Harney & Sons

Learn About Tea

Basics of Tea

July 26, 2012

All tea comes from the same plant: the Camellia sinensis. How it is processed, however, determines the type of tea it will become.

There are four major types of teas – green, oolong, black, and black scented teas. In general, each estate and garden uses a single style of processing which is usually determined by geography, including elevation, moisture level, and farming practices.

Tea grows fastest at sea level to 6,500 feet in sandy or clay soil. The climate should be hot and moist – 80 to 150 inches of rain annually with high humidity and fog. Tea also grows at higher elevations and in shaded areas, but at a much slower rate. This climatic change also produces a more intense flavor tea, like Darjeeling. It is reasonably safe to say that Japan only produces green teas, Formosa focuses on oolongs, and Ceylon and India produce primarily black teas.

John Harney

John Harney is master tea blender and owner of Harney & Sons Fine Teas, the preeminent tea distributors in the country, whose clients include Williams-Sonoma, the Ritz-Carlton, Neiman-Marcus, and some of the finest restaurants in the United States. He lives in Salisbury, Connecticut.

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