Tea, the most refreshing beverage while on Travel.
The noble beverage of tea has existed for over 5,000 years and whether you prefer green tea, earl grey or a good old-fashioned cup of regular black tea, a tour around a tea plantation and factory is a great experience. See for yourself how tea is actually grown, harvested, and consumed; from the lush green tea plantations to elaborate tea drinking ceremonies that are as ancient as the drink itself.
When it comes to Asia, there are thousands of fantastic places to explore among colorful bustling streets. Japan, China, Sri Lanka, and India may be the most well-known tea-producing Nations.
List of Top Tea Producing Nations :
- CHINA
Tea has often been thought of as being typically very ‘British’ – however, the history of tea originated in China during the Shang dynasty most likely as a medicinal drink. If you are planning to travel Chinese tea market, then please visit Maliandao in Beijing, Jinan tea wholesale market in Shandong Province, or Yunnan tea wholesale market in Kunming will surprise you with hundreds of shops — selling tea and teaware only. China is producing all 6 types of tea, white, yellow, green, oolong, black and fermented, while Japan produces only 5 – all except yellow.
2. INDIA
India is uniquely positioned in that we produce a lot of tea, consume about 80% and export the remaining. Some of the best tasting teas in the world are said to come from India and certainly the names trip of the tongue; Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiri.
The onset of tea plantations during the British colonial rule has not only changed the landscape of the upper Brahmaputra valley through green tea bushes being nourished by tea tribes from east-central India but also evolved into a distinct tea culture. The tea culture in Assam is very rich as it involves all the intricate activities right from tea production and its history of origin to tea brewing, tea arts and ceremony, tea festival, and all the health aspects including the simple process of tea preparation to consumption.
3. Kenya
Kenya is the world’s biggest exporter of black tea and the crop is one of the country’s top hard currency earners, along with tourism and cash sent home by citizens living abroad.
Purple tea, which was developed by Kenyan researchers and released to farmers in 2011, is part of a new variant.
4. Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan teas come from six regions located in the south of the island at altitudes ranging from sea level up to 2,200m. Plucking seasons vary from region to region, depending on when the monsoon is expected that year: low-grown below 600m, mid-grown between 600m and 1200m, and high-grown, above 1200m.
A Sri Lankan tea can be recognized by its superb copper color and its lively, piquant scent. As for the taste, this varies from one region to another, with the higher altitude teas very often being the best, tea culture is so important that it is currently known as “the tea island”.
5. Turkey
Enjoying a glass of tea is an indelible part of Turkish culture, as to whether at home, in the office, or even during shopping, hot glasses of the traditional brew are regularly on offer.
Turkish people have long since proven their love for tea, but last year made it official when they became the world’s top tea-drinking country. To be exact, the average Turkish person consumes around 1,300 cups of tea a year, far above the international average.
6. Indonesia
Sumatra and Java have been producing tea since the beginning of the 19th century, using plants from Assam. Indonesia is the fifth largest producer in the world and its teas are full bodied, round and fairly suited to the addition of milk, especially in the case of broken leaves.
7. Vietnam
It was during the French rule of Vietnam that tea was introduced with 3 tea research institutes founded in Phu Ho, Bao Loc, and Pleiku. A tea plantation was also established at Phu Ho with a nursery growing 27 different tea varieties. Indeed by 1945 Vietnam was producing 6,000 tons of tea including black, green and scented teas. Take a Vietnamese tea tour amongst the modern plantations. Today there are several main tea regions within Vietnam including; Son La, Lai Chau, and Dien Bien in the northwest which grows oolong; Ha Giang, Yen Bai, and Tuyen Quang in the Vietbac province and the highlands of Lam Dong, Gia Lai, Kon Tum which specializes in oolong tea leaves.
8. JAPAN
Japan has a lot to offer to every tea fanatic. Obabu tea farm in Wazuka near Kyoto is one of the most tea lover-friendly farms to visit. This small town of around five thousand people is the home of at least 300 tea-growing families. If you have a few months to spare, you can apply for the tea internship and enjoy your stay among tea bushes for up to three months. Tea tours, tea classes, and tea picking might just be the best thing you will try this year. Prepare for a lot of fun and zen moments surrounded by the beautiful scenery of Japan’s cradle of tea.
