The Chemistry of Tea
Hazel Crawford, University of Bristol, hc9059@bris.ac.uk
Tea is an ancient crop that has been cultivated for thousands of years. Its exact origins have not been confirmed by historians, but the first records of tea date from the 4th century AD in China. Since then shipping routes have brought tea to western societies and tea has become one of the most popular drinks worldwide, drunk in social gatherings and as a healthy, refreshing beverage.
There are more than 1500 teas to chose from, originating from more than 29 different countries. The main producers are India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Malawi, Indonesia and China. It is cultivated as a plantation crop; it likes acidic soil and a warm climate with at least 50 inches of rain per annum.
Today tea continues to rise in popularity and modern packing and transportation methods have helped to increase distribution worldwide.
In this web site you will find:
The contents of tea:
Caffeine
Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants