Tea Excellence by Ronnefeldt
Where does tea come from
Tea comes originally from China. According to the legend of emperor Shén Nung, it wastherethat tea and its wholesome attributes were first discovered and that was nearly 5.000 years ago.
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Today, tea is cultivated on a grand scale especially in India, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan and Eastrn Africa. Each tea has its own aroma and its own special characteristics, because, just like wine, the climate, soil, growing altitude, harvest time, and the way it is produced have a large impact on the quality and the flavour of a tea.
The most important tea growing areas for Ronnefeldt tea
INDIA
DARJEELING: Tea is grown here on the southern slopes of the Himalayas at growing altitudes of up to 2,200 m. Clear mountain air and the strong sun make for fine, premium quality, elegant teas. Renowned for its spring plucking (first flush), summer plucking (second flush) and autumn plucking (autumnals) Flavour: delicate, mild, flowery, golden yellow cup colour.
INDIA
ASSAM: With around 660 tea gardens, thelargest tea-growing area is in the northeast. The tea grows at an altitude of 300 tom on both banks of the River Brahma-putra with its fertile virgin forest soil andhot and humid, tropical climate.Flavour: strong,spicy, malty, golden brown cup colour.
CHINA
China is the largest producer of green and semi-fermented teas, as well as several black teas. The best teas are grown at an altitude of 1,000 — 1,500 m. The longstanding 5,000-year Chinese tea tradition has produced many different tea creations, e.g. Gunpowder and tea roses. The best-known regions are SZECHWAN, YUNNAN, FUJIAN, ANHUI and ZHEJIANG. Flavour: many variations on flavour ranging from fresh, fragrant to strong and lingering, light coloured, yellow-green Cup colour.
SRI LANKA
This is where famous Ceylon tea comes from. Grown at 500 — 2,000 m altitude, the plucking times of the tea are governed by the monsoon rains: in the eastern Uva district from July — September, in the western Dimbula district from January — March, and all year round in the centre of the island. Flavour: medium-strong, citrus, metallic, golden-red cup colour.
TAIWAN
Taiwan's tea gardens are located in the
North, home to the famous semi-fermented Oolong, produced as green and black oolong. The leaf is only fermented at the edges, while the mid-section stays green.
Green Oolong Black Oolong
Flavour: gentle, fragrant, Flavour: fragrant, nutty,
Fruity, amber cup colour. Sweet, light brown cup colour.
JAPAN
Traditionally, Japan produces only green tea. The main growing areas are located in the area around Fujiyama, although there are also other large tea gardens in the Kyoto region. However, Ronnefeldt purchases its outstanding green teas mostly from China, where they also Steam the tea leaves the Japanese way.
Flavour: fresh, medium-tart and o little grassy, brilliant green cup colour.
SOUTH AFRICA
Rooibos is a bush similar to broom and is native only to South Africa. It contains no caffeine and
only 1% tannin but is full of essential minerals
such as iron, fluoride, potassium, calcium and
magnesium.
Flavour: a little like black tea,
slightly "earthy"
well-balanced and
full-bodied,
SRI LANKA
This is where ramous Ceylon tea comes
from, Grown at 500 ~ 2,000 m amtude, the
pucking times of a tea are governed by the monsoon rains: in the eastern Uva district from July - September, in the western Dimbuls district from january - March, and all year round in the centre of the island.
Flavour: medium-strong, citrus, metallic, golden-red cup colour.