Our Tea comes from Asia! But why Asia?

Tea drinking is an Asian tradition that may have begun almost 5000 years ago. Why did it start in this particular spot?

The Asian continent is the one responsible for tea production because tea evolved in elevated regions among the continent's large mountain ranges. The tea plant originated in the mountainous Southern areas of China, in present-day Yunnan. The right climate for tea is elevated, in a middle range of temperature and with plenty of moisture. The other areas of Asia most famous for tea-growing are places like India and Sri Lanka, which also have semi-tropical hills and mountains.

The tea plant, Camellia Sinensis, is a species of a genus of plant – the Camillias – which grows around Asia and is used for decorative purposes as well as drinkable and edible products. As well as tea, Camellia extracts are also utilized by people to make such things as the tea tree oil found nowadays in shampoos.

Its interesting to note that one of the primary reasons people drink tea is that the caffeine in the leaves helps them to stay alert and awake. This stimulant is not unique to the tea plant – caffeine is also present in other plants like coffee (of course!) and North American holly. The substance was generated by these plants as a way of deterring insects, but the stimulating effect has helped them to thrive around the world as humans have sought them out and cultivated them.

Unlike coffee, which evolved in Africa and is now grown around the world, tea remains for the most part an Asian plant. This is because the perfect climate particularities for the tea plant to prosper are found more in Asia than elsewhere in the world. Tea Plays are delighted to bring some of the best of this precious plant to meet new admirers across the globe.

Tags: All About Tea, Tea History