Learning Column

What is tea?

Exploring a tradition over 5,000 years discovered accidentally by a wonderous Chinese Emperor, Sage, and Philosopher when some tea leaves blew into a his pot of boiling water. He claimed its wonder and the rest is history. All tea comes from an evergreen plant known as Camellia sinensis, which thrives in highland tropics and sub-tropic regions. There are hundreds of varietals of the tea plant grown with four main types: China, Assam, Cambodia, and sub-varietals of China and Assam types.

Most tea or Camelia sinesis plants that are harvested are kept at an ergonomically sound level of about 3-4 feet in height. There are over 2500 unique varieties of tea. Like wine, tea comes from one bush, and depending on the region, weather conditions, soil, and particular crafting of farmer and artisan the tea will deliver varying finished results with a desired catagory fitting into one of five major categories: White, Green, Oolong, Black, and Pu-erh Tea. While herbal select botanicals and/or fruit infusions are reffered to as tisanes.