Have you ever wondered about the origins of your
favorite "teh tarik" ? Actually, tea comes from an
evergreen plant known as Camellia sinensis which
gross in tropical to sub-tropical climates. This plant
has smooth, glossy, oval-shaped leaves with small white
flowers. The tea plant originated from China and parts
of India. Apart from tropical climates with at least
fifty inches of rainfall annually, this plant also has a
preference for ___1___
soils. Many high quality tea plants are grown at
altitudes of up to five thousand feet, as the plants
grow __2___ slowly
and acquire a better flavor here. Under cultivation,
the tea bush is pruned to roughly waist level into a
compacted top called a "plucking table". It makes for a
straightforward way to harvest he tea. When the plant is
fully grown, only the top 1-2 inches of the ___3___
plants are picked. These buds and leaves are known as
flushes. A plant will grow a new flush every seven to
ten days during the tea-picking season.
Tea is a pure ___4___
of methylxanthines such as caffeine, catechins, and
theanine. It also does not contain any carbohydrate,
fat, or protein. It has a cooling, slightly bitter and
sharp taste. today, tea is cultivated in more than 25
countries. Its character is influenced to a great extent
by the environmental conditions of the ___5___
in which it is grown. The climate, soil, altitude and
quantity of rainfall and sunshine create delicate
differences in a tea's flavor and aroma. |