Tea is the most highly consumed beverage in the world after water, and can be enjoyed in many forms and varieties. There are well over 1000 varieties of tea from over 30 countries in the world, and this number continues to grow.

All tea comes from the same plant – the Camellia Sinensis. The variety of colours and flavours is dependant on the climate in which the tealeaves are grown and on the method used for treating the tealeaves once they have been picked. The higher the level of oxidation, the higher the caffeine content and stronger the taste.

While black tea is fully oxidised, the simple drying process used for green tea means that, depending on the style of green tea, it has a caffeine content that is only 20-30% of its black tea counterpart. An oolong tea will sit in the middle of this spectrum with its semi-oxidation.

The area or province of origin will result in the name of the tea, and flavour will of course be affected by the climate in which the tealeaves are grown. For example, Darjeeling tea comes from the West Bengal region of India, while the Assam tealeaf is from a place of the same name in India. Ceylon has its origins in Sri Lanka, while teas such as Keemun, Yunnan and Lapsang Souchong come from various provinces within China. The classic English blends of Earl Grey and English Breakfast are blends of some of these tealeaves from across the globe.

Japanese green teas vary in intensity and taste depending on their style, while Taiwan is well known for its wondrous and complex oolong teas grown high in the mountains.

In today’s health conscious surrounds, tea is a blessing due to its natural health benefits and high antioxidant content. Going a step beyond it is easy to find a variety of herbal and fruit teas that use the best herbs, spices, fruits and flowers that nature has to offer. These options provide a limitless list of healthy options that depend on the content of the individual herbal tea. One classic example is the African wonder of Rooibus tea which is abundant in nutrients including copper, iron, potassium, calcium, fluoride, zinc, manganese, alpha-hydroxy and magnesium.

And of course – who can go past the trusty favourites of peppermint, chamomile and rose hip, which have found thousands of herbal and floral friends along the way.

As for the social experience that tea provides – this is beyond a doubt the foundation of the joy of good tea. In Japan the tea ceremony is something that everyone can be part of, while the Taiwanese take such pride in tea quality that regular tea competitions are held and the event is taken very seriously.  The Chinese tea ceremony is an integral part of Chinese culture as is the case in most of Asia, while the English have embraced the afternoon tea as a prime and sublime social must.