The World and Its Teas

The world is separated into four parts or corners:

• The Americas (West)
• Europe (North)
• Asia (East)
• Africa (South)

Tea has saturated all four corners of the world. Where does your tea come from? 

It used to be a time when tea was only known in areas around China. Today the world knows and loves tea. The world and its teas shared in our global community. So many tea choices. What countries are known for tea? What teas do they create? What makes each country have a unique tasting tea.

China

You could say tea began here. Tea began in China around 2000BCE. Remember the accidental tea leaf story. For centuries China was the only tea-exporting country. Today China remains one of the largest tea suppliers in the world. Green tea is China’s most consumed tea. The rest and all of the black teas are exported. Tea is life for the people of China. First discovered and has been drunk ever since. Tea is honored and valued. Teas have been given as gifts, courtship rituals, worship, healing, and payments. Teas are also used medicinally in China. Classic author Lu Yu wrote in the first produced book on tea: “Its liquor is like the sweetest dew from heaven”.

Several varieties of tea come out of China

India

Unlike China, most of the tea produced in India is also consumed there. However, India is the largest exporter of tea. Tea has a powerful presence in the economy of India. Different regions produce different teas. India produces and consumes more tea than other parts of the world. The tea used in India had a history of medicinal uses. Tea production started in India. Production started with the British East India Company that had conquered land in India. Renowned for teas such as Assam, Darjeeling, and our favorite Masal Chai 

Chia – served on every corner. The chai tea of India is sweet and spicy with a milky base. Masala Chai is a black tea mixed with spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or ginger.

India is also known for its Darjeeling grown in the foothills of the Himalayas. The Assam teas are maltier and fuller-bodied and are grown in the Northeast.

Japan

Matcha or green tea as it is referred to in the 9th century in Japan. Tea came to Japan from China. Buddhist monks were served tea. They’re taught the practices and adopted the Chinese customs to Japanese culture. Making Japan one of the earliest tea drinking countries. Similar to India most of the tea produced in Japan is consumed there. Tea also is used for its health benefits and a way to drink a luxury beverage without alcoholic content. Matcha is a powerhouse of green tea and recognized as a Japanese tea. Tea is very diverse and big in Japan.

Matcha – the tea of Japan. A beautiful green tea that’s ground into a powder. With an entire ceremony dedicated to its presentation. The presentation includes preparing the matcha, serving, and then drinking it.

Japan is also known for its green teas: gyokuro, sencha, and bancha that are used in everyday life.

Russia

While the tea is grown in Russia (Georgia) is mostly a lower class of tea and consumed locally. You can find Russian teas in stores that are a mixture of Chinese tea that’s imported into Russia. For tea to be brought from China to Russia it traveled a grueling 11,000-mile journey. The road traveled was even given the name “The Great Tea Road”. Tea was only available for the wealthy. Some may remember Russia for vodka others know that Russia is known for its tea as well. It was when the Civil War declared loyalty that the soldiers received free tea. Today Russians enjoy a very strong tea prepared in a unique style pot called a samovar. That’s served in rounds. Russia drinks mostly black tea sometimes sweetened with sugar, fruits, or jam.

Zaharia (for hosting) – A strong tea served in a separate pot for guests that will include several rounds of drinking. Tea’s served after a meal and during the dessert generally.

Morocco 

When you visit Morocco, expect to be served hot tea. Tea in Morocco is the way to welcome visitors or guests. Moroccan mint tea is known as Touareg or Magheribi. The tea itself is part of the culture and a strong presentation of their hospitality. You will not experience a mint tea like this and some travel to Morocco just for this special mint tea. The preparation of the tea is done in front of the guests and is an important part of the tradition. The process is referred to as tai. Visitors wash their hands with scented water, take their seats, and serve the hot mint tea. It’s served with sugar and can be added to green tea as well.

Mint Tea – Morocco mint tea served sweet. Several spoons of sugar per each teaspoon of tea. Mint tea always served to guests three times with each glass representing a different meaning.

• Live
• Love 
• Death

Argentina 

When you visit Argentina you will soon realize that sharing a “cup” of tea is more than just that. Argentina tea is called Yerba Mate. The custom is to serve Yerba Mate in a gourd. Drank through a special straw, shaped like a spoon with a strainer on the bottom. The gourd is a Mate and the straw is a bombilla.

People will gather in public settings and order a round of Yerba mate. The gourd is passed around to all that are there. Tea is shared as well as a culture, it is quite an experience. It’s an honor to share Yerba Mate with friends and keep the order of how the mate is refilled and drank.

Yerba Mate – Yerba mate is a smokey tea packed full of vitamins from a green tea that is grown locally in South American. The tea is earthy with a Smokey, bitter flavor, and a required taste.

United Kingdom

I don’t think you can watch a British television show without there being a mention of tea. We also have to remember the Queen (I’m a royal watcher) and her love of high tea. High tea was an upper-class tradition served with a low tea (afternoon) around 4:00 pm and a high tea around 5 or 6 pm. The names came from the tables the meals are served on. Afternoon meals were served on coffee or lower tables. Dinner was served on higher tables. It’s a part of their daily lives and routine. Next to China The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are the largest tea consumers in the world. Tea is a part of the culture and can be found everywhere. Some tea companies still deliver tea to the doorstep. How cool is that!

Black Tea – People in the UK drink their tea with milk, a little sweet, and lemon. Some like it black (or just the tea). 

Some black tea blends known in the United Kingdom are Earl Grey and English Breakfast.

Egypt

Egyptians love their tea but they do not produce it. Tea is exported to Egypt. The tea of Egypt is called Karkadeh. Tea arrived in Egypt around the 16th century. Unlike some areas the tea in Egypt was available for everyone no matter what social or economic status they were. Egypt’s location made it easy for the transportation of tea into the area. Egypt consumes over 60,000 tons of tea. Some of the tea exported into Egypt are Earl Grey, green, Assam, and other flavored teas. The focus of drinking tea is just that, drinking with family and people they care for. Egyptians enjoy the relaxing and meditative effects of tea. Tea is often accompanied by sweets like Baklava (a honey and nut sweet dessert).

Karkadeh – A sweet and sour tea from the dried Sudanese rose flower. Can be consumed hot or cold.

Yansoon- is made of anise seeds and a remedy for colds.

Sahlab – is made from ground orchid bulbs. Combined with spices and pistachios. Reminds me of a chai drink.

Turkey 

Turkey is another country that loves their chai tea. Chai tea comes from the Black Sea Coast. The area the tea is from gives its own unique flavor. One of the differences that stands out is the way they drink their tea. Turkish tea has a special cup or glass in which they drink their tea. The cup is shaped like an hourglass, or some may say a tulip. The design is to keep the tea warmer longer

Chai Tea – is served in a special cup with a saucer. There is a stirring utensil as well as a couple of cubes of sugar. No milk is mixed with this chai.

Tibet 

This is one of the most unusual tea blends I have heard of. It also is one of the most talked-about teas. Tibet is home to butter tea or what they call Po Cha. I’ve not had the opportunity to taste it yet, but I look forward to the day. 

Butter Tea – is made with dark smoky black tea. The tea is strong, salty, and can sometimes taste bad or rancid. The only part of the tea comes from the butter. The butter is from the milk of a yak that is churned with salt. Together all combined is the Tibetan butter tea. 

United States 

Surprisingly enough the United States made it on the chart. For the love of sweet tea! If you have ever been down south you will know what a cup of sweet tea tastes like. If you order tea you will get sweet tea. The Boston tea party is one of the most remarked tea memories in the history of tea in the United States. Iced tea gave the United States its stance in the tea market. The story is that iced tea was created in 1904 St. Louis (Missouri) World’s Fair. Currently, the love and learning of tea in the United States are growing rapidly. 

Sweet Tea – Sweet tea is made from bagged black tea. The tea is generally strong. Sugar is added after brewing.

Thailand 

Thai tea, a very popular tea that is brewed strong with spices, as well as the spice anise. Sometimes food coloring is used to enhance the display of the tea.

East Africa

British travelers introduced tea to the colonies of East Africa. This was in the 20th century, so, not so long ago. Their tea market grew, but more in a lower quality of tea. Most of the teas coming out of East Africa are black teas that are powdered or broken. East Africa is a large exporter of tea. Most of the teas are grown near the equator and are able to grow year-round. The high altitudes keep pests and disease low. These teas are of high quality because of how and where they are grown. Since tea is so new to East Africa the facilities that process the teas are newer and modern. Most of the tea grown is from Kenya.

Tea from East Africa include:

• Black
• Green
• Yellow
• White teas

Sri Lanka 

Sri Lanka is very small, but powerful when it comes to tea. Sri Lanka takes no back seat. The teas are both high and low elevations giving a variety of tea flavors. Producers of the teas Ceylon, also their former name. There are three different growing regions: Low, mid, and high ranges. Each elevation gives way to a unique tea experience. The low region teas are malty with a darker liquor, higher elevation teas are grassy and light. The tea manufacturers are held to strict rules. Most Ceylon teas are still made the traditional way. Tea is known by district and there are 7 of them:

• Nuwara-Eliya
• Dimbula
• UVA
• Uda Pussellawa
• Kandy
• Ruhuna
• Sabaragamuwa

As noted the tea of Sri Lanka Is Ceylon Tea. The name was given to the tea and named after the area of Sri Lanka once known as Ceylon.

Conclusion

Tea from all around the world. This globe we live in offers us such a variety of teas. We will never be able to taste them all. We will do our best. It’s so interesting to learn how the different areas create the uniqueness of the teas. How one plant, planted all around the world is enjoyed in hundreds of different ways each and every day.

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