Storm Team®, English Tea Merchants

In the wild tea would ultimately become a tree that can grow to heights of almost 100 feet and has leaves that are dark green in colour. However, tea trees in agriculture are cultivated at a much more manageable height of usually only 3 or 4 feet since the leaves must be hand-picked. Generally only the top two leaves and the bud are picked for it is these young leaves that are full of antioxidants and great flavour.

Tea might be considered a tropical crop though due to its quite hardy nature is grown as far north as Georgia and as far south as northern Argentina. It will even survive in colder parts of the world where localised micro-climates allow its existence– one example being in Cornwall in the south west of England. However, undoubtedly the famous tea producing countries are China, Japan, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, India and East Africa (especially Kenya and Rwanda).