Altitude, soil, rainfall and climate collectively referred to as ‘terroir’ in wine growing and tea production also determine the flavour, appearance and quality of the tea.
High grown teas generally have a distinctly lighter, subtle flavour and quality in comparison to the denser and more liquory low grown teas.
There are also mid grown teas which have their own flavour characteristics.
While high grown teas such as Darjeelings from India and Dimbulas from Sri Lanka are much sought after and therefore higher priced, low grown teas are popular in the heavy tea consuming areas of the middle east where tea consumption is an important staple of the diet.
Teas from various regions all play their part in the diversity of appearance, flavour and quality of this interesting beverage which is the second most consumed beverage in the world – next to water. Three billion (think of it – three thousand million) cups of tea are drunk each day throughout the world!
