Chinese Tea: Yielding a Fine Harvest

By Rheim Sanczhes

The word tea leaves or tea is well-known in many countries as "cha" which is a Chinese character for tea or Chinese tea. Tea, Coffee and cocoa are the three most common drinks in the world. In general, among the three, tea is known to have the highest proportion of consumers. It is part in the way of life of China, Japan, and other Asian countries. And its refreshing powers to boost health have attracted lots of people to drink tea for their daily need. Generally, tea is a widely consumed drink in the world after water.

The demand of tea increased rapidly. In fact there has been a wide cultivation of Chinese tea plant in China, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka among others. Around forty countries in the world cultivated tea, and it is in the Asian region where tea production reached as high as 90% of the world's total output. Asian top producers of tea include China, India, and Sri Lanka.

In the history of tea planting and development, record shows that as early as five to six thousand years ago Chinese tea plants already existed. We can also assume, moreover, that all tea variants in other countries originated directly or indirectly from China.

The growing and harvesting of tea ca be easily correlated to the growing of grapes. Yes, it would take quite a number of years for one to be able to produce quality tea crop.

Chinese tea plantation must grow for five years before its leaves can be picked. If the tea yard is already in its 30 years, it will not be productive as before. To keep the tea yard producing quality crops, the trunks of the already old plant should be cut off so that new stem would grow out. With that, a tea yard is ready again to serve for about a hundred years.

The best conditions for growing Chinese tea are typically at high altitudes with a good amount of rainfall. In Sri Lanka however, the best condition is to grow and harvest tea at lower altitudes producing a different aroma and variety of tea. Too much sunlight will hinder the growth of the tea plant. The ideal climate for growing tea is to have cooler mornings with a light mist to help shield the plants from the sun.

Accordingly, an estimated three thousand tea leaves from a tea plant each year means a good harvest. At present, all tea is practically cultivated and harvested on plantations. - 30294

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