After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage on the planet. Tea is one of the most old and cherished drinks in the world, and tea drinkers swear by the soothing and energizing benefits it has on their bodies and spirits. To provide tea as a token of friendship or to demonstrate hospitality is not uncommon. It may produce a sensation of warmth, followed by a condition of calmness in the mind.
Shizuoka, Kagoshima Prefectures, Japan
These two prefectures in Japan are renowned for producing some of the world’s finest green teas, including matcha, genmaicha, sencha, houjicha, and other varieties.
Shizuoka Prefecture is conveniently placed between the cities of Tokyo and Osaka, making it a convenient destination to stop in between while traveling across Japan. It is most well-known for being the home of Mt. Fuji, but its tea culture is also a popular tourist destination in its own right. The Makinohara Tea Estate is the biggest tea garden in Asia, accounting for around 30 percent of total tea output in the prefecture, according to the Japan Tea Association. From April to October, it offers visitors the opportunity to learn about the tea growing process via factory tours and tea harvesting trips.
Kagoshima Prefecture is situated in the southernmost tip of Japan and is home to the Chiran Tea Plantation, however visitors to Kagoshima City may participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and buy locally produced teas from stores in the city as well as the surrounding area.
In addition, powdered matcha green tea-flavored treats may be found at abundance in Japanese restaurants.
Assam, Darjeeling, India
India is the world’s second largest tea producer and one of the world’s major tea consumers; the country has a long history of tea production, while India’s worldwide tea production gained prominence when the British established the British East India Company.
The majority of the leaves, on the other hand, do not make it very far, with 70% of them being devoured by this tea-loving population. Today, India is the source of the delectable spiced milk tea known as chai tea, despite the fact that the term chai simply means tea in Hindi.
The Indian states of Assam and Darjeeling produce the majority of the country’s tea, and both locations are well-known for the black teas that originate in these regions and bear their names. Travelers may visit these great tea-producing locations to witness the gorgeous tea estates for themselves, many of which are planted at high elevations in Assam. For more information on visiting these incredible tea-producing regions, click here.
There are several tea farms to visit around the nation, and travelers can readily locate various types and flavors of tea, including chai, in outdoor tea booths and cafés all throughout India to savor.
Argentina
While South America is well-known for its coffee manufacturing, there is one nation in the region that has maintained a strong connection to its tea tradition. Argentina is the nation that consumes and produces the beverage at a larger rate than any other country in South America, while other countries do love the beverage as well. A traditional drink in South America from pre-Columbian times, it is mentioned in the early notebooks of the first Spaniards to set foot on the continent.
Mate is a caffeinated herbal tea derived from the yerba mate plant that is popular in southern Chile, southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivian Chaco, Syria, and Lebanon, among other places. You may be acquainted with the sight of a little pot packed with leaves with a metal straw protruding out of it; that’s mate, and that’s what you’re looking at.
Tea made from yerba mate has a high caffeine content and is traditionally steeped in a gourd without the use of a tea bag or infuser. It is drunk through a special straw that acts as a sieve to ensure that the tea does not contain the yerba leaves and is thought to be a good way to foster closer relationships with friends and family.
Argentina is the world’s largest consumer of mate, with each individual consuming around 22 gallons of the tea each year! Travelers can enjoy the drink wherever they go in Argentina and can even purchase a traditional drinking gourd, straw, and mate leaves to take home with them. Those interested in following the Yerba Mate Route in the Corrientes and Misiones regions of the country can visit museums, plantations, and incredible scenery, among other things, while in Argentina.
China
There’s a good reason why China is often the first place that springs to mind when someone mentions tea in general. Since literally hundreds of years, China’s southern regions have been renowned for their excellent tea production! Yunnan Province, in particular, was a stop on a historic tea trade route that ran across the region.
Yunnan is well-known for producing high-quality black teas, including the distinctive Pu-er black tea. Visitors visiting Yunnan Province who wish to learn more about the history and significance of tea should pay a visit to the city of Pu-er, which is home to the magnificent Ancient Tea and Horse Road as well as the China Pu-er Tea Museum, among other attractions.
Sichuan offers visitors the opportunity to not only see cute pandas at the Panda Sanctuary, but also to sample some of the spiciest cuisine on the planet. In addition, visitors may learn about the province’s tea culture, which produces both jasmine and green teas.
Chengdu has the biggest number of teahouses in China, making it an excellent destination to visit if you want to learn more about the teas of the area. Guizhou Province is also home to a number of green tea farms. The Guizhou Tea Culture Ecological Museum, located in Zunyi, is a must-see for visitors.
There is no way to adequately describe the tea culture in China in a few words, given the innumerable sorts, variations, styles, and infusions that are consumed from dawn till night every day.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a major producer and exporter of tea, ranking among the world’s top five. The likelihood is that you’ve already had a cup of tea that was cultivated and manufactured on the island, which was once known as Ceylon.
Each region has a distinct taste, which is determined by the location of the plants. This is one of the reasons why Sri Lankan tea is so unique.
Today, it continues to produce high-quality black tea under the same name (as well as a number of other varieties)! If you go to the island’s interior, where hills are covered with brilliant green foliage that will one day become your next cup of Ceylon tea, you will be able to enjoy the finest of Sri Lanka’s tea culture and estates.
Tea manufacturers in the Nurawa Eliya region, such as the Pedro Tea Factory and Mackwoods Labukeliya Factory, provide instructional tours, while tea farms, such as the Handunugoda Tea Estate, offer tea excursions throughout the plantation on horseback, in a luxury automobile, or on foot, among other options.
Taiwan
Bubble tea is a two-word phrase. When you visit Taiwan, you will unavoidably encounter this phenomenon, whether you like it or not. Taiwan is another island that has a long history of producing tea. This company is not only one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of oolong tea, but it also manufactures a wide range of other teas.
Its marketplaces and major cities are also where the world-famous boba tea originally gained popularity. Many flavors, toppings, and ingredients (such as the typical tapioca pearls) combine to create a delightful milk tea drink that can be customized to your liking. It also has distinct textures that are unlike any other sort of tea (or drink!) on the market!
What better opportunity for a tea enthusiast to learn about the long and illustrious history of tea than to go to Taiwan and learn about both the traditional procedures that have been revered for generations and the exciting and inventive ways of preparing tea that are being introduced today.
South Africa
It’s true that South Africa is better renowned for its Big Five animals and breathtaking natural settings, but did you know that it’s also home to two of the most popular herbal teas on the market today?
For more than three hundred years, Rooibos and honeybush teas have been cultivated in South Africa, and they are still widely consumed by the people. There are already many who believe Rooibos is the most popular tea in South Africa’s 30.9 million-strong tea-drinking populace, but fresh independent study has confirmed this.
It is impossible to get this red tea anywhere else on the planet, so if you are planning a trip to South Africa in the near future and like tea, be sure to pick up some or taste a cup of the silky, caffeine-free red tea while you’re there!
The Rooibos Route passes through an area near the Cederberg mountain range, where visitors may discover rooibos plantations as well as other entertaining tea-related activities. There are more than 100 different varieties of rooibos tea to choose from at the Rooibos Tea House in the town of Clanwilliam.
A plantation tour at Skimmelberg is a great way to spend the day before checking into a nearby lodge, such as the magnificent Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat.
Kenya
Kenya is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of tea, cultivating a diverse range of teas such as black teas, green and white teas, and even purple teas! The country of Kenya, behind China and Sri Lanka, is one of the world’s leading suppliers of tea.
Safari visitors in Kenya may enjoy drinking on locally made beers throughout the day and night, while those interested in learning more about this vital product can visit the Kiambethu Farm, which is located only a short drive away from Nairobi.
A family has been growing and harvesting tea in the area since 1910, and five generations have done so! Tours are led by members of the family and include in-depth lectures on tea manufacturing as well as a cup of tea at the end of the tour.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a significant tea-producing nation in the world. It is the world’s tenth biggest producer of tea, after China and India. Tea is a popular beverage produced from the leaves of the evergreen shrub Camellia sinensis, which is a member of the Theaceae family of plants. In Bangladesh, it is a significant cash crop as well as an important exportable product. The first tea garden in Bangladesh, located near Chittagong, was established in 1840.
Tea planting in Bangladesh was initially introduced by the British East India Company in 1840, but it wasn’t until 1857 that it became a profitable commercial enterprise. Bangladesh produced more than 70,000 tons of tea in 2012, according to official figures. Despite its tiny size, the South Asian nation ranks 12th in the world in terms of tea production, with more than 300,000 people employed in the industry. The Bangladesh Tea Board and the Bangladesh Tea Research Institute are in charge of overseeing the industry’s operations.
