According to an old Chinese proverb "tea is drunk to forget the cares of the world
For tea drinkers around the world nothing beats a perfect cuppa of piping hot tea! According to an old Chinese proverb ''tea is drunk to forget the cares of the world'', and they’re dead right! One sip, and you can feel the tension melt away. If you’re a true tea aficionado, who can’t get through the day without a dose of the ‘golden elixir’ you’ll know what we’re talking about. Drunk in both hot and cold variations tea, is the most popular beverage in the world second only to water.
With themed travel becoming a popular fad, we thought all tea-lovers would love to know about some of the best tea estates around the world.
1. Hangzhou, China
Being the homeland of tea it’s only fitting that we start here! Tea is said to be discovered in South China, where it was consumed as a medicinal drink during the Shang Dynasty. According to legend a tea leaf accidentally fell into a bowl of hot water being consumed by Chinese Emperor Shen Nung, and the rest is history! Amongst the many tea producing cities in China, Hangzhou is famed for the finest green tea called Longjing Tea, literally translated to mean Dragon Well Tea. Drinking tea is a way of life for the people in this city and an important part of their culture. The drink is celebrated every year with an official Drinking Tea Day.
2. Kandy, Sri Lanka
The island country of Sri Lanka is also known for quality tea. While the country is dotted with various tea plantations, Kandy accounts for majority of the tea produced in Sri Lanka with the Ceylon black tea being the most popular beverage of the region. Travellers can experience the lush plantations at the Ceylon Tea Trails, a luxury resort which comprises of 4 beautiful colonial planters’ bungalows connected by walking trails through the stunning Ceylon tea gardens.
3.Assam, India
The second largest tea producing country in the world, India is home to some of the most beautiful tea estates and the world’s best brews. Scenically located at the foot-hills of the Eastern Himalayan region, the expansive lush-green tea plantations of Assam will overwhelm your senses. Assam accounts for more than 52% of the tea produced in India. The tea grown here is known for its dark colour and robust flavour. Take a tour of the many tea estates and sample some of the best teas at one of the Heritage Tea Bungalows. The best time to visit is during the harvest season which spans from mid-May to June end.
4. Uji, Japan
The consumption of tea is deeply entrenched in Japanese culture, the Japanese Tea Ceremony or the Way of Tea is a significant tradition, making Japan one of the best places to try tea. Green tea is the most popular kind of tea consumed and produced in Japan. The Uji region is often referred to as the tea capital of the country, and is famed for the finest quality of various kinds of Japanese teas. Chanoyu or Sado is an elaborate tea ritual which involves almost dance like movements for serving the Matcha tea (finely powdered green tea) together with traditional Japanese sweetmeats to balance out the bitterness of the tea. The ritual is so intricate, that it actually needs to be studied!
5. United Kingdom
Nobody does tea like the English! After all they founded tea plantations in India other neighbouring regions like Sri Lanka. Popularly known as the quintessential English drink, tea is widely consumed across the country making UK the second largest nation of tea drinkers. Try proper Yorkshire tea at Betty's of Harrogate or the traditional cream tea with English scones, jam and clotted cream at one of the many indulgent tea rooms in London. Did you know: Back in the day Tea used to be an extremely expensive commodity, so much so that blocks of tea were used as money in Siberia until the 19th century!