Tea plant (Camellia Sinensis) from Köhler's Medicinal Plants.

A tea bush.

Tea is an infusion made by steeping processed leaves, buds, or twigs of the tea bush, Camellia sinensis, in hot water for several minutes. The processing can include oxidation, heating, drying, and the addition of other herbs, flowers, spices, and fruits. The four basic types of true tea are black tea, oolong tea, green tea, and white tea. The term "herbal tea" usually refers to infusions or tisane of fruit or herbs that contain no Camellia sinensis.^[1] Tea can have different meanings depending on the context: Tea, a caffeinated beverage Bubble tea Chinese tea Herbal tea Afternoon tea, the meal Tea is beatnik slang for marijuana. ... Image File history File links Koeh-025. ... Image File history File links Koeh-025. ... Kohlers Medicinal Plants (Köhlers Medizinal-Pflanzen in naturgetreuen Abbildungen mit kurz erläuterndem Texte : Atlas zur Pharmacopoea germanica) is a German rare medicinal guide published in 1887 in three volumes. ... Image File history File links HCAM13. ... Image File history File links HCAM13. ... An infusion is a beverage made by steeping a flavoring substance in hot or boiling water. ... Steeping may mean: Soaking in liquid until saturated with a soluble ingredient, as in, for example, the steeping of tea. ... Binomial name (L.) Kuntze Camellia sinensis is the tea plant, the plant species whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea. ... The most fundamental reactions in chemistry are the redox processes. ... Black tea Black tea is more oxidized than the green, oolong and white varieties; all four varieties are made from leaves of Camellia sinensis. ... Alternate meanings: Oolong (disambiguation) Oolong (烏龍 wūlóng in the Mandarin Pinyin romanization) is a traditional Chinese type of tea somewhere in between green and black in oxidation (traditionally but improperly called fermentation) time. ... Green tea (绿茶) is tea that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. ... Bai Hao Yinzhen from Fuding in Fujian Province, widely considered the best grade of white tea Bai Mu Dan, widely considered to be the second grade white tea White tea is tea made from new growth buds and young leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis. ... Herbal tea An herbal tea, tisane, or ptisan is an herbal infusion not made from the leaves of the tea bush (Camellia sinensis). ... An infusion is a beverage made by steeping a flavoring substance in hot or boiling water. ... Herbal tea A tisane, ptisan or herbal tea is any herbal infusion other than from the leaves of the tea bush (Camellia sinensis). ...

Tea is one of the most widely-consumed beverages in the world, second only to water.^[2] It has a cooling, slightly bitter, astringent flavor.^[3] It has almost no carbohydrates, fat, or protein. Tea is a natural source of the amino acid theanine, methylxanthines such as caffeine and theobromine,^[4] and polyphenolic antioxidant catechins^[3] (often referred to as tannins). A bottle of tannic acid, an astringent Astringent medicines cause shrinkage of mucous membranes or exposed tissues and are often used internally to check discharge of blood serum or mucous secretions. ... Lactose is a disaccharide found in milk. ... “Vegetable oil” redirects here. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin showing coloured alpha helices. ... This article is about the class of chemicals. ... Theanine is an amino acid which is a deriviative of glutamine. ... Xanthines are a group of alkaloids that are commonly used for their effects as mild stimulants and as bronchodilators, notably in treating the symptoms of asthma. ... For other uses, see Caffeine (disambiguation). ... Theobromine, also known as xantheose,[1] is a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant. ... Polyphenols are a group of chemical substances found in plants, characterized by the presence of more than one phenol unit or building block per molecule. ... Space-filling model of the antioxidant metabolite glutathione. ... Catechin is a bioflavonoid and a powerful anti-oxidant. ... A bottle of tannic acid. ...

The word tea came into the English language from the Chinese word for tea (茶), which is pronounced tê in the Min Nan spoken variant. The British English slang word "char" for "tea" arose from its Mandarin Chinese pronunciation "cha" with its spelling affected by British English arhotic dialect pronunciation.^[5] The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Mǐn N n (Chinese: 閩南語), also spelt as Minnan or Min-nan; native name B ; literally means Southern Min or Southern Fujian and refers to the local language/dialect of southern Fujian province, China. ... Spoken Chinese Spoken Chinese comprises many regional variants. ... This article is on all of the Northern Chinese dialects. ...

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Image File history File links Zhongwen. ... The UTF-8-encoded Japanese Wikipedia article for mojibake, as displayed in ISO-8859-1 encoding. ... Japanese name Kanji: Hiragana: Korean name Hangul: Hanja: Vietnamese name Quốc ngữ: Hán tá»±: A Chinese character or Han character (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is a logogram used in writing Chinese, Japanese, rarely Korean, and formerly Vietnamese. ... Image File history File links Example. ... The UTF-8-encoded Japanese Wikipedia article for mojibake, as displayed in ISO-8859-1 encoding. ...

Cultivation

Plantation workers picking tea in Tanzania.

Camellia sinensis is an evergreen plant that grows mainly in tropical and sub-tropical climates. However, it is commercially cultivated from the equator to as far north as Cornwall on the UK mainland.^[6] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2272x1704, 1776 KB) Camellia sinensis File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Tea Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2272x1704, 1776 KB) Camellia sinensis File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Tea Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Binomial name (L.) Kuntze Camellia sinensis is the tea plant, the plant species whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea. ... This article is about plant types. ... The tropics are the geographic region of the Earth centered on the equator and limited in latitude by the two tropics: the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. ... For other uses, see Cornwall (disambiguation). ...

In addition to a tropical climate, it requires at least 50 inches of rainfall a year, and prefers acidic soils.^[7] Many high quality tea plants grow at elevations up to 1500 meters (5,000 ft), as the plants grow more slowly and acquire a better flavor.^[8]

Only the top 1-2 inches of the mature plant are picked. These buds and leaves are called flushes,^[9] and a plant will grow a new flush every seven to ten days during the growing season.

Tea plants will grow into a tree if left undisturbed, but cultivated plants are pruned to waist height for ease of plucking.^[10]

Two principal varieties are used, the small-leaved China plant (C. sinensis sinensis) and the large-leaved Assam plant (C. sinensis assamica). Leaf size is the chief criterion for the classification of tea plants.^[11] Based upon this criterion, tea is classified into (1) Assam type characterized by the largest leaves, (2) China type characterized by the smallest leaves and (3) Cambod characterized by leaves of intermediate size.^[11]

Processing and classification

Main article: Tea processing

Types of tea are distinguished by the processing they undergo. Leaves of Camellia sinensis soon begin to wilt and oxidize if not dried quickly after picking. The leaves turn progressively darker because chlorophyll breaks down and tannins are released. This process, enzymatic oxidation, is called fermentation in the tea industry although it is not a true fermentation: it is not caused by micro-organisms, and is not an anaerobic process. The next step in processing is to stop the oxidation process at a predetermined stage by heating, which deactivates the enzymes responsible. With black tea this is done simultaneously with drying. Without careful moisture and temperature control during its manufacture and thereafter, fungi will grow on tea. This form of fungus causes real fermentation that will contaminate the tea with toxic and sometimes carcinogenic substances and off-flavours, rendering the tea unfit for consumption. Worker picking tea flushes in Tanzania. ... The most fundamental reactions in chemistry are the redox processes. ... Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. ... A bottle of tannic acid. ... The most fundamental reactions in chemistry are the redox processes. ...

Tea leaf processing methods (Simplified)

Tea is traditionally classified based on producing technique:^[12]

• White tea: Un-Wilted and unoxidized
• Yellow tea: Un-wilted and unoxidized but allowed to yellow
• Green tea: Wilted and unoxidized
• Oolong: Wilted, bruised, and partially oxidized
• Black tea/Red tea: Wilted, crushed, and fully oxidized
• Post-fermented tea: Green Tea that has been allowed to ferment/compost

Bai Hao Yinzhen from Fuding in Fujian Province, widely considered the best grade of white tea Bai Mu Dan, widely considered to be the second grade white tea White tea is tea made from new growth buds and young leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis. ... Junshan Yinzhen, a Chinese Famous Tea Yellow tea (黃茶) usually implies a special tea processed similarly to green tea, but with a slower drying phase. ... Green tea (绿茶) is tea that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. ... Rolled Oolong tea leaves Oolong (Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) is a traditional Chinese tea somewhere between green and black in oxidation. ... Black tea Black tea is more oxidized than the green, oolong and white varieties; all four varieties are made from leaves of Camellia sinensis. ... Post-fermented teas are a class of teas that have undergone a period of aging in open-air, from several months to many years. ...

Blending and additives

Tea weighing station north of Batumi, before 1915

Main article: Tea blending and additives

Almost all teas in bags and most other teas sold in the West are blends. Blending may occur in the tea-planting area (as in the case of Assam), or teas from many areas may be blended. The aim is to obtain better taste, better price or both, as more expensive, better-tasting tea may cover the inferior taste of cheaper varieties. Blending may also achieve more consistent taste of the blend, regardless of the variation of taste among pure teas. A general view of Batumi Batumi Batumi (Georgian: , formerly Batum or Batoum) is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast and capital of Adjara, an autonomous republic in southwest Georgia. ... Tea blending describes the process of blending different teas together to produce a final product. ... Assam is a black tea named after the region of its production: (Assam, India). ...

Various teas, as sold, are not pure varieties but have been enhanced through additives or special processing. Tea is indeed highly receptive to inclusion of various aromas; this may cause problems in processing, transportation and storage, but also allows for the design of an almost endless range of scented variants, such as vanilla-flavored, caramel-flavored and many others. For other uses, see Vanilla (disambiguation). ... Caramel candy For other uses, see Caramel (disambiguation). ...

Content

Tea leaves in a Chinese gaiwan.

Tea contains catechins, a type of antioxidant. In a fresh tea leaf, catechins can be up to 30% of the dry weight. Catechins are highest in concentration in white and green teas, while black tea has substantially less due to its oxidative preparation. Tea contains theanine, and the stimulant caffeine at about 3% of its dry weight, translating to between 30 mg and 90 mg per 8 oz (250 ml) cup depending on type, brand^[13] and brewing method.^[14] Tea also contains small amounts of theobromine and theophylline.^[15] Tea also contains fluoride, with certain types of brick tea made from old leaves and stems having the highest levels.^[16] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1125x1500, 183 KB) Summary en: Green tea leaves steeping in an uncovered zhong (type of tea cup). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1125x1500, 183 KB) Summary en: Green tea leaves steeping in an uncovered zhong (type of tea cup). ... A gaiwan (lit. ... Catechin is a bioflavonoid and a powerful anti-oxidant. ... Space-filling model of the antioxidant metabolite glutathione. ... Theanine is an amino acid which is a deriviative of glutamine. ... For other uses, see Caffeine (disambiguation). ... Theobromine, also known as xantheose,[1] is a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant. ... Theophylline is a methylxanthine drug used in therapy for respiratory diseases such as COPD or asthma under a variety of brand names. ... Fluoride is the ionic form of fluorine. ... A compressed brick of pu-erh tea . ...

Origin and history

According to Mondal (2007), p. 519): "Tea originated in southeast Asia, specifically around the intersection of latitude 29°N and longitude 98°E, the point of confluence of the lands of northeast India, north Burma, southwest China and Tibet. The plant was introduced to more than 52 countries, from this ‘centre of origin’." Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ...

Based on morphological differences between the Assamese and Chinese varieties, botanists have long asserted a dual botanical origin for tea; however, statistical cluster analysis, the same chromosome number (2n=30), easy hybridization, and various types of intermediate hybrids and spontaneous polyploids all appear to demonstrate a single place of origin for Camellia sinensis — the area including the northern part of Myanmar and Yunnan and Sichuan provinces of China.^[17] This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Look up hybrid in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Polyploid (in Greek: πολλαπλόν - multiple) cells or organisms contain more than one copy (ploidy) of their chromosomes. ...

Yunnan Province is identified as "the birthplace of tea...the first area where humans figured out that eating tea leaves or brewing a cup could be pleasant.^[18] Yunnan (Simplified Chinese: 云南; Traditional Chinese: 雲南; pinyin: Yúnnán) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, located in the far southwestern corner of the country. ...

Creation myths

In one popular Chinese legend, Shennong, the legendary Emperor of China, inventor of agriculture and Chinese medicine, was drinking a bowl of boiling water, some time around 2737 BC. The wind blew and a few leaves from a nearby tree fell into his water and began to change its colour. The ever inquisitive and curious monarch took a sip of the brew and was pleasantly surprised by its flavour and its restorative properties. A variant of the legend tells that the emperor tested the medical properties of various herbs on himself, some of them poisonous, and found tea to work as an antidote.^[19] Shennong is also mentioned in Lu Yu's famous early work on the subject, Cha Jing.^[20] Chinese mythology is the mythology of Chinese civilization. ... Shennong‎ Shennong (traditional Chinese: ; simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ), also known as the Yan Emperor (炎帝) or the Emperor of the Five Grains (traditional Chinese: ; simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ), is a legendary ruler of China and culture hero of Chinese mythology who is believed to had lived some 5,000 years ago, and taught... For the volcano in Indonesia, see Emperor of China (volcano). ... Traditional Chinese medicine shop in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. ...

A Tang Dynasty legend regarding tea spread along with Buddhism and Bodhidharma, founder of the Zen school of Buddhism based on meditation known as "Chan". After meditating in front of a wall for nine years, he accidentally fell asleep. He woke up in such disgust at his weakness, he cut off his eyelids and they fell to the ground and took root, growing into tea bushes.^[21] Sometimes, the second story is retold with Gautama Buddha in place of Bodhidharma^[22] In another variant of the first mentioned myth, Gautama Buddha discovered tea when some leaves had fallen into boiling water.^[23] For the band, see Tang Dynasty (band). ... Buddhism, a Dharmic faith, is usually considered one of the worlds major religions, with between 230 to 500 million followers. ... Bodhidharma (or Tat Moh)(fl. ... For other uses, see Zen (disambiguation). ... Siddhartha and Gautama redirect here. ...

Whether or not these legends have any basis in fact, tea has played a significant role in Asian culture for centuries as a staple beverage, a curative, and a symbol of status. For these reasons, perhaps it is not surprising that its discovery is ascribed to religious or royal origins.

China

A Ming Dynasty painting by artist Wen Zhengming illustrating scholars greeting in a tea ceremony

Main article: History of tea in China

The Chinese have enjoyed tea for thousands of years. While historically the use of tea as a medicinal herb useful for staying awake is unclear, China is considered to have the earliest records of tea drinking, with recorded tea use in its history dating back to the first millennium BC. The Han Dynasty used tea as medicine. For other uses, see Ming. ... Wen Zhengming (Wade Giles: Wen Cheng-ming)(文徵明, 1470–1559), leading Ming dynasty painter, calligrapher, and scholar. ... This article is about teas history in China. ... For other uses, see Herb (disambiguation). ... The 1st millennium BC encompasses the Iron Age and sees the rise of successive empires. ... Han Dynasty in 87 BC Capital Changan (206 BC–9 AD) Luoyang (25 AD–220 AD) Language(s) Chinese Religion Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Chinese folk religion Government Monarchy History  - Establishment 206 BC  - Battle of Gaixia; Han rule of China begins 202 BC  - Interruption of Han rule 9 - 24  - Abdication...

Laozi (ca. 600-517 BC), the classical Chinese philosopher, described tea as "the froth of the liquid jade" and named it an indispensable ingredient to the elixir of life. Legend has it, master Lao was disgusted at his nation's immoral way of life, so he fled westward to Ta Chin. While passing through the Han Pass, he was offered tea by a customs inspector named Yin Hsi. Yin Hsi may have inspired the writers of the Dao De Jing, a collection of Laozi's sayings. Yin's generosity helped many people and thus began a national custom of offering tea to guests, in China. Laozi (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Lao Tzu; also Lao Tse, Laotze, Lao Zi, and in other ways) was an ancient Chinese philosopher. ... The elixir of life, also known as the elixir of immortality or Dancing Water and sometimes equated with the Philosophers stone, is a legendary potion, or drink, that grants the drinker eternal life or eternal youth. ... Daqin refers to: Daqin Pagoda Memorial of the Propagation in China of the Luminous Religion from Daqin Daqin Hui Township (大秦回族乡), Kongtong District, Pingliang City (平涼市崆峒區), Gansu Province This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Han (simplified Chinese: 韩, traditional Chinese: 韓) was a state during the Warring States Period in China. ... The Tao Te Ching (道德經, Pinyin: Dào Dé Jīng, thus sometimes rendered in recent works as Dao De Jing; archaic pre-Wade-Giles rendering: Tao Teh Ching; roughly translated as The Book of the Way and its Virtue (see dedicated chapter below on translating the title)) is an ancient Chinese...

In 220, a famed physician and surgeon named Hua Tuo wrote Shin Lun, in which he describes tea's ability to improve mental functions: "to drink k'u t'u [bitter tea] constantly makes one think better" Huà Tuó was a famous Chinese physician during the Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms era. ...

In 59 BC, Wang Bao wrote the first known book providing instructions on buying and preparing tea, establishing that, at this time, tea was not only a medicine but an important part of diet.

During the Sui Dynasty (589-618 AD) tea was introduced to Japan by Buddhist monks. The Sui Dynasty of China amongst the Asian, African, and European spheres of the world, 600 AD. The Sui Dynasty (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; 581-618 AD[1]) followed the Southern and Northern Dynasties and preceded the Tang Dynasty in China. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by...

Lu Yu's statue in Xi'an

The Tang Dynasty writer Lu Yu's 陸羽 (729-804 AD) Cha Jing 茶經 is an early work on the subject. (See also Tea Classics) According to Cha Jing writing, around 760 AD, tea drinking was widespread. The book describes how tea plants were grown, the leaves processed, and tea prepared as a beverage. It also describes how tea was evaluated. The book also discusses where the best tea leaves were produced. Teas produced in this period were mainly tea bricks which were often used as currency, especially further from the center of the empire where coins lost their value. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 283 KB) A statue of Tang Chinese tea scholar, Lu Yu (733 – 804). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 283 KB) A statue of Tang Chinese tea scholar, Lu Yu (733 – 804). ... A statue of Lu Yu located in Xian Lu Yu (陆羽) (733 – 804) is respected as the Sage of Tea for his contribution to Chinese tea culture. ... Xian redirects here. ... For the band, see Tang Dynasty (band). ... A statue of Lu Yu located in Xian Lu Yu (陆羽) (733 – 804) is respected as the Sage of Tea for his contribution to Chinese tea culture. ... // Chinese Tea Classics Tea as a beverage was introduced to China no later than the fifth century BCE. The earliest extant mention of tea in literature is in the Shih Ching or Book of Changes, written circa 550 BCE. Although the ideogram used (Tu) also can designate a variety of... A compressed brick of pu-erh tea . ...

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279), production and preparation of all tea changed. The tea of Song included many loose-leaf styles (to preserve the delicate character favoured by the court society), but a new powdered form of tea emerged. Steaming tea leaves was the primary process used for centuries in the preparation of tea. After the transition from compressed tea to the powdered form, the production of tea for trade and distribution changed once again. The Chinese learned to process tea in a different way in the mid-13th century. Tea leaves were roasted and then crumbled rather than steamed. This is the origin of today's loose teas and the practice of brewed tea. For other uses, see Liu Song Dynasty. ...

Illustration of the legend of monkeys harvesting tea.

Tea production in China, historically, was a laborious process, conducted in distant and often poorly accessible regions. This led to the rise of many apocryphal stories and legends surrounding the harvesting process. For example, one story that has been told for many years is that of a village where monkeys pick tea. According to this legend, the villagers stand below the monkeys and taunt them. The monkeys, in turn, become angry, and grab handfuls of tea leaves and throw them at the villagers.^[24] There are products sold today that claim to be harvested in this manner, but no reliable commentators have observed this firsthand, and most doubt that it happened at all.^[25] For many hundreds of years the commercially-used tea tree has been, in shape, more of a bush than a tree.^[26] "Monkey picked tea" is more likely a name of certain varieties than a description of how it was obtained.^[27]

In 1391, the Ming court issued a decree that only loose tea would be accepted as a "tribute." As a result, loose tea production increased and processing techniques advanced. Soon, most tea was distributed in full-leaf, loose form and steeped in earthenware vessels. For other uses, see Ming. ...

Japan

Japanese tea ceremony

Main article: History of tea in Japan

Tea use spread to Japan about the sixth century.^[28] Tea became a drink of the religious classes in Japan when Japanese priests and envoys, sent to China to learn about its culture, brought tea to Japan. Ancient recordings indicate the first batch of tea seeds were brought by a priest named Saichō (最澄, Saichō^? 767-822) in 805 and then by another named Kūkai (空海, Kūkai^? 774-835) in 806. It became a drink of the royal classes when Emperor Saga (嵯峨天皇, Emperor Saga^?), the Japanese emperor, encouraged the growth of tea plants. Seeds were imported from China, and cultivation in Japan began. Image File history File links Tea_ceremony_performing_2. ... Image File history File links Tea_ceremony_performing_2. ... == [== Headline text ==]Link title == poo in my :Seiza woman tea. ... The history of tea in Japan has its earliest known references in a text written by a Buddhist monk in the 9th century. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Painting of KÅ«kai (774-835). ... Painting of KÅ«kai (774-835). ... Emperor Saga (嵯峨天皇, Saga tennō) (786–842) was the 52nd imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Emperor Saga (嵯峨天皇, Saga tennō) (786–842) was the 52nd imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ...

In 1191, the famous Zen priest Eisai (栄西, Eisai^? 1141-1215) brought back tea seeds to Kyoto. Some of the tea seeds were given to the priest Myoe Shonin, and became the basis for Uji tea. The oldest tea specialty book in Japan, Kissa Yōjōki (喫茶養生記, Kissa Yōjōki^? How to Stay Healthy by Drinking Tea), was written by Eisai. Eisai was also instrumental in introducing tea consumption to the warrior class, which rose to political prominence after the Heian Period. For other uses, see Zen (disambiguation). ... Myōan Eisai, founder of the Rinzai School of Zen, 12th century. ... Myōan Eisai, founder of the Rinzai School of Zen, 12th century. ... For other uses, see Kyoto (disambiguation). ...

Green tea became a staple among cultured people in Japan -- a brew for the gentry and the Buddhist priesthood alike. Production grew and tea became increasingly accessible, though still a privilege enjoyed mostly by the upper classes. The modern tea ceremony developed over several centuries by Zen Buddhist monks under the original guidance of the monk Sen no Rikyū (千 利休, Sen no Rikyū^? 1522-1591). In fact, both the beverage and the ceremony surrounding it played a prominent role in feudal diplomacy. Sen no RikyÅ« (千利休; 1522 - April 21, 1591, also known as Sen RikyÅ«) is considered the historical figure with the most profound influence on the Japanese tea ceremony, particularly the tradition of wabi-cha. ... Sen no RikyÅ« (千利休; 1522 - April 21, 1591, also known as Sen RikyÅ«) is considered the historical figure with the most profound influence on the Japanese tea ceremony, particularly the tradition of wabi-cha. ...

In 1738, Soen Nagatani developed Japanese sencha (煎茶, sencha^?), literally roasted tea, which is an unfermented form of green tea. It is the most popular form of tea in Japan today. In 1835, Kahei Yamamoto developed gyokuro (玉露, gyokuro^?), literally jewel dew, by shading tea trees during the weeks leading up to harvesting. At the end of the Meiji period (1868-1912), machine manufacturing of green tea was introduced and began replacing handmade tea. Over three quarters of all tea produced in Japanese tea gardens is Sencha (煎茶), a tea selected for its pleasant sharpness and fresh qualities complementing a leaf of high uniformity and rich emerald color. ... Over three quarters of all tea produced in Japanese tea gardens is Sencha (煎茶), a tea selected for its pleasant sharpness and fresh qualities complementing a leaf of high uniformity and rich emerald color. ... Gyokuro is a fine Green tea from Japan. ... Gyokuro is a fine Green tea from Japan. ... The Meiji period ), or Meiji era, denotes the 45-year reign of Emperor Meiji, running, in the Gregorian calendar, from 23 October 1868 to 30 July 1912. ...

Korea

See also: Korean tea ceremony and Korean tea

Darye, Korean tea ceremony

The first historical record documenting the offering of tea to an ancestral god describes a rite in the year 661 in which a tea offering was made to the spirit of King Suro, the founder of the Geumgwan Gaya Kingdom (42-562). Records from the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) show that tea offerings were made in Buddhist temples to the spirits of revered monks. A typical setting for a Korean tea ceremony disregarding a contemporary tiled rather than paper covered floor The Korean tea ceremony is a unique form of tea ceremony practiced in Korea for more than a thousand years. ... Korean teas are made from diverse substances including fruits, roots, grains and alternative medicine. ... For the information regarding various types of Korean tea, see Korean tea The Korean tea ceremony or darye is a traditional form of tea ceremony practiced in Korea. ... Suro of Gaya (reigned 42–199) was the legendary founder of the state of Geumgwan Gaya in southeastern Korea. ... Geumgwan Gaya [Kumgwan Kaya](43 - 532), also known as Bon-gaya [Pon-Kaya](본가야, 本伽倻, original Kaya) or Karakguk (가락국, Karak State), was a major chiefdom of the Kaya confederacy during the Three Kingdoms Period in Korea. ... Taegeuk is a traditional symbol of Korea Capital Gaegyeong Language(s) Korean Religion Buddhism Government Monarchy Wang  - 918 - 946 Taejo  - 949 - 975 Gwangjong  - 1259 - 1274 Wonjong  - 1351 - 1374 Gongmin Historical era 918 - 1392  - Later Three Kingdoms rise 892  - Coronation of Taejo June 15, 918  - Korea-Khitan Wars 993 - 1019  - Mongolian...

The latitude of Korea is high and the climate is unsuitable for tea growing; production of tea is slight, the quality was bad and the taste was unpalatable. The Koreans therefore imported tea leaf, chiefly from Beijing.

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the royal Yi family and the aristocracy used tea for simple rites. The "Day Tea Rite" was a common daytime ceremony, whereas the "Special Tea Rite" was reserved for specific occasions. These terms are not found in other countries. Toward the end of the Joseon Dynasty, commoners joined the trend and used tea for ancestral rites, following the Chinese example based on Zhu Xi's text formalities of Family. Joseon redirects here. ...

Stoneware was common, ceramic more frequent, mostly made in provincial kilns, with porcelain rare, imperial porcelain with dragons the rarest. The earliest kinds of tea used in tea ceremonies were heavily pressed cakes of black tea, the equivalent of aged pu-erh tea still popular in China. However, importation of tea plants by Buddhist monks brought a more delicate series of teas into Korea, and the tea ceremony. Green tea, "chaksol" or "chugno," is most often served. However other teas such as "Byeoksoryung" Chunhachoon, Woojeon, Jakseol, Jookro, Okcheon, as well as native chrysanthemum tea, persimmon leaf tea, or mugwort tea may be served at different times of the year. Pu-erh, Puer tea, Puer tea or Bolay tea (Chinese: 普洱茶, Standard Mandarin Pǔěrchá, Cantonese Póuyíhchá, Póunéichá, Póuléichá, Hakka Pu3 ngi3 cha2, Wu Phu3 re6 zo6, Minnan 臭殕茶 Chhàu-phú-tê; also 武夷茶 Standard Mandarin Wǔyíchá) is a type of tea made... A typical setting for a Korean tea ceremony disregarding a contemporary tiled rather than paper covered floor The Korean tea ceremony is a unique form of tea ceremony practiced in Korea for more than a thousand years. ...

Tea Garden on way to Rock Garden, Darjeeling

The terraced garden The Rock Garden at Chunnu Summer Falls and Ganga Maya Park further ahead are recent tourist attraction additions in Darjeeling in West Bengal, India, often described as the “Queen of the Hills”. It is a show piece meant to lure tourists back to Darjeeling after agitations disrupted...

India

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See also: Assam tea, Darjeeling tea, and Nilgiri tea

The next recorded reference to tea in India dates to 1598, when a Dutch traveler, Jan Huyghen van Linschoten, noted in a book that "the Indians ate the leaves as a vegetable with garlic and oil and boiled the leaves to make a brew."^[29][30] Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Assam is a black tea named after the region of its production: (Assam, India). ... Darjeeling tea has traditionally been prized above all other black teas, especially in the UK and the countries comprising the former British Empire. ... Nilgiri tea is a dark intensely aromatic, fragrant and flavourful tea grown in the southern portion of the Western Ghats mountains of Southern India. ... Portrait of Jan Huygen van Linschoten, from the princeps edition of his Itinerario. ...

Writing in The Cambridge World History of Food (Kiple & Ornelas 2000:715-716), Weisburger & Comer sum up the history of tea in India from early times till 2000: For other uses, see Tea (disambiguation). ...

The tea cultivation begun there [India] in the nineteenth century by the British, however, has accelerated to the point that today India is listed as the world's leading producer, its 715, 000 tons well ahead of China's 540, 000 tons, and of course, the teas of Assam, Ceylon (from the island nation known as Sri Lanka), and Darjeeling are world famous. However, because Indians average half a cup daily on per capita basis, fully 70 percent of India's immense crop is consumed locally. , Assam  ) (Assamese: অসম Ôxôm [É”xÉ”m]) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a suburb of the city Guwahati. ... The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (ශ්රී ලංකා in Sinhala / இலங்கை in Tamil) (known as Ceylon before 1972) is a tropical island nation off the southeast coast of the Indian subcontinent. ... For other uses, see Darjeeling (disambiguation). ...

In general, even though India leads the world in tea technology, the methods employed to harvest the crop vary with the type of tea and terrain. Fine-leaf tea is hand plucked, and hand shears are used on mountain slopes and in other areas where tractor-mounted machines cannot go. A skilled worker using hand shears can harvest between 60 to 100 kg of tea per day, whereas machines cut between 1,000 and 2, 000 kg. The latter, however, are usually applied to low grade teas that often go into teabags. The tea "fluff" and waste from processing is used to produce caffeine for soft drinks and medicine. A tea bag is a small bag that holds tea leaves or tisane infusions, either the amount needed to brew a single cup of tea; popular in countries such as the USA, or a larger one, of which one or two are used for a whole teapot; found in countries... For other uses, see Caffeine (disambiguation). ...

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica (2008): "In 1824 tea plants were discovered in the hills along the frontier between Burma and the Indian state of Assam. The British introduced tea culture into India in 1836 and into Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1867. At first they used seeds from China, but later seeds from the Assam plant were used."^[31] This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

India was the top producer of tea for nearly a century, but was displaced by China as the top tea producer in the 21st century.^[32] Indian tea companies have acquired a number of iconic foreign tea enterprises including British brands Tetley and Typhoo.^[32] India is also the world's largest tea-drinking nation.^[32] However, the per capita consumption of tea in India remains a modest 750 grams per person every year due to the large population base and high poverty levels.^[32] U.K. logo The Tetley Group was an Indian tea company. ... Typhoo is a brand of tea in the United Kingdom. ...

Taiwan

Taiwan is famous for the making of Oolong tea and green tea, as well as many western-styled teas. Bubble Tea or "Zhen Zhu Nai Cha" is black tea mixed with condensed milk and tapioca. Since the island was known to Westerners for many centuries as Formosa — short for the Portuguese Ilha Formosa, or "beautiful island" — tea grown in Taiwan is often identified by that name. Pearl milk tea typically found in Taiwan Bubble tea is a tea beverage that originated in Taiwan[1] in the 1980s. ...

United Kingdom

Tea plantation in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia.

The importing of tea into Britain began in the 1660s with the marriage of King Charles II with the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza where she brought to the court the habit of drinking tea.^[33] In the same year Samuel Pepys records drinking "a china drink of which I had never drunk before".^[33] It is probable that early imports came via Amsterdam or through sailors on eastern boats.^[33] Cameron highlands Cameron Highland situated in Pahang Cameron Highlands is a highland region located about 20 km east of Ipoh and about 150 km north of Kuala Lumpur in Pahang, Malaysia. ... Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. ... Catherine of Braganza (November 25, 1638 – November 30, 1705) (Catherine Henrietta, Portuguese: Catarina Henriqueta de Bragança), was the queen consort of King Charles II of England. ... Samuel Pepys, FRS (23 February 1633 – 26 May 1703) was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament, who is now most famous for his diary. ... For other uses, see Amsterdam (disambiguation). ...

Regular trade began in Guangzhou (Canton).^[33] Trade was controlled by two monopolies: the Chinese Hongs (trading companies) and the British East India Company.^[33] The Hongs acquired tea from 'the tea men' who had an elaborate supply chain into the mountains and provinces where the tea was grown.^[33] CITIC Plaza Guangzhou (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin:  ; jyutping : Gwong²zau¹) is the capital and a sub-provincial city of Guangdong Province in the southern part of the Peoples Republic of China. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was the first joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock). ...

The East India Company brought back many products, of which tea was just one, but it was to prove one of the most successful.^[33] It was initially promoted as a medicinal beverage or tonic.^[33] By the end of the seventeenth century tea was taken as a drink, albeit mainly by the aristocracy.^[33] In 1690 nobody would have predicted that by 1750 tea would be the national drink.^[33]

The escalation of tea importation and sales over the period 1690 to 1750 is mirrored closely by the increase in importation and sales of cane sugar: the British were not drinking just tea but sweet tea.^[33] Thus, two of Britain's trading triangles were to meet within the cup: the sugar sourced from Britain's trading triangle encompassing Britain, Africa and the West Indies and the tea from the triangle encompassing Britain, India and China.^[33] Species Ref: ITIS 42058 as of 2004-05-05 Sugarcane is one of six species of a tall tropical southeast Asian grass (Family Poaceae) having stout fibrous jointed stalks whose sap at one time was the primary source of sugar. ...

Britain had to pay China for its tea, but China had little need of British goods, so much of it was paid for with silver bullion. Critics of tea at this time would point to the damage caused to Britain's wealth by this loss of bullion.^[33] As an alternative, Britain began producing Opium in India and forced China to trade tea for Opium as part of several treaties after the Opium wars. Tea became an important lubricant of Britain's global trade, contributing to Britain's global dominance by the end of the eighteenth century. To this day tea is seen as a symbol of 'Britishness', particularly Englishness; but also, to some, as a symbol of British Colonialism.^[33] This article is about the drug. ... Combat at Guangzhou during the Second Opium War The Opium Wars (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), also known as the Anglo-Chinese Wars, lasted from 1839 to 1842 and 1856 to 1860 respectively,[1] the climax of a trade dispute between China and the United Kingdom. ... It has been suggested that Benign colonialism be merged into this article or section. ...

Tea is now commercially cultivated on the UK mainland at Tregothnan in Cornwall.^[34][35] The Tregothnan Estate, located near Truro in Cornwall, England, is the traditional home of the Boscawen family, and the seat of Lord Falmouth. ... For other uses, see Cornwall (disambiguation). ...

United States of America

While coffee is more popular, hot brewed black tea is enjoyed both with meals and as a refreshment by much of the population. Iced tea is consumed throughout similarly. In the Southern states sweet tea, sweetened with large amounts of sugar or an artificial sweetener and chilled is the fashion. Outside the South, "Sweet Tea" is rarely found in restaurants or in the home. For other uses, see Coffee (disambiguation). ... This article is about the drink. ... Historic Southern United States. ... A glass of sweet tea Sweet tea is a form of iced tea in which sugar or some other form of sweetener is added to the hot water before brewing, while brewing the tea, or post-brewing, but before the beverage is chilled and served. ...

The American speciality tea market has quadrupled in the years from 1993-2008, now being worth $6.8billion a year.^[36]

Sri Lanka/Ceylon

Tea Garden in Sri Lanka

Main article: Ceylon tea (black)

The plantations started by the British were initially taken over by the government in the 1960s, but have been privatised and are now run by 'plantation companies' which own a few 'estates' or tea plantations each. This article is about black tea from Sri Lanka. ...

Sri Lanka is renowned for its high quality tea and as the 3rd biggest tea producing country globally[2], has a production share of 9% in the international sphere, and one of the world's leading exporters with a share of around 19% of the global demand. The total extent of land under tea cultivation has been assessed at approximately 187,309 hectares.

Ceylon tea is divided into 3 groups as Upcountry, Mid country and Low country tea based on the geography of the land on which it is grown. Today, Ceylon tea is known as one of the best in the world.

Middle eastern tea

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 1600 pixel, file size: 409 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Other versions File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 1600 pixel, file size: 409 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Other versions File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ...

Tea spreads to the world

The earliest record of tea in a more occidental writing is said to be found in the statement of an Arabian traveler, that after the year 879 the main sources of revenue in Canton were the duties on salt and tea. Marco Polo records the deposition of a Chinese minister of finance in 1285 for his arbitrary augmentation of the tea taxes. The travelers Giovanni Batista Ramusio (1559), L. Almeida (1576), Maffei (1588), and Taxiera (1610) also mentioned tea. In 1557,