Cuppa Tea Love?

As the cool weather sets in, to those Australian states that got the memo that it's Autumn, it seems like an ideal time to talk about Tea. Today we will have a look at the humble Camellia sinensis plant and how it has had a huge impact on the beverage world.

So as a nice segway into my new blog, why don't you go grab a nice warm cuppa (or if it's still too warm where you are - perhaps an iced tea?) and settle in for the next instalment of "Plants that changed the world".

Is there anything better than having a hot cup of tea in your hands on a cold autumn or winter's day? OK, maybe staying in bed and having a tea made for you is slightly better, but I digress. While enjoying your warm, calming, pick me up - have you ever thought about what goes into getting those leaves into that cup of what would be otherwise just be a mug of hot water?

If you are a lover of  tea, you are certainly not alone - Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world, behind water. Yes, you tea lovers consumed almost 3 million tonnes of tea in 2016 and those trends are only going to rise.

You also may think Tea is your thing, a special thing for you only, but sadly tea has been enjoyed for many millennia, in fact the first recorded use of tea was in 59 BC in ancient China, although it's medicinal use dates even further back in time. Legend has it, Emperor Shen Nung was the first to enjoy a cuppa, accidentally of course. Shen, sitting outside with his delicious cup of hot water, when a leaf from a nearby Camellia sinensis fell into his cup - the rest is history.

Many great inventions were created by accident.

Speaking of history, let's have a quick trip back in time and look at Tea's popularity through the ages. Although tea culture had well and truly established in Asia for centuries. it wasn't until the latter half of the 16th century before it was Europe's turn to enjoy a cuppa.

Initially it was the Portuguese, trading in the East, who brought back tea samples home with them. Then as the Dutch expanded their trade routes, setting up a trading port in Java, the first recorded consignment of tea was brought back to Holland in 1606.

From Holland it expanded quickly across the rest of Europe and the United Kingdom. Due to its price it was for a long time considered a beverage of the privileged. Driven by high taxes (over 100%) smuggling became a large problem, the demand by the common people made it a very sort after item. The government came to their senses in 1784, reducing the tax significantly and almost stopping the smuggling over night.

You would think tea is a peaceful drink, but wars were fought over this valuable commodity. Tea had a hand in the American Revolution - duty on tea always had an opposition from the public, but the Tea Act of  1773 was the catalyst for further opposition and on the night of December 16th, 46 tonnes of Tea carried by ships owned by The British India Trading Company were destroyed, causing further tension between the American patriots and the British colony.

But that's not the only dark days caused by tea. The two Opium Wars (1839 - 1842 and 1856-1860) between China and Britain lasted a decade and was started because of China's resistance to trade partnership with Britain, having seen what had happened with other nations which opened themselves up to trade. Trade imbalances ensued, Britain traded silver for tea with China, realising nearby India (a British colony) would trade silver for opium, China (in a roundabout way) began bringing in large quantities of British opium. Long story short, the British didn't take to kindly to this.

OK - enough negativity! Tea is wonderful example of how plants have changed the world we live in. Camellia sinensis is native to Asia, is an evergreen shrub (but can reach heights of 15 metres in ideal conditions and left unkempt). It is of course related to the more ornamental varieties of Camellia such as C. sasanqua and C. japonica which are still fairly popular with collectors, gardeners and landscapers a like for their showy autumn/winter flowers in varying colours.

In Bloom - the Cammelia sinensis flower.

From the one plant, the most common types of tea are produced: Green, Black, White and Oolong. It is how the leaves are treated during processing that creates the different flavours. Black teas are fermented then heated to remove moisture - this process turns the leaves black. Where as green tea leaves are steamed instead before being heated to retain the leaf colour.

L to R: White, Green, Oolong & Black Tea

As of the end of 2016, Tea production topped 5.9 million tonnes, with China the number one producer in the world with 2.4 million, followed by India with 1.2 million and Kenya at third with 473,000 tonnes. Tea is grown in Australia but we don't even break into the top 50 of world producers.

Australia does hold the crown for the most southerly grown tea in the world, that comes from Hobart in Tasmania. It is also grown in Alpine regions of Victoria and the Daintree Rainforest area of Queensland. Our little output of the product doesn't reflect our love for drinking the hot beverage, we Aussies consume 14 tonnes of tea annually.

After all that history are you still tempted to try to grow your own tea? The plant itself is fairly easy to get your hands on, but start your search at a specialist Camellia growers or ask for a special order at your local retail nursery as they might not always be in stock. The two types usually used in tea production are C. sinensis subsp. sinensis (Small Leaf Tea - used for all types of tea mentioned above) and C. sinensis subsp. assamica (Large Leaf Tea - used primarily for green tea).

The plant that suits you to a tea

Camellia sinensis cultivation is similar to it's flowery relatives, it prefers an organic rich, slightly acidic soil (around a pH of 4). Like it's relatives, it is fairly shallow rooted, so a good layer of compost and much is ideal after planting - a combination of well rotted animal manures and lucerne hay will be appreciated.

Your tea plant will love a sunny spot, but protection from the hottest afternoon sun and wind is beneficial. They also like regular & consistent water, especially in warmer months, they dislike extended periods of dry followed by drenching via irrigation.

Around 2-4 years, after planting an 8" pot specimen, you should be able to begin harvesting, through the warmer months you should be able to harvest approximately monthly, remembering to use only the top 5cm of the tips, which contain the most flavour.

Harvest time - a commercial tea plantation

Prior to the new growing season it is ideal to give your plant a light prune to shape, this will make easier to harvest throughout the growing season. As the night temperatures beginning to rise in spring, fertilize with a slow release designed for Camellia's & Azalea's, but don't over feed your plants as slower growing shoots generally produce a better flavour. Repeat this practise before it cools down in Autumn, making sure to replace compost and mulch to insulate the roots from the upcoming cold weather.

Before we go, grab another cuppa and enjoy these fascinating Tea facts:

* 2,000 tiny leaves are required to make approximately 1/2 a kilogram of finished product;

* Tea bags were an accidental invention, people mistakenly took the little silk bags tea samples were given out in as vessels to put in hot water and make a cup of tea;

* It took almost 3,000 years for tea to become an everyday beverage, before that it was consumed as a medicinal product;

* Spare a thought for the tea you're about to boil - a special term is given to the action of tea leaves uncurling when hot water is added, the torturous "agony of the leaves";

* Earl Grey Tea is named after the 19th century English Diplomat to China, it is flavoured with the oil from Bergamont (a citrus fruit);

* You should always use fresh water when boiling the kettle for a cuppa. Re-boiled water looses oxygen, which can flatten the flavour of your tea;

* In ancient China tea was a form of currency. After processing, tea leaves were fashioned into bricks and left to dry. These were then exchanged for goods, change was given by breaking a piece off the brick.

There you have it - a little insight into the world conquering tea plant. It certainly deserves it's place in the history of the human race, so next time your enjoying your favourite tea, raise your cup and give salute to another plant that changed the world.