The global tea market and its sustainability

Abstract

The Chinese have consumed tea for thousands of years and early influenced its Asian neighbours. In the beginning of the 17th century, a ship of the Dutch East India Company brought the first green tea leaves from China, and then appeared publicly in France and England during the 1650s. From there it was introduced to British colonies whose America. Trade was controlled by two monopolies: the Chinese Hongs (trading companies) and the British East India Company. To this day tea is seen worldwide as a symbol of 'Britishness'. Tea had been known for ages in India as a medicinal plant but was not drunk for pleasure until the British established their commercial plantations in India and Sri Lanka in the 19th century. The African former colonies such as Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi started to produce in the 20th century. Tea is appreciated for its cooling, slightly bitter, astringent flavour. The three teas commonly found on the market are: black tea, oolong tea, green tea. They all can be made from the same bushes but are differently processed. The white tea is grown differently but its production is only minute quantities. Pu-erh tea is also often classified amongst the most popular types of tea. However the "red tea" refers to an infusion made from the rooibos plant in South Africa so it should not be called a “tea” except in China, Korea and Japan and other East Asia countries where it actually refers to a black tea.