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A Guide to The Teas of The World

Africa

Cameroon
Three estates produce three very different teas - one clonal, one high-grown, and one low-grown—all of very good quality.

Kenya
CTC teas grown here are normally sold as Kenya blends or for blending with teas from other producing areas. Teas give rich, dark brews with body and full flavor.

Malawi
CTC teas mostly sold for blending. Recent improvements in quality are due to clonal replanting, and although they are not known for their specialty teas the superb color and brightness of their standard teas means they are used in the blending of leading British tea brands.

South Africa
Produces black teas, most of which are consumed by the home market, but "Zulu" tea, the only tea currently marketed abroad, has become hugely popular in Europe and the U.S.

Tanzania
Produces CTC and orthodox teas, similar in character to Ceylon teas; although quality varies according to altitude and plucking standards. All teas are bright in color with a brisk flavor.

Indian Sub-continent

India
Assam: Full-bodied, malty, rich-flavored orthodox teas, with strength and color are grown in this area.
Darjeeling: Teas from different times of the year have distinctly different flavors---First Flush is a greenish leaf that gives an astringent perfumed tea, Second Flush gives a gentler, more rounded flavor; In-Betweens combine the astringency of First Flush with the more mature flavor of Second Flush; and Autumnals give a tea with a rounded flavor.
Dooars: This small region, to the west of Assam, produces low-grown teas with body and strength.
Nilgiri: The teas grown on the range of Nilgiri Hills in the south of India give a flavory brisk liquor with a mellow taste.
Sikkim: This tiny Indian state produces Darjeeling-type teas, but with more body and flavor.
Terai: A small area south of Darjeeling grows teas that give a rich colored brew and a spicy taste.
Travancore: This southern region produces teas with similar characteristics to Ceylon teas—rich color and full-bodied.

Sri Lanka
Six different regions produce teas with individual characteristics. High-grown teas give very fine quality light golden liquors; middle-grown give rich, coppery red teas; low-grown give dark, strong teas usually used in blends. Nuwara Eliya , the highest area, produces the finest of Sri Lanka's teas

The Far East

China
Seventeen provinces produce the widest range in the world of excellent quality white, green, oolong , pouchong , black, compressed, and scented teas, many still made by hand.

Indonesia
Most teas are sold for blending. They give a bright, light, slightly sweet infusion, a little like high-grown Ceylons.

Japan
Produces only green teas. Gyokura, Sencha , and Houjicha are fine needle-leaf teas that are infused in water; Tencha is cut into fine pieces, and Matcha is powdered and whisked into waten producing a frothy liquor.

Taiwan
Produces green, oolong, and black orthodox teas. Oolongs are the specialty of Taiwan. Fermented slightly longer than China oolongs and therefore blacker and slightly stronger Lightly fermented pouchongs are also manufactured.

Other Tea-producing Countries

Africa
Burundi: Black CTC teas.
Ethiopia: Good quality teas produced in two factories.
Madagascar: Clonal teas with an attractive quality, of East African standard.
Mauritius: Orthodox black teas.
Mozambique: Strong, black spicy teas.
Rwanda: Black CTC teas of good quality, but unpredictable because of political instability.
Ugand: Black teas, used in blending.
Zimbabwe: Black teas that give strong dark liquor similar to Malawi teas.

Asia
Bangladesh: Produces black teas, mostly used in blending.
C.I.S. CTC and orthodox teas.
Iran: Smallholder growers produce light flavored black teas.
Malaysia: Poor quality teas, sold mainly to the tourist trade.
Nepal: Darjeeling-type black teas.
Turkey: Black teas, mostly for the domestic market.
Vietnam: Black CTC and green teas.

Europe
Azores: Black teas are grown on rehabilitated plantations.

Oceania
Australia: Black teas for domestic market.
Papua New Guinea: Black tea with dark liquor and strong taste.

South America
Argentina: Back tea used mainly for blending in China and the U.S.
Brazil: Black teas that give a bright infusion. Mostly used in blends.
Ecuador: Produce black teas, mainly exported to the U.S.
Peru: Black teas grown on two estates.

Recommend our Yixing Tea Cups to brew these teas.