Walker Tea Review

Where does tea come from?

Tea can come from many places, and it can be quite useful to know the origin of a tea.

For one thing, knowing a tea’s origin can give you a sense of the flavor characteristics and processing method you should expect that tea to possess.

Secondly, knowing where your tea comes from can help you make a better purchase decision. For example, Darjeeling has been in the news several times this year, as floods, strikes, and political uncertainty. These activities will like affect Darjeeling tea production and prices. However, it has been known for years that the market sells more “Darjeeling” tea than the region is actually capable of producing. If you can spot the authentic character and taste of a tea, it can increase your chances of purchasing an authentic product.

To learn more about where teas come from, check out these resources about tea origins:

♦ Sri Lanka
♦ Hangzhou, China: Dragonwell
♦ Taiwan: Oolongs
♦ Hawaii
♦ Japan: Kumamoto teas
♦ Yunnan province, China
♦ Darjeeling, India
♦ Wu Yi Mountain, China
♦ La La Mountain, China
♦ Tea Terrior

Does all tea come from the same plant?

The answer to this question depends on what you consider to be “tea.” The earliest drinks called tea came from the camillia sinensis plant. Camillia sinensis is an evergreen plant that grown in multiple regions around the world. The traditional teas – dark, black, green, yellow, wulong/oolong, and white, are made from camillia sinensis leaves. Herbal teas (sometimes called tisanes) can come from other plants. Chamomile and peppermint are examples of popular herbal teas.

Learn more about camellia sinensis teas:

♦ Top 10 teas to expand your palate
♦ The big, wide world of Chinese teas

What kinds of tea are there?

Keep in mind that using a word like “type” or “kind” can be understood in different ways. These words could mean things like general processing method, in which you get categories of camellia sinensis processing, like:

♦ dark
♦ black
♦ wulong/oolong
♦ yellow
♦ green
♦ white

In other instances type/kind of tea can mean the contents of the tea

♦ herbal: chamomile and peppermint are popular herbal teas. Look out – not all herbal teas are caffeine-free.
♦ blends: English breakfast is a blend. A blend can be any combination of more than one kind of tea ingredient
♦ flavored: jasmine tea is often a single-source green tea that is infused with jasmine flower aroma
♦ combinations of the above: Earl grey tea is usually a blend of black teas flavored with bergamot citrus.

How are teas made?

Creating great teas is a process that requires several areas of expertise. Processing fine teas often includes:

♦ Harvesting: The right tea leaves need to be plucked at the right time. Once the leaves have been plucked, the clock is ticking.

♦ Withering: The moisture level within the leaves needs to be reduced to make a stable product. Sometimes this drying activity is as simple as setting the leaves in Withering also makes the leaves more pliable for shaping.

♦ Shaping: The limp and withered leaves have more flexibility and can be shaped. Some tea leaves get twisted or rolled. Shaping of the leaves can affect the appearance and steeping qualities of the tea.

♦ Firing/finishing: Depending on the type of tea being produced, firing may be done at various points during processing to halt the oxidation process. Firing adds distinctive flavor characteristics to the tea. Finishing, as the word suggests, is the final step in removing moisture and creating a final product. Both finishing and firing involve a direct or indirect heat source.

♦ Other processes: Some teas, like dark teas and yellow teas may include further processing of the leaves. After tea leaves are dried, they can be blended with other teas and herbs, or other flavoring added.

See also: What should it taste like?