Major Tea Producers by teazonline.com
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Major Tea Producers/Countries
China
China is the birthplace of tea. It is believed that southwestern China is
the birth place of tea. China produces more varieties than any other
country. Green teas and Oolong teas account for almost 3 quarters of Chinese
tea production. Normally in China there are four pickings in a year: 1)
"Early Spring Flush" -- leaves are picked in April when the most delicate
leaf buds appear. 2) "Late Spring Flush" -- leaves are picked in late
May/early June when the tea bushes are fully grown. 3) "Summer Flush" --
picked in July. 4) "Autumn Flush" -- picked after August and before October.
Some of the famous Chinese teas are
Yunnan (black tea),
Keemun (black tea),
Lapsang (black tea),
Jasmine Tea (flavored green tea),
Gunpoweder (green tea), Dragonwell (green tea),
Silver Needle (white tea),
Peony (white tea), and
Ti Kuan Yin (oolong).
India
In recent years, India has surpassed China and become the world's largest
tea producer. India alone accounts for about a third of the world's total.
However, due to the India's large population and its huge demand for tea,
only about half of India's production is exported. There are three major tea
growing regions: Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiri. India produces almost
exclusively all black tea. Today, teas are still cultivated on small family
gardens/plots. Number of tea gardens is close to forty thousand.
Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
Tea from Sri Lanka is often called Ceylon Tea. (Ceylon is the old colonial
name of Sri Lanka) Ceylon is the third largest producer of tea in the world.
Three famous growing regions in Ceylon are Dimbula, Uva and Nuwara Eliya.
Most Ceylon tea bushes are grown in Sri Lanka's Mountainous areas at
elevations between 3,000 and 8,000 feet. Ceylon teas are generally
classified by altitude. Usually a higher-grown Ceylon tea is regarded
superior as oppose to lower altitude grown tea.
Japan
Japan is mainly a green tea producer. Since most Japanese are tea drinkers,
only about 2% of its production is exported. Some of the famous Japanese
teas exported are
Sencha,
Genmaicha and
Gyokuro. Tea plays a very important role in Japan's culture, history,
social life and daily life.
Taiwan (Formosa)
Taiwan is also is often called Formosa by westerners. Formosa, meaning
"beautiful island", is a name given by Portuguese sea traders. The majority
of the tea production from Taiwan is Oolong tea. Only about two percent of
Taiwan's famous teas are exported. Some famous Taiwan teas are
Champagne Oolongs,
Jade oolongs, and
Pouchong tea.
