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Best Teas Come from Asia
Tea is produced in over thirty countries around the world, though the
finest comes from just five: India, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan and Japan.
Home to most of the world's tea drinkers, these countries continue to pay
much attention to how tea is grown and processed. In many, tea continues
to be produced by hand in accordance with age-old traditions.
China is the birthplace of tea and continues to produce more intricate
varieties than any other country. Prior to WWII, nearly half the world's
output originated here, but now it accounts for less than ten percent, and
has fallen into second place, behind India. Green teas account for almost
two-third of Chinese crop. The relatively short tea season is divided into
three pickings: 'first spring' in April when the delicate leaf buds
appear, 'second spring' in early June when the bushes are full, and the
less interesting 'third spring' in July. The most famous Chinese teas are
Keemun, (black), Dragonwell (green) and Ti Kuan Yin (oolong). |
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