Tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis bush which is grown in over 30 countries around the world. These tea plants grow best in hot and humid conditions, with temperatures ranging from 50° - 85°F, 80-90 inches of rainfall a year and elevations from 1,000 — 7,000 feet above sea level. A combination of altitude and humidity promotes the desired slow growth, and the higher the tea is grown, the more flavour it has and the finer the quality. Many of the world's most famous teas come from bushes cultivated above 4,000 feet.
From this one species of plant, different types of tea are produced. It is the different processing methods that produce the various types of tea (white, green, oolong, black, scented and compressed) and the different varieties within each of these total more than 3,000 teas from around the world.
Click a category link at the right for more informationabout the various types of tea
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