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WE WILL DRINK TEA UNTILL THE DAY WE DIE.
{{alternateuses}}
{{ChineseText}}
[[Image:Tea leaves steeping in a zhong čaj 05.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Tea leaves in a [[China|Chinese]] [[gaiwan]].]]
[[Image:HCAM13.jpg|right|thumb|220px|A tea bush.]]
[[Image:Tea_plantation_picking.JPG|right|thumb|220px|Plantation workers picking tea in [[Tanzania]].]]
[[Image:Tea fields (Will Ellis).jpg|right|thumb|220px|Tea plantation in the [[Cameron Highlands]], [[Malaysia]].]]
[[Image:Teaproducingcountries.svg|right|thumb|220px|Tea producing countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.246.dk/teanations.html|title=Tea Producing Nations
|date=[[2007-04-27]]|accessdate=2007-05-09}}</ref>]]
'''Tea''' is a [[beverage]] made by [[steeping]] processed leaves, [[bud]]s, or [[twig]]s of the tea [[Shrub|bush]], ''[[Camellia sinensis]]'', in hot water for a few minutes.
The processing can include [[oxidation]], [[heating]], [[drying]], and the addition of other [[herb]]s, [[flower]]s, [[spice]]s, and [[fruit]]s.
The four basic types of true tea are (in order from most to least processed):
*[[black tea]]
*[[oolong tea]]
*[[green tea]]
*[[white tea]]
The term "[[herbal tea]]" usually refers to [[infusion]]s of fruit or of herbs (such as [[rosehip]], [[chamomile]], or ''[[jiaogulan]]'') that contain no ''C. sinensis''.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/herbal%20tea Dictionary.com search Herbal tea] URL accessed [[February 15]], [[2007]].</ref> (Alternative terms for herbal tea that avoid the word "tea" are ''[[tisane]]'' and ''herbal infusion''.) This article is concerned exclusively with preparations and uses of the tea plant ''C. sinensis''.
Tea is a natural source of the [[amino acid]] [[theanine]], [[methylxanthine]]s such as [[caffeine]] and [[theobromine]],<ref>[http://archive.food.gov.uk/maff/archive/food/infsheet/1997/no103/table2a.htm]</ref> and [[polyphenol]]ic [[antioxidant]] [[catechins]].<ref name="ody">{{cite book |author=Penelope Ody, |title=Complete Guide to Medicinal Herbs |publisher=Dorling Kindersley Publishing |___location=New York, NY |year= |pages=48 |isbn=0-7894-6785-2 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> It has almost no [[carbohydrate]]s, [[Vegetable fats and oils|fat]], or [[protein]]. It has a cooling, slightly bitter, and astringent flavor.<ref name="ody"/>
== Cultivation ==
''Camellia sinensis'' is an evergreen plant and grows in [[tropical]] to sub-tropical climates. In addition to tropical climates (at least 50 inches of rainfall a year), it also prefers acidic soils{{Fact|date=June 2007}}. Many high quality tea plants grow at elevations up to 5,000 feet (1524 meters), as the plants grow more slowly and acquire a better flavor{{Fact|date=June 2007}}. Only the top 1-2 inches of the mature plant are picked. These buds and leaves are called ''flushes'',<ref name="glossary">[http://www.hungrymonster.com/Foodfacts/Tea_Glossary.cfm Tea Glossary] URL accessed [[February 15]], [[2007]].</ref> and a plant will grow a new flush every seven to ten days during the growing season.
Tea plants will grow into a tree if left undisturbed but cultivated plants are pruned to waist height for ease of plucking.<ref name="bush-cup"/>
Two principal varieties are used, the small-leaved China plant (C. sinensis sinensis) and the large-leaved Assam plant (C. sinensis assamica ).
=== Processing and classification ===
{{main|Tea processing}}
[[Image:Koeh-025.jpg|left|thumb|220px|Tea plant (''Camellia Sinensis'') from ''[[Köhler's Medicinal Plants]]''.]]
These types of tea are distinguished by the processing they undergo. Leaves of ''Camellia sinensis'' soon begin to wilt and [[Oxidation|oxidize]] if not dried quickly after picking. The leaves turn progressively darker because [[chlorophyll]] breaks down and [[tannin]]s are released. This process, ''enzymatic oxidation'', is called ''fermentation'' in the tea industry although no true fermentation happens (that is, the process isn't microorganism-driven). The next step in processing is to stop the [[oxidation]] process at a predetermined stage by heating, which deactivates the enzymes responsible. In black tea this is done simultaneously with drying.
Without careful moisture and temperature control during its manufacture and life thereafter, fungi will grow on tea. This form of fungus causes real fermentation that will contaminate the tea with toxic and sometimes carcinogenic substances and off-flavours, rendering the tea unfit.
Tea is traditionally classified based on producing technique :<ref name=LiuTong>{{cite book |author=Liu Tong |title=Chinese tea |publisher= China Intercontinental Press|___location=Beijing|year=2005|pages=137 |isbn=7-5085-0835-1|oclc= |doi=}}</ref>
; [[White tea]]: Young leaves (new growth buds) that have undergone no oxidation; the buds may be shielded from sunlight to prevent formation of chlorophyll. White tea is produced in lesser quantities than most other styles, and can be correspondingly more expensive than tea from the same plant processed by other methods. It is less well known in countries outside of China, though this is changing with increased western interest in organic or premium teas.
; [[Green tea]]: The oxidation process is stopped after a minimal amount of oxidation by application of heat, either with [[steam]], or by dry cooking in hot pans, the traditional Chinese method. Tea leaves may be left to dry as separate leaves or they may be rolled into small pellets to make ''gun-powder'' tea. This process is time consuming and is typically done with [[pekoe]]s of higher quality. The tea is processed within one to two days of harvesting.
; [[Oolong]]: Oxidation is stopped somewhere between the standards for green tea and black tea. The oxidation process takes two to three days. In Chinese, semi-oxidized teas are collectively grouped as ''blue tea'' (青茶, literally: blue-green tea), while the term "oolong" is used specifically as a name for certain semi-oxidized teas.<ref name=TBTHoxi>{{cite web |author=The Best Tea House Co. Ltd. |date=2005 | title=茶葉分類與製作| url=http://www.besttea.com.hk/tea_categories.htm|accessdate=2006-12-21}}</ref>
; [[Black tea|Black tea/Red tea]]: The tea leaves are allowed to completely oxidize. Black tea is the most common form of tea in [[South Asia|southern Asia]] ([[Sri Lanka]], [[India]], [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]], etc.) and in the last century many African countries including [[Kenya]], [[Burundi]], [[Rwanda]], [[Malawi]] and [[Zimbabwe]]. The literal translation of the Chinese word is ''red tea'', which is used by some tea lovers. The Chinese call it ''red tea'' because the actual tea liquid is red. Westerners call it ''black tea'' because the tea leaves used to brew it are usually black. However, ''red tea'' may also refer to [[rooibos]], an increasingly popular [[South Africa]]n [[tisane]]. The oxidation process will take between two weeks and one month. Black tea is further classified as either ''orthodox'' or as ''CTC'' (''[[Crush, Tear, Curl]]'', a production method developed about 1932). Unblended black teas are also identified by the estate they come from, their year and the flush (first, second or autumn). Orthodox processed black teas are further graded according to the post-production leaf quality by the [[Orange Pekoe]] system, while CTC teas use a different grading system.
; [[Post-fermented tea]]: Teas that undergo a second oxidation, such as [[Pu-erh tea|Pu-erh]], [[Liu'an tea|Liu'an]], and [[Liubao tea|Liubao]], are collectively referred to as secondary or post-fermentation teas in English. In Chinese they are categorized as ''Dark tea'' or ''black tea''. This is not to be confused with the English term ''Black tea'', known in Chinese as red tea. Pu-erh, also known as Póu léi (Polee) in Cantonese is the most common type of post-fermetation tea in the market.
; [[Yellow tea]]: Either used as a name of special tea processed similarly to green tea, or high-quality tea served at the [[Imperial court]].
; [[Kukicha]]: Also called ''[[winter]] tea'', kukicha is made from [[twig]]s and old leaves [[pruning|pruned]] from the tea plant during its dormant season and [[roasting|dry-roasted]] over a fire. It is popular as a health food in [[Japan]] and in [[macrobiotic diet]]s.
<gallery>
Image:Da Hong Pao Oolong tea leaf close.jpg|[[Da Hong Pao tea]] an [[Oolong]] tea
Image:Bai Hao Yin Zhen tea leaf (Fuding).jpg|Fuding [[Bai Hao Yinzhen tea]], a [[white tea]]
Image:Xiaguan Te Ji Tuo Cha 2004.jpg|Green [[Pu-erh]] tuo cha, a type of compressed raw pu-erh
Image:Huoshan_Huangya_tea_leaves_close.jpg|[[Huoshan Huangya tea]], a [[Yellow tea]]
</gallery>
== Blending and additives ==
[[Image:Prokudin-Gorskii-13.jpg|thumb|right|Tea weighing station north of [[Batumi]], before 1915]]
{{main|Tea blending and additives}}
Almost all teas in bags and most other teas sold in the West are blends. Blending may occur in the tea-planting area (as in the case of [[Assam tea|Assam]]), or teas from many areas may be blended. The aim is to obtain better taste, better price or both, as more expensive, better-tasting tea may cover the inferior taste of cheaper varieties. Blending may also achieve more consistent taste of the blend, regardless of variation of pure teas taste in time.
Various teas, as sold, are not pure varieties but have been enhanced through additives or special processing. Tea is indeed highly receptive to inclusion of various aromas; this may cause problems in processing, transportation and storage, but also allows for the design of an almost endless range of scented variants, such as [[vanilla]]-flavored, [[caramel]]-flavored and many others.
== Content ==
Tea contains [[catechins]], a type of [[antioxidant]]. In a fresh tea leaf, catechins can be up to 30% of the dry weight. Catechins are highest in concentration in white and green teas, while black tea has substantially less due to its oxidative preparation. Tea contains [[theanine]], and the stimulant [[caffeine]] at about 3% of its dry weight, translating to between 30mg and 90mg per 8oz (or 0.25 L) cup depending on type and brand<ref>[http://www.choiceorganicteas.com/caffeineintea.htm]</ref> and brewing method.<ref>M. B. Hicks, Y-H. P. Hsieh, L. N. Bell, ''Tea preparation and its influence on methylxanthine concentration'', Food Research International 29(3-4) 325-330 (1996)</ref> Tea also contains small amounts of [[theobromine]] and [[theophylline]].<ref>Graham H. N.; Green tea composition, consumption, and polyphenol chemistry; ''Preventive Medicine'' '''21'''(3):334-50 (1992)</ref> Tea also contains [[fluoride]], with certain types of [[Tea brick|brick tea]] made from old leaves and stems having the highest levels.<ref>[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VB5-3VKBHN2-4&_coverDate=02%2F01%2F1999&_alid=505422154&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_qd=1&_cdi=5917&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=384fb7d1f451df5241da51de8331e898]</ref>
== Origin and history ==
Based on differences in morphology between ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''assamica'' and ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''sinensis'', botanists have long asserted a dual botanical origin for tea.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Yamamoto|Kim|Juneja|1994|p=4}} "For a long time, botanists have asserted the dualism of tea origin from their observations that there exists distinct differences in the morphological characteristics between Assamese and Chinese varieties."</ref> ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''assamica'' is native to the area from [[Yunnan]] province, [[China]] to the northern region of Myanmar and the state of Assam in India.<ref name=ykj2>{{Harvcolnb|Yamamoto|Kim|Juneja|1994|p=2}} "Spontaneous growth of ''C. sinensis'' var. ''assamica'', whose leaf is large (leaf length and width, 16–19 × 7–9 cm) and trunk is tall, are in the area ranging from Yunnan province of China to the northern region of Myanmar and Assam region of India. On the other hand, that of var. ''sinensis'', whose leaf is small (leaf length and width, 5.5–6.1 × 2.2–2.4 cm) and the trunk is the bush type, are observed in the eastern and southeastern districts of China."</ref> ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''sinensis'' is native to eastern and southeastern China.<ref name=ykj2/>
However, recent research questions this. The same [[chromosome number]] (2n=30) for the two varieties, easy [[hybrid]]ization, and various types of intermediate hybrids and spontaneous [[polyploid]]s all appear to demonstrate a single place of origin for ''Camellia sinensis'' — the area including the northern part of Myanmar and Yunnan and Sichuan provinces of China.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Yamamoto|Kim|Juneja|1994|p=4}} "Hashimoto and Shimura reported that the differences in the morphological characteristics in tea plants are not necessarily the evidence of the dualism hypothesis from the researches using the statistical cluster analysis method. In recent investigations, it has also been made clear that both varieties have the same chromosome number (2n=30) and can be easily hybridized with each other. In addition, various types of intermediate hybrids or spontaneous polyploids of tea plants have been found in a wide area extending over the regions mentioned above. These facts may prove that the place of origin of ''Camellia sinensis'' is in the area including the northern part of the Myanmar, Yun-nan, and Si-chuan districts of China."</ref>
=== Evolution ===
2737 BC: The Second Emperor, Shennong known as the Divine Healer first discovered tea in China.
350 AD: The first description of drinking tea is written in a Chinese dictionary.
400-600: The demand for tea rose steadily. Rather than harvest leaves from wild trees, farmers began to develop ways to cultivate tea. Tea was commonly made into roasted cakes, which were then pounded into small pieces and placed in a china pot. After adding boiling water, onion, spices, ginger or orange were introduced to produce many regional variations.
618-906: Tang Dynasty. Powdered tea became the fashion of the time. Nobility made it a popular pastime. Caravans carried tea on the Silk Road, trading with India, Turkey and Russia.
780: Poet Lu Yu wrote the first book of tea, making him a living saint, patronized by the Emperor himself. The book described methods of cultivation and preparation.
805: The Buddhist monk Saicho brought tea seeds to Japan from China.
960-1280: Sung dynasty. Tea was used widely. Powdered tea had become common. Beautiful ceramic tea accessories were made during this time. Dark-blue, black and brown glazes, which contrasted with the vivid green of the whisked tea, were favoured.
1101-1125: Emperor Hui Tsung wrote about the best ways to make whisked tea. A strong patron of the tea industry, he had tournaments in which members of the court identified different types of tea. Legend has it that he became so obsessed with tea he hardly noticed the Mongols who overthrew his empire. During his reign, teahouses built in natural settings became popular among the Chinese.
1191: Eisai Myoan, the monk who brought Zen Buddhism to Japan, returned from a trip to China with tea seeds, which he planted on the grounds of his temple near Kyoto. Eisai experimented with different ways to brew tea, finally adopting the Chinese whisked tea.
1279-1368: Yuan Dynasty. Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan conquered Chinese territories and established a Mongolian dynasty. Tea became an ordinary drink, never regaining the high status it once enjoyed. Marco Polo was not even introduced to tea when he visited.
1368-1644: Ming Dynasty. People again began to enjoy tea. The new method of preparation was steeping whole leaves in water. The resulting pale liquid necessitated a lighter color ceramic than was popular in the past. The white and off-white tea-ware produced became the style of the time. The first Yixing pots were made at this time.
1422-1502: A Zen priest named Murata Shuko, who had devoted his life to tea, created the Japanese tea ceremony. The ceremony is called "Cha No Yu," which means "hot water for tea."
1610: The Dutch brought tea to Europe from China, trading dried sage in exchange.
1618: Chinese ambassadors presented Czar Alexis with a gift of several chests of tea.
1657: Tea was first sold in England (brought by the Portuguese) at Garway's Coffee House in London. The East India Company operated out of several sites in the City of London, the first in Philpot Lane, Fenchurch, then it took a lease on Lord Northampton's mansion, Crosby Hall, Bishopsgate and then in 1658 another move before it finally leased Lord Craven's House in Leadenhall Street. Under the terms of a charter granted by Elizabeth I, The East India Company owned all trading rights and controlled the sale of those imported goods back to Britain.
1661: The Taiwanese began to drink wild tea.
1662: Charles II took Catherine Braganza of Portugal as his wife. They both drank tea, creating a fashion for it. Its popularity among the aristocracy causes alcohol beverages to fall from favour.
1669: Close to 150 pounds of tea were shipped to England. Until 1669, most of the tea drunk in Britain was bought from the Dutch.
1689: Traders with three hundred camels traveled 11,000 miles to China and back in order to supply Russia's demand. The trip took sixteen months.
1697: In Taiwan, settlers of Formosa's Nantou County cultivated the first domestic bushes. Dutch ships carried the tea to Persia, the first known export of Taiwanese tea.
1705: The yearly importation of tea to England grew to approximately 800,000 pounds.
1706: The first auction dedicated to tea took place in Craven House, which became known as East India House. These East India Company auctions were held quarterly. Such early auctions were "Sold by the Candle," a system whereby a candle was marked off in inches, it was lit when the bidding began, the hammer was brought down as the first inch line was reached and so on down the candle for each lot.
1710: Wealthy American Colonists developed a taste for tea.
1773: The Tea Act of 1773 giving the East India Company control of trading in the Americas imposed the same taxes and levies on the colonists as paid by the British. Objection led to an act of rebellion known as the Boston Tea Party in December 1773, which is commonly viewed as a first step towards the American War of Independence. Under cover of night, colonists dressed as American Indians boarded the East India Company ships in Boston Harbor. They opened chests of tea and dumped their contents into the water. This was repeated in other less known instances up and down the coast.
1776: China was the main tea source of eighteenth century. Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka), Central and Eastern African countries were sending teas to the London Auction.
1833: The East India Company enjoyed its monopoly for two and a half centuries. Independent merchants campaigned for change and modernization, which was achieved in 1833.
1834: An imperial edict from the Chinese Emperor closed all Chinese ports to foreign vessels until the end of the First Opium War in 1842.
Royal Assent was given to the Bill who rescinded the charter given to the East India Company; this came into force on 22nd, April 1834. The brokers began to look for new premises and found a dancing studio in Exchange Alley, City of London. In November 1834 the tea auctions were moved again to the newly built London Commercial Salesrooms, Mincing Lane and remained there until 30th January 1937 when they moved down the lane to Plantation House.
1840s: Clipper ships, built in America, sped-up the transportation of tea to America and Europe, livening the pace of trade. Some ships could make the trip from Hong Kong to London in ninety-five days. Races to London became commonplace; smugglers and blockade runners also benefited from the advances in sailing speeds.
1870: Twinings of England began to blend tea for consistency.
Tea companies began to blossom in Britain by the late nineteenth century blending, branding and packaging were giving the public a wide variety of choice.
1900: Trans-Siberian railroad made transport to Russia cheaper and faster. Java became an important producer as well.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the London Tea Auction had grown in importance. Most working days of the week were allotted to a particular country's sale with minor suppliers being herded together on convenient days.
1904: Richard Blechynden created iced tea for the St. Louis World Fair.
1909: Thomas Sullivan invented tea bags in New York, sending tea to clients in silk bags, which they began to mistakenly steep without opening.
1910: Sumatra, Indonesia grows and exports tea. Soon thereafter, tea is grown in Kenya and other parts of Africa.
1918: A National Tea Control was brought in, tea was split into three grades and sold at a fixed retail price of two shillings and eight pence, the equivalent of three and a half modern pence.
1919: The London Tea Auction resumed on 5th May 1919.
1920-1930: The tea trade suffered a slump like most other industry in Britain. However the tea trade found export markets to fill the gap.
1940: As Britain recovered, so did the UK tea trade, but again the economy collapsed with World War II. In 1940 tea was rationed, this remained until October 1952.
1952: The London Tea Auction resumed and took place in Plantation House until it moved to Sir John Lyon House on 8th, February 1971. Since then the tea trade has seen the introduction of the off shore auction, tea sold by the container whilst on route for the UK and the growth of the producer countries' own auctions due to increased volumes.
1970: The Taiwanese government encouraged its population to drink tea, revitalising tea culture on the island.
1998: In the last twenty years the frequency of and volumes sold at the London Tea Auction have declined. In 1990 the auction moved to The London Chamber of Commerce where it closed in 1998.
2006: India is the country with the most tea consumption in the world - an average of 651,000 metric tons per year. China is second, and consumes about 463,000 metric tons per year. The United States is number one consumer of iced tea, with between 80% and 85% of its total tea consumed that way.
=== Creation myths ===
In one popular [[Chinese legend]], [[Shennong]], the legendary [[Emperor of China]], inventor of [[agriculture]] and [[Chinese medicine]], was drinking a bowl of boiling water, some time around 2737 BC. The wind blew and a few leaves from a nearby tree fell into his water and began to change its colour. The ever inquisitive and curious monarch took a sip of the brew and was pleasantly surprised by its flavour and its restorative properties. A variant of the legend tells that the emperor tested the medical properties of various herbs on himself, some of them poisonous, and found tea to work as an antidote.<ref>Chow p. 19-20 (Czech edition); also Arcimovicova p. 9, Evans p. 2 and others</ref> Shennong is also mentioned in Lu Yu's ''Cha Jing'', famous early work on the subject.<ref>Lu Ju p. 29-30 (Czech edition)</ref>
According to a [[Tang Dynasty]] legend which spread along with [[Buddhism]], [[Bodhidharma]], founder of the [[Zen]] school of Buddhism based on meditation, known as "Ch'an". After meditating in front of a wall for nine years, he accidentally fell asleep. He woke up in such disgust at his weakness, he cut off his eyelids and they fell to the ground and took root, growing into tea bushes.<ref>Chow p. 20-21</ref> Sometimes, the second story is retold with [[Gautama Buddha]] in place of ''Bodhidharma''<ref>Evans p. 3</ref> In another variant of the first mentioned myth, ''Gautama Buddha'' discovered tea when some leaves had fallen into boiling water.<ref>Okakura</ref>
Whether or not these legends have any basis in fact, tea has played a significant role in Asian culture for centuries as a staple beverage, a curative, and a symbol of status. It is not surprising its discovery is ascribed to religious or royal origins.
=== China ===
{{main|History of tea in China}}
The Chinese have enjoyed tea for centuries, if not millennia. While historically the use of tea as a medicinal [[herb]] useful for staying awake is unclear, China is considered to have the earliest records of tea drinking, with recorded tea use in its history dating back to the [[1st millennium BC|first millennium BC]]. The [[Han Dynasty]] used tea as medicine.
[[Laozi]] (ca. 600-517 BC), a classical philosopher, described tea as "the froth of the liquid jade" and named it an indispensable ingredient to the [[elixir of life]]. Legend has it, master Lao was disgusted at his nation's immoral way of life, so he fled westward to [[Ta Chin]]. While passing through the [[Han (state)|Han]] Pass, he was offered tea by a customs inspector named Yin Hsi. Yin Hsi may have inspired the writers of the [[Dao De Jing]], a collection of Laozi's sayings. Yin's generosity helped many people and thus began a national custom of offering tea to guests, in [[China]].
In 220 BC, a famed physician and surgeon named Hua Tuo wrote Shin Lun, in which he describes tea's ability to improve mental functions: "to drink k'u t'u [bitter tea] constantly makes one think better"
In 59 BC, Wang Bao wrote the first known book providing instructions on buying and preparing tea, establishing that, at this time, tea was not only a medicine but an important part of diet.
During the [[Sui Dynasty]] (589-618 AD) tea was introduced to [[Japan]] by [[Buddhist]] monks.
[[Image:Lu Yu.jpg|200px|thumb|right|[[Lu Yu]]'s statue in [[Xi'an]].]]
The [[Tang Dynasty]] writer [[Lu Yu]]'s 陸羽 (729-804 AD) ''Cha Jing'' 茶經 is an early work on the subject. (See also [[Tea Classics]]) According to ''Cha Jing'' writing, around 760 AD, tea drinking was widespread. The book describes how tea plants were grown, the leaves processed, and tea prepared as a beverage. It also describes how tea was evaluated. The book also discusses where the best tea leaves were produced. Teas produced in this period were mainly [[tea brick]]s which were often used as currency, especially further from the center of the empire where coins lost their value.
During the [[Song Dynasty]] (960-1279), production and preparation of all tea changed. The tea of Song included many loose-leaf styles (to preserve the delicate character favoured by the court society), but a new powdered form of tea emerged. Steaming tea leaves was the primary process used for centuries in the preparation of tea. After the transition from compressed tea to the powdered form, the production of tea for trade and distribution changed once again. The Chinese learned to process tea in a different way in the mid-13th century. Tea leaves were roasted and then crumbled rather than steamed. This is the origin of today's loose teas and the practice of brewed tea.
In [[1391]], the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]] court issued a decree that only loose tea would be accepted as a "tribute." As a result, loose tea production increased and processing techniques advanced. Soon, most tea was distributed in full-leaf, loose form and steeped in earthenware vessels.
=== India ===
[[Image:Darjeeling-tea-first-flush-in-cup.jpg|right|thumb|Darjeeling tea infusion]]
{{see also|Assam tea|Darjeeling tea|Nilgiri tea}}
Tea cultivation flourished in India under the British and today India is the largest producer of tea in the world.
[[Darjeeling tea]] is grown in the foothills of the Himalayas, and is a prized Indian black tea.
The [[East India]] Company also had interests along the routes to India from [[Great Britain]]. The company cultivated the production of tea in [[India]]. Its products were the basis of the [[Boston Tea Party]] in [[Thirteen Colonies|Colonial America]].
=== Ceylon/ Sri Lanka ===
The name Ceylon always brings to mind tea. Ceylon or Sri Lanka is renowned for its high quality tea. Ceylon is the largest tea exporter in the world. Ceylon tea is divided into 3 groups as Upcountry, Midcountry and Low country tea based on the geography of the land on which it is grown.
The plantations started by the British were initially taken over by the government in the 1960s but has again being privatised and are now run by 'plantation companies' which own a few 'estates' or tea plantations each.
=== Japan ===
{{main|History of tea in Japan}}
The earliest known references to [[green tea]] in [[Japan]] are in a text written by a Buddhist monk in the [[9th century]]. Tea became a drink of the religious classes in Japan when Japanese priests and envoys sent to [[China]] to learn about its culture brought tea to Japan. Ancient recordings indicate the first batch of tea seeds were brought by a priest named [[Saichō]] ({{lang|ja|最澄}}; 767-822) in 805 and then by another named [[Kūkai]] ({{lang|ja|空海}}; 774-835) in 806. It became a drink of the royal classes when [[Emperor Saga]] ({{lang|ja|嵯峨天皇}}), the Japanese emperor, encouraged the growth of tea plants. Seeds were imported from China, and cultivation in Japan began.
In 1191, the famous Zen priest [[Eisai]] ({{lang|ja|栄西}}; 1141-1215) brought back tea seeds to [[Kyoto]]. Some of the tea seeds were given to the priest Myoe Shonin, and became the basis for Uji tea. The oldest tea specialty book in Japan, ''Kissa Yōjōki'' ({{lang|ja|喫茶養生記}}; ''How to Stay Healthy by Drinking Tea''), was written by Eisai. Eisai was also instrumental in introducing tea consumption to the warrior class, which rose to political prominence after the Heian Period.
[[Image:Tea ceremony performing 2.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Japanese tea ceremony]]
Green tea became a staple among cultured people in Japan -- a brew for the gentry and the Buddhist priesthood alike. Production grew and tea became increasingly accessible, though still a privilege enjoyed mostly by the upper classes. The modern tea ceremony developed over several centuries by Zen Buddhist monks under the original guidance of the monk Sen-no [[Sen no Rikyū|Rikyu]] (1522-1591). In fact, both the beverage and the ceremony surrounding it played a prominent role in feudal diplomacy.
In 1738, Soen Nagatani developed Japanese ''[[sencha]]'' ({{lang-ja|煎茶}}), literally ''roasted tea'', which is an unfermented form of green tea. It is the most popular form of tea in Japan today. In 1835, Kahei Yamamoto developed ''[[gyokuro]]'' ({{lang-ja|玉露}}), literally ''jewel dew'', by shading tea trees during the weeks leading up to harvesting. At the end of the Meiji period (1868-1912), machine manufacturing of green tea was introduced and began replacing handmade tea.
=== Korea ===
The first historical record documenting the offering of tea to an ancestral god describes a rite in the year 661 in which a tea offering was made to the spirit of [[Suro of Gaya|King Suro]], the founder of the [[Geumgwan Gaya]] Kingdom (42-562). Records from the [[Goryeo]] Dynasty (918-1392) show that tea offerings were made in Buddhist temples to the spirits of revered monks.
During the [[Joseon Dynasty]] (1392-1910), the royal Yi family and the aristocracy used tea for simple rites, the "Day Tea Rite" was a common daytime ceremony, whereas the "Special Tea Rite" was reserved for specific occasions. These terms are not found in other countries. Toward the end of the Joseon Dynasty, commoners joined the trend and used tea for ancestral rites, following the Chinese example based on Zhu Xi's text formalities of Family.
Stoneware was common, ceramic more frequent, mostly made in provincial kilns, with porcelain rare, imperial porcelain with dragons the rarest. The earliest kinds of tea used in tea ceremonies were heavily pressed cakes of black tea, the equivalent of aged [[pu-erh tea]] still popular in China. However, importation of tea plants by Buddhist monks brought a more delicate series of teas into Korea, and the [[Korean tea ceremony|tea ceremony]]. Green tea, "chaksol" or "chugno," is most often served. However other teas such as "Byeoksoryung" Chunhachoon, Woojeon, Jakseol, Jookro, Okcheon, as well as native chrysanthemum tea, persimmon leaf tea, or mugwort tea may be served at different times of the year.
=== Tea spreads to the world ===
The earliest record of tea in a more [[occidental]] writing is said to be found in the statement of an Arabian traveler, that after the year 879 the main sources of revenue in [[Canton]] were the duties on salt and tea. [[Marco Polo]] records the deposition of a Chinese minister of finance in 1285 for his arbitrary argumentation of the tea taxes. The travelers Giovanni Batista Ramusio (1559), L. Almeida (1576), Maffei (1588), Taxiera (1610), also mentioned tea. In 1557, [[Portugal]] established a trading port in [[Macao]] and word of the Chinese drink "ch'a" spread quickly, but there is no mention of them bringing any samples home. In the early 17th century, a ship of the [[Dutch East India Company]] brought the first green tea leaves to [[Amsterdam]] from [[China]]. Tea was known in [[France]] by 1636. It enjoyed a brief period of popularity in [[Paris]] around 1648. The history of tea in [[Russia]] can also be traced back to the seventeenth century. Tea was first offered by China as a gift to Czar [[Michael I]] in 1618. The Russian ambassador tried the drink; he did not care for it and rejected the offer, delaying tea's Russian introduction by fifty years. In 1689, tea was regularly imported from China to Russia via a caravan of hundreds of camels traveling the year-long journey, making it a precious commodity at the time. Tea was appearing in [[Germany|German]] [[apothecaries]] by 1657 but never gained much esteem except in coastal areas such as [[Ostfriesland]].<ref>Book of Tea By Kakuzō Okakura (pages 5 - 6). Published 1964. Courier Dover Publications. Sociology. 94 pages. ISBN 0486200701</ref> Tea first appeared publicly in England during the 1650s, where it was introduced through coffee houses. From there it was introduced to British Colonies in America and elsewhere.
== Potential effects of tea on health ==
{{main|Potential effects of tea on health}}
Several health benefits have been claimed and some are supported by independent research.
== The word ''tea'' ==
The [[Chinese character]] for tea is 茶, but it is pronounced differently in the various [[Chinese language|Chinese]] dialects. Two pronunciations have made their way into other languages around the world. One is ''tê'', which comes from the [[Amoy (linguistics)|Amoy Min Nan dialect]], spoken around the [[seaport|port]] of [[Xiamen]] (Amoy). This pronunciation is believed to come from the old words for tea 梌 (tú) or 荼 (tú). The other is ''chá'', used by the [[Cantonese (linguistics)|Cantonese dialect]] spoken around the ports of [[Guangzhou]] (Canton), [[Hong Kong]], [[Macau]], and in [[overseas Chinese]] communities, as well as in the [[Mandarin (linguistics)|Mandarin dialect]] of northern China. This term was used in ancient times to describe the first flush harvest of tea. Yet another different pronunciation is ''zu'', used in the [[Wu (linguistics)|Wu dialect]] spoken around [[Shanghai]].
Languages that have ''tê'' derivatives include [[Afrikaans]] (''tee''), [[Armenian language|Armenian]], [[Catalan language|Catalan]] (''te''), [[Czech language|Czech]] (''té'' or ''thé'', but these words sound archaic; ''čaj'' is used nowadays, as explained in the next paragraph), [[Danish language|Danish]] (''te''), [[Dutch language|Dutch]] (''thee''), [[English language|English]] (''tea''), [[Esperanto]] (''teo''), [[Estonian language|Estonian]] (''tee''), [[Faroese language|Faroese]] (''te''), [[Finnish language|Finnish]] (''tee''), [[French language|French]] (''thé''), [[West Frisian language|(West) Frisian]] (''tee''), [[Galician language|Galician]] (''té''), [[German language|German]] (''Tee''), [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] (תה, ''te'' or ''tei''), [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] (''tea''), [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] (''te''), [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] (''teh''), [[Irish language|Irish]] (''tae''), [[Italian language|Italian]] (''tè''), scientific [[Latin]] (''thea''), [[Latvian language|Latvian]] (''tēja''), [[Malay language|Malay]] (''teh''), [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] (''te''), [[Polish language|Polish]] (''herbata'' from [[Latin]] ''herba thea''),[[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] (''arbata'' from [[Latin]] ''herba thea''), [[Scottish Gaelic language|Scots Gaelic]] (''tì'', ''teatha''), [[Singhalese language|Singhalese]] (''thé''), [[Spanish language|Spanish]] (''té''), [[Swedish language|Swedish]] (''te''), [[Tamil language|Tamil]] (''thé''), [[Telugu language|Telugu]] (''ṭī''), [[Welsh language|Welsh]] (''te''), and [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]] (טיי, ''tei''). Tea in Sesotho, the language spoken in Lesotho is tea.
Those that use ''cha'' or ''[[chai]]'' derivatives include [[Albanian language|Albanian]] (''çaj''), [[Amharic language|Amharic]](pronounced ''shy'') [[Arabic language|Arabic]] (شاي ''shai''), [[Assyrian Neo-Aramaic language|Assyrian]] (pronounced ''chai''), [[Azerbaijani language|Azeri]]: (''çay''), [[Bengali Language|Bengali]] (চা), [[Bosnian language|Bosnian]] (''čaj''), [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]] (чай ''chai''), [[Pampangan language|Capampangan]] (''cha''), [[Cebuano language|Cebuano]] (''tsa''), [[Croatian language|Croatian]] (''čaj''), [[Czech language|Czech]] (''čaj''), [[English language|English]] (''char'', slang), [[Georgian language|Georgian]] (ჩაი, ''chai''), [[Greek language|Greek]] (τσάι ''tsái''), [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] (''cha''), [[Hindi language|Hindi]] (चाय ''chai''), [[Japanese language|Japanese]] ({{lang|ja|茶}}, {{lang|ja|ちゃ}}, ''cha''), [[Kazakh language|Kazakh]] (шай ''shai''), [[Korean language|Korean]] (茶,차 ''cha''), [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]] (''čaj''),[[Malayalam]] ("chaya"), [[Marathi language|Marathi]] (''chahaa''), [[Mongolian language|Mongolian]] (цай, ''tsai''), [[Nepali language|Nepali]] (''cheeya''), [[Oriya language|Oriya]] (''cha''), [[Persian language|Persian]] (چای ''chaay''), [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] (ਚਾਹ), [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] (''chá''), [[Romanian language|Romanian]] (''ceai''), [[Russian language|Russian]] (чай, ''chai''), [[Serbian language|Serbian]] (чај ''chaj''), [[Slovak language|Slovak]] (''čaj''), [[Slovenian language|Slovene]] (''čaj''), [[Somali language|Somali]] (''shaax''), [[Swahili language|Swahili]] (''chai''), [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] (''tsaa''), [[Thai language|Thai]] (ชา, cha), [[Tibetan language|Tibetan]] (ཇ་''ja''), [[Tlingit language|Tlingit]] (''cháayu''), [[Turkish language|Turkish]] (''çay''), [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] (чай ''chai''), [[Urdu language|Urdu]] (چاى), [[Uzbek language|Uzbek]] (''choy'') and [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] (''trà'' and ''chè'' are both direct derivatives of the Chinese 茶; the latter term is used mainly in the north and depicts a tea made with freshly-picked leaves).
The Polish word for a tea-kettle is ''czajnik'', which could be derived directly from ''cha'' or from the cognate Russian word. However, tea in Polish is ''herbata'', which was probably derived from the Latin ''herba thea'', meaning "tea herb".
It is tempting to correlate these names with the route that was used to deliver tea to these cultures, although the relation is far from simple at times. As an example, the first tea to reach [[United Kingdom|Britain]] was traded by the Dutch from [[Fujian]], which uses ''te'', and although later most British trade went through Canton, which uses ''cha'', the Fujianese pronunciation continued to be the more popular.
In [[Ireland]], or at least in [[Dublin]], the term ''cha'' is sometimes used for "tea", with "tay" as a common pronunciation throughout the land (derived from the Irish Gaelic ''tae''), and ''char'' was a common [[slang]] term for tea throughout [[British Empire]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] military forces in the 19th and 20th centuries, crossing over into civilian usage.
In [[North America]], the word ''chai'' is used to refer almost exclusively to the [[India]]n ''[[chai]]'' (or ''masala chai'') beverage.
Perhaps the only place in which a word unrelated to tea is used to describe the beverage is South America (particularly Andean countries), because a similar stimulant beverage, ''[[Mate (beverage)|mate de yerba]]'', was consumed there long before tea arrived.
== Tea culture ==
{{main|Tea culture}}
In many [[culture]]s, tea is often drunk at social events, such as [[tea (meal)#afternoon tea|afternoon tea]] and the [[tea party]]. It may be drunk early in the day to heighten alertness; it contains [[theophylline]] and bound [[caffeine]]<ref name="ody"/> (sometimes called "theine"),
although there are also [[decaffeinated]] teas. In many cultures such as [[Arab culture]] tea is a focal point for social gatherings.
There are [[tea ceremony|tea ceremonies]] which have arisen in different cultures, [[Japan]]'s complex, formal and serene one being one of the most well known. Other examples are the [[Chinese tea ceremony]] which uses some traditional ways of brewing tea. One form of Chinese tea ceremony is the [[Gung Fu Cha tea ceremony]], which typically uses small Yi Xing clay pots and [[oolong tea]].
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== Preparation ==
: ''For a more detailed treatment of tea preparation and serving habits, particularly in non-western countries, see [[Tea culture]].''
[[Image:Teapot P1100116.jpg|thumb|Chinese tea kettle over hot coals]]
The traditional method of making a cup of tea is with loose tea placed either directly, or in a [[tea infuser]], into a [[tea pot]] and pouring boiling (or very hot depending on the type of tea) water over the tea. In the second half of the 20th century the use of [[teabag]]s has largely supplanted the use of loose tea in the Western world; this has enabled brewing directly in a cup or mug.
Historically in [[China]], tea is divided into a number of infusions. The first infusion is immediately poured out to wash the tea, and then the second and further infusions are drunk. The third through fifth are nearly always considered the best infusions of tea, although different teas open up differently and may require more infusions of boiling water to bring them to life.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://secure.worldsourceintl.com/infusion.htm|title=Infusion Guide|publisher=Zhong Guo Cha|date=[[2007]]|accessdate=2007-05-09}}</ref>
Typically, the best temperature for brewing tea can be determined by its type. Teas that have little or no oxidation period, such as a green or white tea, are best brewed at lower temperatures around 80°C, while teas with longer oxidation periods should be brewed at higher temperatures around 100°C.<ref name=IPTtemp>{{cite web|author=In Pursuit of Tea|date=2005|url=http://www.inpursuitoftea.com/Brewing_Guide_s/30.htm|title=Brewing Guide |accessdate=2006-12-16}}</ref><ref name=Snobtemp>{{cite web|author=2basnob.com| date=2004| url=http://www.2basnob.com/brewing-tea.html|title=Guide to Brewing Tea |accessdate=2006-12-16}}</ref>
The amount of tea to be used per amount of water is obviously of critical importance, yet is the subject of some confusion. One reason is to do with knowledge in popular culture (one spoon per person and one for the pot etc), another to do with the varying nature and quality amongst different teas and within the same garden from season to season.
One basic recipe may be one slightly heaped teaspoon of tea (about 5ml) for each 200ml of water prepared as above.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2basnob.com/brewing-tea.html|title=Brewing Tea|date=[[2004]]|accessdate=2007-05-09}}</ref> This may be varied according to tea and taste, with a stronger Assam to be drunk with milk prepared with more leaf, and a more delicate high grown tea such as a Darjeeling prepared with a little less (as the stronger mid-flavours will overwhelm the champagne notes).
Another way to taste a tea, throughout its entire process, is to add hot water to a cup containing the leaves and after about 30 seconds to taste the tea. As the tea leaves unfold ("the Agony of the Leaves") they give up various parts of themselves to the water and thus the taste evolves. Continuing this from the very first flavours to the time beyond which the tea is quite stewed will allow an appreciation of the tea throughout its entire length.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.megchittenden.com/articles/?pid=9|title=Agony of the Leaves|publisher=Margaret Chittenden|date=[[1999]]|accessdate=2007-05-09}}</ref>
[[Image:Cup of Earl Gray.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Black tea infusion.]]
; '''Black tea''' : The water for black teas should be added at the [[boiling point]] (100°C or 212°F), except for more delicate teas, where lower temperatures are recommended. This will have as large an effect on the final flavour as the type of tea used. The most common fault when making black tea is to use water at too low a temperature. Since boiling point drops with increasing altitude, this makes it difficult to brew black tea properly in mountainous areas. It is also recommended that the teapot be warmed before preparing tea, easily done by adding a small amount of boiling water to the pot, swirling briefly, before discarding. Black tea should not be allowed to steep for less than 30 seconds or more than about five minutes (a process known as ''brewing'' or [dialectally] ''mashing'' in the UK, Specifically in {{cite web |url=http://www.yorkshire-dialect.org/dictionary.htm |title=Yorkshire}}). After that, [[tannin]] is released, which counteracts the stimulating effect of the [[theophylline]] and caffeine and makes the tea bitter (at this point it is referred to as being ''stewed'' in the UK). Therefore, for a "wake-up" tea, one should not let the tea steep for more than 2-3 minutes. When the tea has brewed long enough to suit the tastes of the drinker, it should be strained while serving.<ref name="Timana">{{cite web|url=http://www.timanatea.com/teafacts.shtml|title=Tea Facts|publisher=Timana Tea Company|date=[[2006]]|accessdate=2007-05-09}}</ref>
; '''Green tea''' : Water for green tea, according to most accounts, should be around 80°C to 85°C (176°F to 185°F); the higher the quality of the leaves, the lower the temperature. Hotter water will burn green-tea leaves, producing a bitter taste. Preferably, the container in which the tea is steeped, the [[mug]], or teapot should also be warmed beforehand so that the tea does not immediately cool down.<ref name="Timana"/>
[[Image:Tea processing chart.png|450px|thumb|right|Tea leaf processing methods]]
; '''Oolong tea''' : [[Oolong]] teas should be brewed around 90°C to 100°C (194°F to 212°F), and again the brewing vessel should be warmed before pouring in the water. [[Yixing clay|Yixing purple clay]] [[teapots]] are the ideal brewing vessel for oolong tea. For best results use spring water, as the minerals in spring water tend to bring out more flavour in the tea.<ref name="Timana"/>
; '''Premium or delicate tea''' : Some teas, especially green teas and delicate [[Oolong]] or [[Darjeeling tea|Darjeeling]] teas, are steeped for shorter periods, sometimes less than 30 seconds. Using a [[tea strainer]] separates the leaves from the water at the end of the brewing time if a tea bag is not being used. Elevation and time of harvest offer varying taste profiles, proper storage and water quality also plays a large impact on taste.<ref name="Timana"/>
; '''Puer tea''' : Puer teas require boiling water for infusion. Some prefer to quickly rinse puer for several seconds with boiling water to remove tea dust which accumulates from the aging process. Infuse puer at the [[boiling point]] (100°C or 212°F), and allow to steep for 30 seconds or up to five minutes.<ref name="Timana"/>
; '''Serving''' : In order to preserve the pre-tannin tea without requiring it all to be poured into cups, a second teapot is employed. The steeping pot is best unglazed earthenware; Yixing pots are the best known of these, famed for the high quality clay from which they are made. The serving pot is generally porcelain, which retains the heat better. Larger teapots are a post-19th-century invention, as tea before this time was very rare and very expensive. Experienced tea-drinkers often insist that the tea should not be stirred around while it is steeping (sometimes called ''winding'' in the UK). This, they say, will do little to strengthen the tea, but is likely to bring the tannins out in the same way that brewing too long will do. For the same reason one should not squeeze the last drops out of a teabag; if stronger tea is desired, more tea leaves should be used.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.learn-about-tea.com/brewing-tea.html|title=Tips for Brewing Tea|date=[[2007]]|accessdate=2007-05-09}}</ref>
; '''Additives ''' : [[Image:Nice_Cup_of_Tea.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Tea is sometimes taken with milk]]The addition of milk to tea was first mentioned in 1680 by the epistolist [[Marie de Rabutin-Chantal]], the Marquise de Sévigné.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stashtea.com/facts.htm|title=The History of Tea|publisher=Stash Tea|date=[[2006]]|accessdate=2006-11-07}}</ref> Some connoisseurs eschew [[cream]] because it overpowers the flavour of tea. Many teas are traditionally drunk with milk. These include Indian [[chai]], and British tea blends. These teas tend to be very hearty varieties which can be tasted through the milk, such as Assams, or the East Friesian blend. Milk is thought to neutralise remaining tannins and reduce acidity.[[Image:Cuboid sugar.jpg|right|thumb|Sugar cubes ready to be added to a cup of tea]]
: When taking milk with tea, some add the tea to the milk rather than the other way around when using chilled milk; this avoids scalding the milk, leading to a better emulsion and nicer taste.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3016342.stm|title=How to make a perfect cuppa|publisher=BBC News|date=[[2003-06-25]]|accessdate=2006-07-28}}</ref> In Britain and some Commonwealth countries, the order in which the milk and the tea enter the cup is often considered an indicator of [[social class]]. Persons of working class background are supposedly more likely to add the milk first and pour the tea in afterward, whereas persons of middle and upper class backgrounds are more likely to pour the tea in first and then add milk. This is ostensibly a continuing practice from a time when porcelain (the only ceramic which could withstand boiling water) was only within the purchasing range of the rich - the less wealthy had access only to poor quality earthenware, which would crack unless milk was added first in order to lower the temperature of the tea as it was poured in.
: Adding the milk first also makes a milkier cup of tea with sugar harder to dissolve as there will be no hot liquid in the cup. In addition, the amount of milk used is normally determined by the colour of the tea, therefore milk is added until the correct colour is obtained. If the milk is added first, more guesswork is involved. If the tea is being brewed in a mug, the milk is generally added after the tea bag is removed (however, it is arguably better to add milk before removing the tea bag than it is to remove the tea bag too soon: the tea will continue to brew even with milk added).
: Other popular additives to tea include [[sugar]] or [[honey]], [[lemon]], and fruit [[jam]]s. In colder regions such as [[Mongolia]], [[Tibet]] and [[Nepal]], [[butter]] is added to provide necessary calories. Tibetan butter tea contains rock salt and dre (yak) butter, which is then churned vigorously in a cylindrical vessel closely resembling a butter churn. The flavour of this beverage is more akin to a rich broth than to tea, and may be described as a very acquired taste to those unused to drinking it. The same may be said for salt tea, which is consumed in some cultures in the Hindu-Kush region of northern Pakistan, and probably in other areas as well.
== Packaging ==
[[Image:Tea bags.jpg|thumb|right|125px|Tea Bags]]
=== Tea bags ===
In 1907, American tea merchant Thomas Sullivan began distributing samples of his tea in small silk bags with a drawstring. Consumers noticed that they could simply leave the tea in the bag, and better still re-use it with fresh tea. However, the potential of this distribution/packaging method would not be fully realized until later on. During [[World War II]], tea was rationed. In 1953 (after [[Rationing in the United Kingdom during and after World War II|rationing in the UK]] ended), [[Tetley]] launched the ''tea bag'' to the UK and it was an immediate success.
The convenience of the tea bag revolutionized how the British drink their tea: the traditional tea pot has given way to making tea in a cup with a tea bag.
Tea leaves are packed into a small (usually paper) [[tea bag]]. It is easy and convenient, making tea bags popular for many people today. However, the tea used in tea bags has an industry name - it is called "fannings" or "dust" and is the waste product produced from the sorting of higher quality loose leaf tea. It is commonly held among tea aficionados that this method provides an inferior taste and experience. The paper used for the bag can also be tasted by many, which can detract from the tea's flavor. Because fannings and dust are a lower quality of the tea to begin with, the tea found in tea bags is less finicky when it comes to brewing time and temperature.
Additional reasons why bag tea is considered less well-flavored include:
* Dried tea loses its flavour quickly on exposure to air. Most bag teas (although not all) contain leaves broken into small pieces; the great [[surface area to volume ratio]] of the leaves in tea bags exposes them to more air, and therefore causes them to go stale faster. Loose tea leaves are likely to be in larger pieces, or to be entirely intact.
* Breaking up the leaves for bags extracts flavoured oils.
* The small size of the bag does not allow leaves to diffuse and steep properly.
=== Pyramid tea bags ===
The "pyramid tea bag" has an unusual design that addresses two of connoisseurs' arguments against paper tea bags. Its three-dimensional, pyramidal shape allows more room for tea leaves to expand while steeping, and because the bags are made of [[nylon]] mesh, they do not leave flavours (such as paper) in the tea. These characteristics let the delicate flavors of gourmet selections (such as white teas) shine through; however, the bags have been criticized as being environmentally irresponsible, since the synthetic material does not break down in landfills as loose tea leaves and paper tea bags do.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teaandcoffee.net/0305/tea.htm|title=The New Shape
of Teabags|publisher=Tea & Coffee Trade Journal|date=[[2005]]|accessdate=2007-05-09}}</ref>
=== Loose tea ===
[[Image:Loose leaf darjeeling tea twinings.jpg|thumb|Loose-leaf tea]]
The tea leaves are packaged loosely in a canister or other container. Rolled gunpowder tea leaves, which resist crumbling, are commonly vacuum packed for freshness in [[PET film (biaxially oriented)|aluminized packaging]] for storage and retail. The portions must be individually measured by the consumer for use in a cup, mug, or teapot. This allows greater flexibility, letting the consumer brew weaker or stronger tea as desired, but convenience is sacrificed. Strainers, "tea presses", filtered teapots, and infusion bags are available commercially to avoid having to drink the floating loose leaves and to prevent over-brewing. A more traditional, yet perhaps more effective way around this problem is to use a three-piece lidded teacup, called a [[gaiwan]]. The lid of the gaiwan can be tilted to decant the leaves while pouring the tea into a different cup for consumption.
=== Compressed tea ===
A lot of tea such as [[Pu-erh tea]] is still compressed for transport, storage, and aging convenience. The tea is prepared and steeped by first loosening leaves off the compressed cake using a small knife. [[Compressed tea]]s can usually be stored for longer periods of time without "spoilage" when compared with loose leaf tea.
=== Instant tea ===
In recent times, "instant teas" are becoming popular, similar to [[Freeze drying|freeze dried]] [[instant coffee]]. Instant tea was developed in the 1930s, but not commercialized until the late 1950s, and is only more recently becoming popular. These products often come with added flavours, such as [[vanilla]], [[honey]] or [[fruit]], and may also contain [[powdered milk]]. Similar products also exist for instant [[iced tea]], due to the convenience of not requiring boiling water. Tea connoisseurs tend to criticise these products for sacrificing the delicacies of tea flavor in exchange for convenience.
=== Canned tea ===
This latest method of marketing tea was first [[Canned tea#History of canned tea|launched]] in 1981 in Japan.
== Storage ==
Tea has a shelf-life that varies with storage conditions and type of tea. Black tea has a longer shelf-life than green tea. Some teas such as flower teas may go bad in a month or so. An exception, [[Pu-erh tea]] improves with age. Tea stays freshest when stored in a dry, cool, dark place in an air-tight container. Black tea stored in a bag inside a sealed opaque canister may keep for two years. Green tea loses its freshness more quickly, usually in less than a year. [[Gunpowder tea]], its leaves being tightly rolled, keeps longer than the more open-leafed [[Chun Mee tea]]. Storage life for all teas can be extended by using desiccant packets or oxygen absorbing packets, and by vacuum sealing. Refrigeration or freezing is not recommended.<ref>[http://www.stashtea.com/teatimes.htm Storing Your Tea]</ref><ref>[http://www.chadao.esmartweb.com/tstorage.html Tea Storage]</ref>
Improperly stored tea may lose flavor, acquire disagreeable flavors or odors from other foods, or become moldy.
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== See also ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
* [[Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford]]
* [[Assam tea]]
* [[Bubble tea]]
* [[Capputeano]]
* [[Ceylon tea (disambiguation)]]
* [[Chai tea|Chai Tea]]
* [[Chinese tea culture]]
* [[Darjeeling tea]]
* [[Earl Grey tea|Earl Grey]], a blend of tea made with [[bergamot orange]].
* [[English Breakfast tea]]
* [[Frederick John Horniman]]
* [[Gunpowder tea]]
* [[Health benefits of tea|The health benefits of tea]]
* [[Iced tea]]
* [[Irish Breakfast tea]]
* [[ISO 3103]], a method of brewing tea according to the [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]].
* [[Japanese tea ceremony]]
* [[Kaempferol]] a flavanoid found in green and black teas and associated with reduced risk of heart disease
{{col-break}}
* [[Korean tea ceremony]]
* [[Lapsang souchong]]
* [[Lipton]]
* [[List of tea companies]]
* [[Mate (beverage)|Mate]]
* [[Orange Pekoe]]
* [[Peppermint tea]]
* [[Prince of Wales tea blend]]
* [[Rooibos]]
* [[Samovar]]
* [[Snapple]]
* [[Tasseography]], a method of [[divination]] by reading tea leaves.
* [[Tazo]]
* [[Tea Classics]]
* [[Thai tea]]
* [[Turkish tea]]
* [[Yorkshire Tea]]
{{col-end}}
== References ==
===Notes===
<div class="references-small"><references /></div>
=== Bibliography ===
* Jana Arcimovičová, Pavel Valíček (1998): ''Vůně čaje'', Start Benešov. ISBN 80-902005-9-1 (in Czech)
* {{Citation | editor-last=Yamamoto | editor-first=T | editor2-last=Kim | editor2-first=M | editor3-last=Juneja | editor3-first=L R | title=Chemistry and Applications of Green Tea | publisher=CRC Press | publication-date=1997 | isbn=0-8493-4006-3}}
* Lu Yu (陆羽): ''Cha Jing'' (茶经) (The classical book on tea). References are to Czech translation of modern-day edition (1987) by Olga Lomová (translator): ''Kniha o čaji''. Spolek milců čaje, Praha, 2002. (in Czech)
* John C. Evans (1992): ''Tea in China: The History of China's National Drink'',Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-28049-5
* Kit Chow, Ione Kramer (1990): ''All the Tea in China'', China Books & Periodicals Inc. ISBN 0-8351-2194-1 References are to Czech translation by Michal Synek (1998): ''Všechny čaje Číny'', DharmaGaia Praha. ISBN 80-85905-48-5
* [[Stephan Reimertz]] (1998): ''Vom Genuß des Tees : Eine eine heitere Reise durch alte Landschaften, ehrwürdige Traditionen und moderne Verhältnisse, inklusive einer kleinen Teeschule'' (In German)
* Jane Pettigrew (2002), ''A Social History of Tea''
* [[Roy Moxham]] (2003), ''Tea: Addiction, Exploitation, and Empire''
== External links ==
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=== General ===
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* [http://www.augustmoonteas.co.uk/historytea.html The Story of Tea] Information on the origin of tea, tea production & interesting tea snippets.
* *[http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Other/IFT2003_TeaFlav.pdf Flavonoid composition of tea: Comparison of black and green teas ]
* [http://www.tea.co.uk/ The United Kingdom Tea Council]
* [http://pages.ripco.net/~c4ha2na9/tea/faq.html Tea FAQ (rec.food.drink.tea)]
* [http://www.teatalk.com/ The Tea Man's Tea Talk]
* [http://www.teahistory.net/ World Tea Culture] Much information on culture, philosophy, medical aspects, tea types, more.
* [http://www.tea.co.uk/index.php?pgId=3 The History of Tea]
* [http://qrstea.proboards92.com/index.cgi The Tea Forum] Forum for the discussion of tea.
=== Online books ===
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext02/tealv10.txt Tea Leaves, Francis Leggett & Co., 1900], from [[Project Gutenberg]]
* [ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext97/tboft10.txt The Book of Tea by Kakuzo Okakura] from Project Gutenberg and [http://members.aol.com/willadams/portfolio/typography/thebookoftea.pdf a PDF version] (2.8 MB) typeset in [[TeX]]
* [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/19392 The Little Tea Book], by Arthur Gray, 1903, from [[Project Gutenberg]]
=== Tea history, culture and local specifics ===
* [http://tea.info.md/tea/tea-in-uzbek-context-or-choi-poi/ Tea in Uzbek context or «Choi-poi»]
* [http://www.turkishcook.com/turkishfood/Turkish_Tea_1.shtml Turkish Tea]
* [http://www.aim-digest.com/gateway/pages/book/articles/tea.htm The Industrial Revolution and Tea-drinking]
* [http://www.fazekas.hu/~nagydani/rth/Russian-tea-HOWTO-v2.html Russian Tea How to] describes the Russian method for making tea and elaborates on the surrounding culture and equipment (notably [[samovar]])
* [http://ftp.ee.surrey.ac.uk/papers/AI/L.Gillam/bs_tea.pdf British Standard 6008:1980 (aka ISO 3103:1980)] Method for preparation of a liquor of tea for use in sensory tests.
* [http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/essays/col-tea.htm George Orwell: A Nice Cup of Tea] An essay by author [[George Orwell]] describing his own methods of making tea.
* [http://www.rsc.org/pdf/pressoffice/2003/tea.pdf How to make a perfect cup of tea] News Release from [[Royal Society of Chemistry]]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A61345 A humorous article on making tea] An excerpt from [[The Salmon of Doubt]] by [[Douglas Adams]]
* [http://www.teamap.com Map of Tearooms in the United States]
* [http://www.luzianne.com/more_icedtea_uncovered.cfm 10 part series on the history of iced tea]
* [http://www.tracingtea.org Tracing Tea - An expedition researching the history of and the culture and people associated with tea]
* [http://www.expeditiontea.com/china/ How Tea is Made - an overview of tea making in China including photos and movie clips]
* [http://www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com nicecupofteaandasitdown.com] a fun website for British tea drinkers
[[Category:Caffeine]]
[[Category:Crops]]
[[Category:Herbal and fungal stimulants]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
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