Tea Primer – Growing Regions
As a tea vendor it is paramount that I know a lot about tea. While I do not profess to know everything about tea I do have a solid working knowledge about tea types and regions. Overheard at a coffee shop (Amazing Origins in Englewood Colorado) a barista was asked about some teas by a customer. She admitted that she did not know the answer when asked about Ceylon tea.
My goal here then is to briefly list the major tea growing regions in the world and a little about the types of tea specific to those regions to shed light on the subject.
Tea is produced from the leaves of the plant Camellia Sinensis. This is used to produce the main variety of teas on the market today, mainly Black Tea and Green Tea, but also Oolong Tea and White Tea. These teas all contain caffeine to varying degrees with Black Tea & Oolong Tea generally containing more caffeine.
Teas that are herbal in nature not using leaves of the plant Camellia Sinensis are commonly called Tisanes or herbal teas and do not contain caffeine, for the most part.
Orange Pekoe is classification given to tea for the type of leaf used in grading the tea. Orange does not have anything to do with the citrus fruit but rather from the Dutch East India Company & the House of Orange or from the orange color of leaves of the dried tea, depending on whose giving the explanation. There are many grades and classification as to be mind boggling; Orange Pekoe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_pekoe.
A common classification is FOP; Flowery Orange Pekoe. BOP; Broken Orange Pekoe is another.
The world’s primary tea growing regions for western markets are China, India, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and Kenya though a great deal of tea is produced in Turkey, Vietnam, Indonesia and Japan. Within China, India, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and Kenya there are many vastly different growing regions and climates producing many different types of tea.
Teas from Sri Lanka are still called Ceylon Teas today. Black teas are one of Ceylon’s specialties; these black teas are known for brilliant deep color and brisk aroma from their characteristic twisted, slim, long leaves. Our Lovers Leap Ceylon Black tea is an excellent tea at an excellent price and you won’t be disappointed in Stash’s Organic Ceylon Black Tea, both teas in loose leaf form (for better brewing!). Twinings Tea Ceylon Orange Pekoe Tea in teabags or loose leaf is another outstanding selection. Ceylon Green Teas are superb too and a splendid selection would be Royal Ceylon Gunpowder Green Tea.
NEXT: Teas of China
Bon Jour!
Rob Leavitt
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