfect yellow color was achieved through “sealed yellowing.” Green tea has similar benefits. This tea has not been oxidized. The tea catechins are first oxidized to achieve the yellow color and then further processed to preserve color and aroma.

White Tea

The white tea is rich and sophisticated. This tea is not oxidized or rolled. Tea Origin”>white tea is harvested.

Oolong Tea

The origins of this tea are in Taiwan and Southeast China. After withering, the oxidation is performed under direct sunlight for a short period of time. After the oxidation began, it stopped immediately, giving off a fresh scent of peaches, apple or orchids. The leaves are then rolled and finally fired. The caffeine content is slightly higher than that of black tea but lower than that of green tea.

Pu-erh tea

The tea is named after a city in China’s Yunnan Province. The leaves are treated in the same way as green tea. The leaves are then piled up and heated to promote fermentation. Unfortunately, the fire stops the enzyme activity, which causes the moisture to increase. There are still some Puerhs that can be drunk even after 40+ years.

TISANES

Herbal Tea

Herbal teas are made from other plants’ leaves and therefore not authentic or accurate. It has many health benefits. The tea is a mixture of spices and flavors and the leaves and flowers of various plants such as clove, cardamom, and cinnamon. The base tea usually determines this tea’s color. For example, black or green tea. The tea is caffeine-free, but only if mixed with real tea.

Yaupon

The name was inspired by a holly plant that Native Americans used. Native Americans used it because it contained caffeine.

Mate

This is a mixture of coffee and tea that is high in caffeine. It has a few benefits as a tea. It’s a South American traditional drink that is made by soaking dried leaves from a holly in hot water. It is treated the same way as green tea. It is well known for its weight loss and diuretic effects.

Rooibos

It is a red-colored herbal tea made from Aspalathus linearis, a South African native plant. This tea is made exactly like black tea. It’s allowed to oxidize, and the leaves are rolled. It has zero percent caffeine in it.

Green rooibos

Green rooibos, like black tea, is made of leaves from Aspalathus linearis, a native South African plant. However, unlike green tea, the leaves are not sufficiently oxidized.

Hibiscus

The tea is made from hibiscus flowers that are native to West Africa. It is red in color and contains no caffeine.

Matcha

Matcha is finely ground green tea powder, but 1 cup is equivalent to 10 cups. The antioxidants in green tea and matcha are also reflected by this. The powder can also be added to a cup. However, a whisk, a bowl, and water that is slightly below boiling point are needed to prepare it correctly. Matcha powder is also used in baking.

BENEFITS of TEA

Antioxidants are abundant in this fruit.

The plant has anti-cancer properties.

Tea is a great way to lose weight and burn fat.

This prevents or delays cell damage.

Menstrual cramps, PMS, and other menstrual issues can be helped by this product.

This helps reduce stress, anxiety, and insomnia.

Tea is a natural antibacterial agent that helps fight colds, flu and other bacteria.

It controls cholesterol levels and helps reduce heat-related diseases.

This boosts energy levels.

MAJOR TEA PLANTATIONS

China, with its ancient tea history, is the world’s largest tea producer. India comes in second. Major tea-growing regions include Asia, South America, and Africa, as well as the Caspian Sea and Black Sea. China, India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya are the four largest tea producers in the world. Their combined production is 75% of the global total.

Turkey is ranked number five on the list of countries that produce and consume tea. Indonesia and Vietnam are ranked sixth and seventh, respectively. Japan is next, with half its production being used for the domestic market. It only exports green tea. Iran, the ninth tea-producing region, has a fascinating backstory. An Iranian ambassador in India, under British rule, went undercover to French laborers to learn about tea. The plantation was started when he brought the sapling back with him. Argentina is ranked 10th in the world for producing tea. Above is the region that produces the most tea. The world’s famous tea markets include China, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Vietnam.

Tea Plantation In India

Tea Origin”>Darjeeling, Wayanad, Karnataka, Munnar, Travancore, and