SenOkTea.com
Title
Green tea, chai tea, herbal teas, iced tea, black tea, bulk tea,gourmet gifts, tea
Contact
- Senok Tea (USA), Inc.
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- Seattle WA
- United States 98134
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- 206-903-0858
Description
The Tea Bush, Camellia Sinensis, which is related to our garden Camellia, is the cultivated form of a small evergreen tree with dark glossy leaves. The origins of this plant lie in the dense mountain forests that exist where the borders of India, Burma and China come together. The hill tribes who inhabit this region first used the leaves of the wild tea bush for medicinal purposes and have continued to brew the leaves for drinking since ancient times. Approximately 2500 years ago the Chinese took the wild bush from its native region and began to cultivate it throughout China, thereby being the first to popularize the drinking of tea.
The result of this is that today, while there is only one species of tea bush, Camellia Sinensis, there are two varieties. The first variety is the long cultivated Chinese Variety which is more cold hardy, has smaller rounder leaves, and will grow to a height of 15 feet if left unpruned. As a generalization, the Chinese Variety
make an infusion that is light and flavory. The second variety is the more recently cultivated "wild bush" or Assam Variety. This prolific bush is more sensitive to cold weather, has larger leaves , and will grow to a height of almost 40 feet if left unpruned. The Assam Variety, as a generalization, makes an infusion that has a deeper color with more strength of body. Today many of the world's finest teas are the result of "jats" or hybrids combining the best characteristics of both varieties into one tea bush, such as fine DarJeelings from Northwestern India.
