The Many names of 茶(tea)

The tea leaves from China was then imported to various countries like England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland and the Southeast Asian countries.

These countries imported the item via the sea route and hence in English, it is known as TEA, In Spain it’s TE. In Netherlands, it is called THEE and in Malaysia it is affectionately known as ‘TEH‘

In Japan, the tea leaves are known as CHA, In the Arabian world, they call it ‘CHAI‘. The Turkish called it ‘CHAY‘ and in Russia, it is known as ‘CHAI‘

Origins of the tea leaves:
In China, tea leaves are planted in four regions. they are the the following:

1. Southwestern District
This region produces the earliest form of Tea. It includes Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Southeastern part of Tibet. The tea produced here are: Black Tea, Green Tea, Tuo Tea, Pu Erh and Compressed Tea.

2. The Southern District
This regions covers Guangdong, GuangXi, Fujian and Hainan Island. These area produced Black Tea, Oolong Tea, Flower Scented Tea, White Tea dn Liu Bao Tea.

3. The South Yangtze District
This region lies on the south of the river at the central and lower reaches like Zhejiang, Hunan, JiangXi, Southern parts of Anhui, Jiangsu and Hubei. This region produces Green Tea, Black Tea, Red Tea, Flower scented tea such as Xihu Long Jing, HuangShan Mao Feng, Dong Ding Bi Luo Chun, Junshan Yin Shen, Lushan Yun Wu.

4. The North Yangtze District
This area covers the northern basins of the central and lower reaches of the mighty river. These includes Henan, ShanXi, Gansu, Shandong, Northern parts of Anhui, Jiangsu and Hubei. These regions produced mainly green teas like Liu An Gua Pian and Xinyang Mao Jian.

In Taiwan island, tea is mainly grown in the northern districts, Tau Zhu Miao (Tauyuan, Xinzhu, Miaoli); the Mid-Southern districts and Northern Districts. These areas produce Green Tea, Oolong Tea, Bao Zhong Tea and Black Tea.