The Story of Tea

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The botanical name of the tea plant is *Camellia sinensis*. It is an evergreen plant that grows in tropical and sub-tropical climates. The leaves and shoots of this plant are used to make tea after th…

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Tea is made by brewing—infusing the dried, cured, and processed leaves and shoots of the *Camellia sinensis* plant in boiling water. The top 1–2 inches of the plant, called 'flushes', are picked and t…

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Tea plants are pruned to keep them at a height of about three feet (waist-high) so that workers can easily pluck the leaves. If left unpruned, the plant can grow into a small tree, making harvesting d…

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1. **Darjeeling** – Known for its delicate, floral, and muscatel-flavored tea. 2. **Assam** – Famous for strong, malty black tea with large leaves. 3. **Nilgiris** – Produces aromatic, bright, and fla…

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Flushes refer to the new growth of the top 1–2 inches of the tea plant, including buds and young leaves. These are harvested every 7–10 days during peak season because they contain the best flavor and…

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While traveling, Emperor Shen Nung’s servant was boiling water. Leaves from a nearby *Camellia sinensis* tree blew into the boiling water. The emperor drank the flavored water and was amazed by its re…

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Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk who used tea to stay awake during long hours of meditation and prayer. He found that chewing tea leaves acted as a stimulant, helping him remain alert. He introduced te…

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Japanese priests studying in China took tea seeds and leaves back to Japan. Turkish traders bought tea near Mongolia. Later, tea became popular in Europe and England through trade, becoming a fashiona…