Amazing Facts About Tea That You Never Heard Before!

January 15, 2020 3 min read

The World of Teas is absolutely fascinating. A lot of facts hide behind the small tea leaves, a few of which we have tried to uncover here. These facts are not only interesting but also historical in nature. These facts state how tea is one of the most important beverages today.

  • It takes around 4-12 years for a tea plant to produce seed and about 3  years before a new plant is ready for harvesting. Harvested tea is categorized into Loose Leaf Tea that remains good for up to 2 years that too if it is kept away from light and moisture. Tea bags are usable for about 6 months before they begin to lose their flavor and quality. 

  • China is the biggest tea producer in the world. In 2009, China produced 1,359,000 tons of tea, India was second with 979,000 tons. China produces over 3 million tons of tea every year on a global scale. The American population consumes 1.42 million pounds of tea everyday and British people drink about 165 million cups of tea a day, which makes it 62 billion cups annually. India is the largest consumer of tea in the world and consumes around 25% of total tea produced worldwide. 

  • Tea is widely grown in Asia, Africa, South America, and around the Black and Caspian Sea. The four biggest tea producers today are China, India, Sri Lanka and Kenya. Together they represent 75% of world tea production. The best quality of tea is the one that is hand-picked and is grown on high elevations. 

  • During the ancient times in China, tea was used as a form of currency. Tea leaves were accumulated in the form of bricks that could be used as and when needed. Before the onset of 19th century in Siberia, solid bricks of tea were used as currency too. 

  • The famous 'Afternoon Tea Culture' started in the 1800s by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford. She invited guests for tea and delicacies to spend the time gap between breakfast and dinner. Afternoon teas are also known as formal teas where tea was served in sitting rooms on low tables. Hence, it is also known as ‘Low Tea’. Its opposite version named 'High Tea' was introduced during the Victorian Era when evening meal was eaten along with tea on a high dining table. 

  • Teas are different from Tea as the latter are prepared from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant while herbal teas are infusions extracted from the roots, leaves, flower, seeds and fruits of various herbs.

  • Tea was initially sold in coffee houses of England. Only men had the permission to enter these coffee houses which used to be full of smoke and noise. It was not until 1717 that a tea shop named the Golden Lyon that allowed women to enter, was opened by the Twining family, prominent English marketer of tea. The shop runs till today.

  • Tea is an important part of the day and is held as an expression of hospitality in various parts of the world. When tea is poured in China, guests tap two/three fingers on the table for three times so as to show their gratitude to the host.

  • The most expensive teapot in the world is a rare pair of 'melon' teapots that dates back to 18th century China. They were owned by a Scottish collector, who kept them for 50 years, but never realized their value. Later, it was sold for an unbelievable amount of 2.18 million dollars!

  • All teas do not have the same taste. The actual taste depends largely on the temperature, taste of water and the time took for brewing. To make an ideal cup of tea, make sure the timing is right since steeping time varies depending on what variety of tea you’re making.

Now that you have so much knowledge about teas, share this article with your friends and family and show how much you love the warm cup of happiness! 

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