Location

The story of Tea started in China. Today, however, its growing, harvesting and processing take place in many areas around the world. Climatic and soil conditions, as well as the working practices in place, all contribute significantly to the finished product. This is why location is a vital factor to consider when choosing your morning cuppa.

China Tea dates back some 5,000 years. For millennia, the country had a monopoly over the industry, with Green Tea being a big export. Then, in 1823, this changed with the discovery of a new variety of the Tea plant growing in Assam, India. Across the Palk Strait, Ceylon Tea, grown in present-day Sri Lanka, became a commercial success following the failure of Coffee crops in 1869. Years later, in 1903, the introduction of Tea to Kenya gave rise to one of the country’s most lucrative exports.

The production of Tea has since spread on a global scale. Now, if you live in the UK, you’ll find plants as far away as Thailand and as close as Cornwall! It’s important to note, however, that location doesn’t only have an influence on so-called ‘real’ Tea.

Herbal and Fruit Tisanes, neither of which come from the Camellia sinensis (Tea plant), also differ dramatically depending on geographical factors. This means that all of our products, whether they’re ‘official’ Tea or not, have been selected with careful consideration of their location. Find the explorer in your today with our vast selection of Teas.