India is the largest producer of tea in the world. As unique as tea is, the gardens too must impart special climatic conditions. The tea bush known as Camellia Sinensis grows in loose, deep, acid soil, at high altitude, with summer and autumn rain, in a little heat and little wind. In these climatic conditions most of the plants die but the tea bush flourishes fantastically.
Today tea is grown in more than 25 countries around the world. It is cultivated as a plantation crop, grows well in acidic soil, and a warm climate with at least 50 inches of rain per annum. Tea’s flavors, quality and character are completely dependent on the region, the altitude, the type of soil and the climate in which it is grown.
Besides factors such as geography and climate, the fate of tea is also dependent on human touch. Since all tea comes from one plant, the way it is processed is the artistry we taste in the final cup.