Tea

• Tea is a drink that is created from infusing leaves from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis or Thea sinensis). The mythological emperor Shen Nung supposedly discovered tea in the year 2737 B.C., when a leaf fell into a bowl of hot water that he was drinking. Tea plants are grown in China, Ceylon, Formosa, India, Japan, East Africa and Russia.

Tea Varieties

• Tea variation depends on where the tea is grown and how it is processed. Tea can be divided into black teas and green teas. Both Irish and English Breakfast teas are a black tea mix. Teas that are grown in China are green and black teas through different levels of baking and fermentation. Assamic teas are black teas that are grown in the Assam Valley in India. Camellia sinensis, var. assamica. is a subspecies of tea. Delicate Darjeeling is grown in the mountainous areas of North India. African and Ceylon teas are primarily black teas.

Differences Between Black and Green Teas

• Black and green teas originate from the same Camellia sinensis plant. Oxidation and roasting create the differences between the two. Green teas do not go through the oxidation process in which teas are broken and the plant membranes are exposed to air. Green teas are steamed or pan fried to halt the oxidation process and rolled into strands or balls. Black teas are plants whose membranes are broken and exposed to air before roasting.

Irish Breakfast Teas

• Irish Breakfast teas are black teas. These teas are usually a blend of Assam and Darjeeling teas. Sometimes these teas have African and Indonesian leaves. Irish Breakfast teas have a malty flavor.

English Breakfast Tea

• English Breakfast Tea is a black tea that is a combination of Chinese, Indian, Ceylon, and African teas. These teas have a floral flavor.