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Tea facts

Although tea is one of the most commonly drank beverages in the United States as well as many other nations of the world, most find that they are surprised at how little they actually know about the drink itself. There is no real mystery to the drink, but the process can be quite intricate and very time consuming.

Most plants that are used for human consumption are planted in the spring, tended to throughout the year, and harvested just before the fall. Then, the next year, new plants are put down. Tea is original in that one plant is utilized up to a maximum of one century before it is considered unusable. That is 100 years of life per plant! The average plant that produces tea leafs, has been alive for five consecutive years before the leaves are even considered for consumption. Then, after a maximum twenty-five years later, the plant can no longer be allowed to re-grow on its’ own. It will be cut just at the base above the level of the dirt and begin the growing process again.

When it comes to fertilizing tea plants, the majority is done in natural methods. Tea growers are very specific about not wishing to use unnatural chemicals in helping their plants mature. They generally stick to manure, as it is the most effective natural fertilizer known to man. On that same note, pesticides are NEVER used. Once a tea plant is discovered to have an infestation of any form of insect or infection, it is immediately dug up all the way to the roots and disposed of.

After the tea is mature and the leaves are ready to be picked, the hired pickers go out into the fields and bring in the crop. One would figure that each individual picker could bring in hundreds of pounds of tea per day, but in reality, the average skilled picker brings in somewhere around one pound of tea per ten hour workday.

Resources for Loose tea and Tea plant

Natural teas for stress relief
The four main types of tea
Gourmet teas from around the world
Health benefits of green tea
Tea party customs and traditions
The tea drinkers guide to fine blends
Sassafras tea