Drawing of Camellia sinensis, the tea plant

Tea is the liquid created by steeping the dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant in water. Next to water, tea is the world’s most popular beverage. It can be drunk hot or cold and can also be used to flavor other goods such as ice cream.

All true tea comes from the Camellia sinensis, a perennial evergreen found throughout most of Southeast Asia. Though it is thought to have originated in south China and areas just east of China, its cultivation has spread to India, Myanmar, and many other Asian countries. It hasn't stopped there. Today tea is grown in five out of seven continents including Africa, Australia, and North and South America.

Though there are over 3000 varieties of Camellia sinensis, there are only tjree varieties significant to tea production: Camellia sinensis China, Camellia sinensis var. assamica (from Assam, India), and a Camellia sinensis hybrid.

Soil, climate, rain, and cultivation all affect the flavor of tea. For instance, when the China variety is grown in the foothills of the Himilayas in West Bengal, India, it develops a lighter flavor some compare to the taste of the muscatel grape. This is Darjeeling tea, also known the champagne of teas.

Black, oolong, green, and white teas are all true teas made from varieties of the Camellia sinensis. Mature tea leaves can be up to ten inches long, but only the young leaves are harvested to be sold as the tea we brew and drink. Tea leaves are always harvested by hand because machines cannot distinguish between the old and young leaves.