Unit 2 - Tea

Question 1

Intro/History

Answer 1

Most consumed beverage in the world, after water.
Legends of origins go back 4500 years to Shen Nong, mythical Chinese Emperor. China is still the source of the most diversity, with white, green, yellow, oolong, black, and dark styles all originating there.
China to Japan in ninth century. Introduced in Europe in the early 17th by the Dutch, French and English by mid-17th.
Euro colonialism responsible for commercial spread. Was known as a medicinal plant in India, but not cultivated on large scale until British Raj in mid-19th (Assam and Darjeeling)
Sri Lanka develops tea in 1867 after ‘coffee rust’ ravages crops. Commercial tea production in Kenya in 1920’s.
US is third largest importer after Russia and Pakistan.
Worldwide CHina is by far the largest producer and consumer, followed by Turkey, Morocco, Ireland, Mauretania, UK.
85% of tea consumed in US is iced tea, generally made from black tea. Green and oolong are gaining popularity.

Question 2

What is the name of the tea plant? Where is it grown?

Answer 2

Camllia Sinensis. It is an evergreen plant indigenous to Asia.

Primarily cultivated in tropics and sub-tropics because it requires warmth and plentiful rainfall.

Question 3

What are ‘flushes,’ and what are the important times?

Answer 3

Flushes are the harvestable new growth at the end of tea shoots. They can be harvested multiple times per year, and the spring flush is generally the most important, offering richer and more nuanced flavors.

• First flush is absolutely critical for green tea in China and Japan.
• First and second flush are the important ones for Darjeeling. Monsoon and autumnal flushes have duller scent/flavor

Question 4

Who are the top tea producers? Where are the top regions located?

Answer 4

China - 2.3 million tons
India - 1.3 million tons
Sri Lanka - 709k tons
Kenya - 480k tons

Larger growing regions located between the 35s, including equator, both tropics, and most of China, India, Japan, and Kenya.