How Much Is “All The Tea In China”?
Tea Growers from Around the World
Ever since tea was discovered in China in about 2700 BC, the plant from which tea leaves are picked, camellia Sinensis has undergone widespread hybridization. Varieties have been grown in different agricultural environments firstly around China and then spreading from Asia all the way down to East Africa. Tea popularity exploded in the 19th and 20th century and is still rising; ordered by annual gross output, these are the major players in the tea world today:
China
The largest tea producer worldwide is China who produced a staggering 1.27 million tons in 2008. Most of their exported tea is black tea, with world consumption divided between black tea at 97% of total production and green and other teas at only 3%. Most other tea growing areas of the world, except Japan, grow black tea. Along with tea, China produces clay teapots and porcelain teapots for domestic use and export worldwide.
In China tea production is varied depending upon the climate, altitude and soil types it is grown in. A tea plant in China takes approximately 5 years to reach a mature enough state to produce a viable crop. The plant can then produce usable tea leaves for up to 30 years. In China they use mostly organic fertilizers and do not use pesticides at all, preferring to remove the plant completely rather than affect the delicately flavored leaves with chemicals.
China and Taiwan are the only sources of Oolong tea worldwide due to the very technical nature of its grading and production. This also makes it more expensive, but its flavor is of exceptional quality. Green tea is mostly consumed within China, although quite a bit is exported to the main other green tea drinker, Japan.
India
Since the British were embargoed from trade with China following the Opium wars in the 19th century, Britain, who had become both colonial empire builders and devoted tea drinkers, found other places to source their black tea. Already colonized by the British and used to grow the opium that the Chinese bought, India had plenty of areas that were suitable for the production of tea. These plantations still exist today and have made India the second largest world producer, growing mainly black tea. The main areas in India are Assam/Darjeeling in the foothills of the Himalayas north-east, Kerala in the south, and Kangra in the far north-west. Their different locations, varieties and conditions make them quite distinguishable, each area having a classic flavor associated with it.
Africa
Although tea is grown in many African nations such as Zimbabwe, Uganda, Malawi, and South Africa, Kenya is the leading African producer by far, producing around 350,000 tons yearly. It has terrain friendly to growing tea, such as high elevation areas. Kenya produces mainly black tea for export to Britain and Western Europe.
Sri-Lanka (formerly Ceylon)
Sri-Lanka’s tea production is on a par with Kenya. Their plantations are at different altitudes due to the topography of Sri-Lanka and makes for the many different flavors available from this relatively small island. Referred to as “Ceylon tea” still, these black teas are popular throughout the world; growers are now branching out to produce different varieties such as green tea in recent years.
Turkey
It may be a surprise for Turkey to be the 5th largest tea grower, at 200,000 tons per year. The main tea growing regions occupy the coast along the Black Sea. Turkey has a unique tea preparation system, using a dual kettle to create a very strong flavor.
Vietnam & Indonesia
Neighboring Vietnam and Indonesia grow a sizable amount of tea as well. Vietnam grew 175,000 tons in 2008, while Indonesia grew 150,000 tons. They occupy spots 6 and 7 on this list of tea production. The tea in these regions is the Java bush, which grows well in jungle and rainforest climates. However, the quality is not as good as the China bush or Assam bush (grown in China and India, respectively), and as such, teas from Vietnam and Indonesia are used for blends or lower quality bagged teas.
Elsewhere
There are other countries that grow tea including Argentina, Iran, and Japan, who grow just green tea for the domestic market, and Bangladesh, who supply black tea for blending. In general, worldwide production is ever increasing and varieties forever being added; with mankind’s propensity for enjoying tea this is likely to be an ongoing trend.
