History of Tea
The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is native to the eastern and southern regions of Asia. It was in China that the history of tea first started. By the 3rd century B.C., tea consumption was widespread throughout China, and was slowly spreading to neighboring Asian countries. Tea was introduced to European countries in the 16th century A.D. as a drink for the upper classes. It was not until the 19th century A.D. that tea was consumed commonly by the average Westerner. Today, tea is second only to water as the most popular drink in the world. It is a vital drink in most cultures, offered at most gatherings and social occasions.
While once grown only in China, tea is now cultivated in numerous countries around the world. China is still by far the world’s largest tea producer, with India a distant second. The prerequisite climatic requirements of year-round mild weather and ample rainfall eliminate many countries as potential tea producers, with the geographic band within the sub-tropic zone offering the ideal conditions for tea cultivation. . The labor-intensive cultivation process creates an additional challenge, discouraging tea cultivation in many developed countries with higher labor costs
As previously mentioned, tea is today the second most popular drink in the world, second only to water. Different types of tea are consumed in different parts of the world. In China and neighboring Asian countries, green and oolong teas are the preferred drinks. Heading west from India, preferences change towards black tea. In almost all Middle Eastern countries, black tea is an integral aspect of all social gatherings and is offered to guests at all occasions. European countries have predominantly consumed black tea as well, but green tea has gained in popularity in recent years as research has revealed the greater health benefits of green tea. Heading further west towards the United States and Canada, tea is mainly consumed in the form of iced tea. Here again, consumptions habits are changing in favor of green tea due to similar health concerns.
