Where does tea come from?

How do you start your day? My day starts with a cup of tea. That small ritual of boiling the kettle, smelling the aroma of the beautiful leaves & herbs while they steep and taking a moment to connect, setting the tone for the busy day ahead. In a world that is so fast paced it's good to remember that tea is not just a drink but a way to nurture your body and mind.
But where does tea come from?

The origins of tea date back to over 4,000 years ago in China. Legend has it that a Chinese emperor was boiling water when leaves from a nearby bush fell into his pot and created the world’s first cup of tea. Who would of thought that accidental early morning brew would go on to become the most popular drink (apart from water) in human history - more than 6 billion cups are consumed every day!

So what bush was it? It was the camellia sinensis which all tea is made from and is native to Asia. When tea is ready to be harvested, the most premium teas are hand-picked by tea experts. These experts know how to choose the best tea leaves which is usually the top two leaves along with the leaf buds located on the tips of the stems. This is the tea we provide in your MTG blends.

Following the harvest, tea leaves are set out to dry in the withering phase. The moisture is then removed from the tea leaves after they've been rolled and fermented. This is crucial in that it creates the fragrant oils that give teas their unique scents and flavours.

Traditionally most teas come from Sri Lanka, India, China & Japan however Kenya is now the largest exporter of black tea in the world and tea is found growing in more & more countries around the world. Even small amounts are now produced in Australia.

Although oolong, white, black and green tea is all made from the same plant, herbal teas have a different origin. Unlike the teas above, herbal teas don’t come from tea leaves. Instead, they mostly come from seeds, berries, flowers or roots. Herbal teas can be created from a variety of plants such chamomile, peppermint, dandelions, hibiscus, barley, sage, rosemary just to name a few.

The amazing thing about tea is that it allows you to experience something new with every cup. Tea has been appreciated for millennia for its soothing effects, and the recent increase in popularity of tea means it won’t be dying out any time soon.

And that's the tea.

With love,