A cup of tea can give a great relief to us.
As one of the leading suppliers of Chinese teas, we want to share some critical harvesting and Chinese tea growth facts with you. China, along with India, is one of the most important countries in the field of producing and consuming tea. Tea used to be consumed as a medicine in ancient China. However, with passing time, it became an effective beverage for mass consumption. While it majorly spread to Asian countries initially, other nations also started adopting it within a few years. In fact, some countries made tea drinking a large part of their culture. Although most of the tea produced in China is consumed by the country itself, it is still a major exporter of tea.
Where is Chinese Tea Grown
Different types of tea produced and consumed in China include black, green, white, red, oolong, pu-erh, and yellow. It was during the Tang dynasty that tea prospered and tea shops became popular in China. For mild Chinese tea growth, warm climates and well-watered soils are required. Thus, medicinal tea used in China is produced in vast areas, especially in the southern half of the country. Teas are grown in hilly or mountainous regions. The southern mountainous regions of China are best suited for the growth of tea. Tea production is done in hilly areas, because hills are more suitable to flat lands that are fitter for the growth of rice requiring standing water and flat fields.
In China, tea is produced in areas ranging from extreme south Hainan Island to the north in Shandong, as well as from Tibet in the southwest to Taiwan across the Straits. Tea has been produced in China for thousands of years and is grown in many provinces. One of the provinces is Yunnan, which is located close to the Himalaya. Here, black tea is grown. There are also provinces in eastern China that produce tea. The Anhui region produces Keemun, a black tea giving the taste of a chocolate-flavoured drink.
Chinese green tea is grown in the Zhejiang province, Huangshan Mountain in Anhui province, and Jiangsu province. Chinese red tea is grown in Anhui, Yunnan, Jiangsu, Sichuan, and Huhong provinces. Chinese oolong tea originates in the mountains of Fujian province and is also grown in Guangdong province. Scented tea is made by mixing and processing fragrant flowers with tea leaves. The most famous scented tea is jasmine tea, and some other types of flowers that can be used with tea are magnolia and rose. Scented tea is produced in most of the 18 tea provinces of China.
When is Chinese tea grown and produced?
Mostly, the higher grades of Chinese tea are prepared from tender tea shoots. These shoots are picked and gathered at the start of spring in April. It has to be seen that the leaves in these shoots are same in length or smaller than their buds. On the other hand, more mature leaves are required to make oolong or red tea. When tender tea shoots are picked, it is a practice to ensure that around 5% of the tea garden is ready. Some more time is given if buds are not of the right size at this stage. Picking is usually done daily, but once in two days at some places.
In China, tea has been consumed for centuries, and Chinese people have also taken tea for medicinal purposes. Since tea is grown in many provinces of China, it is an important item from the point of view of consumption, as well as export. A major portion (around 3/4th) of the world’s tea exports comes only from China. For those of you who want to avail the innumerable benefits of Chinese teas or even want to try their unique flavours for the first time can get ample supply from us. At Chinese Tea Suppliers, we ensure to make your favourite tea available in no time. You only need to get in touch and send us your Chinese tea requirements by submitting the enquiry form given here: Contact Us.
