Tea has become a popular beverage across the globe. Today, the beverage is cultivated in almost all parts of the globe. However, there are some places that are best known for loose leaf tea and are worth visiting if you are a tea sommelier. Here are the best tea destinations that tea sommeliers can visit.
1. Iran
Fly across the Indian Ocean and get to the Middle East. Iran might not be the best beverage producing country in the world. It only produces 75,000 tons of loose leaf tea annually. In this region, the beverage was first used in the 15th century.
It is the trade along the Silk Road that made the beverage a popular in the country. However, it was not until 1899 when cultivation of the plant begun in Iran. This happened after Prince Mohammad smuggle tea bags from India into the country through the bushes. The first factory was established in 1934.
2. Sri Lanka
This is one of the most popular countries in the world for sommeliers. The country produces at least 17% of the world’s beverage. The crop is mainly grown in the central mountains and is of the best quality.
In Sri Lanka, you will get to try beverage varieties such as Kenilworth, Dimbula, and Uva. The British saw the need to compete with Asia in beverage production, so they introduced a wide variety of this crop in 1867. Since then, the country has consistently produced top-quality crops that are exported to different parts of the globe. You can check here if you also want to buy Sri Lankan tea online.
3. Kenya
Asia is not the only large scale beverage producer. As we move over the Indian Ocean and head to East Africa, you will find one of the best tea-producing countries in the world. The country produces at least 500,000 tons of coffee annually.
Visit areas like Nymabe Hills, Kericho region, and Nandi hills and you will get more than enough beverage to give a shot. Kenya started engaging in the beverage production in 1903, but it was not commercialized until 1924.
4. India
India is an important destination in the beverage industry. The country produces at least 1,250,000 tons of the beverage yearly, making it the second-largest producer in the world. The crop is mainly grown in large scale in areas such as Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiri. The British first introduced the crop in the country in 1824. This is a venture that worked, and since then, the country has managed to dominate most parts of the beverage market globally. Note that the current best coffee producer claimed its spot in the early 21st century, which is why it is where to go if you love tea.
5. China
This is the country where all tea sommeliers can’t fail to visit. China is known to be the home of a wide variety of teas. It is regarded as the largest beverage producing country in the world. China produces at least 40% of the world’s tea, a spot they claimed more than ten years ago.
The crop is mainly grown in the provinces such as Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Yunnan. Besides being the largest producer and beverage exporter, China has a wide range of beverage varieties, so you won’t regret making it one of your next tea destinations.
6. Turkey
This country in the Middle East produces around 250,000 tons of beverage yearly, and is where to go if you love tea. The country is located on the ancient trade routes between West and East. The country is known as the home of Riza, which is a tea that shares the same origin as the Black Sea Coast.
Interestingly, no country beats Turkey in tea consumption. This is the case, despite the fact that Turkey is not one of the top tea producers in the world. There is a good chance you will have a great time in Turkey as tea lovers.
7. Indonesia
This might not be one of the best tea producing countries in the world, but it has enough to make it one of the best tea destinations for tea lovers. It only produces around 144,000 tons of tea annually, some of which are exported to foreign countries. The Dutch East Company introduced the beverage in this country in the 1700s.
Since the colonial rule, the country has maintained its tea production. You will find both black and green tea bags. Indonesia has an ideal climate that supports tea production. The world recognizes Indonesian teas for their high levels of catechin.
8. Argentina
Though South America enjoys recognition as one of the best beverage producers, Argentina, on the other hand, produces around 90,000 tons of the beverage yearly. It specializes in the production of black tea, which originated in India. In 1920, the beverage was introduced in Argentina when the government encouraged farmers to try producing other crops.
Since then, green and hybridized teas were introduced, and they thrived. Tea was mainly grown in the provinces of Corrientes, Misiones, Chaco, Formosa, and Tucuman.
9. Japan
Japan is located across the Pacific Ocean and produces at least 80,000 tons of the beverage annually. Green tea is mainly produced in the regions of Uji, Shizuoka, and Kagoshima. The beverage has a lot of cultural significance in the country and serves as the most popular drink. Japan has several beverage ceremonies that sommeliers should never miss.
It is believed that Buddhist monks introduced the beverage in Japan in the 6th century. From there, the drink became linked with an array of religious ceremonies. Different types of the beverage are served by Emperor Shomu to around 100 monks. The beverage’s seeds might have been introduced in Japan in 805 and 806.
Final Thought
If you are a tea sommelier, then here are some of the countries worth visiting. Note that the countries have unique teas for which they are known, so you need to pick carefully. If you like, before visiting a country, you can order their beverage samples through online tea and coffee shop to help you make an informed decision. However, we believe that this guide will help you make the best choice.
