Did You Know? – fun facts and tea trivia

At Stiggins Tea we are a dedicated  professional team who share the utmost dedication to the  the products we supply to our customers. At all times ensuring we strive to maintain the company ethos of honesty and integrity in all that we do…….a very serious commitment. However, we are also a happy and gregarious team of specialists who also have an inherent interest in all things tea.  Often we find ourselves challenging each other with tea quizzes. during our time sourcing and developing products to the market. Listed in this “Did You Know – fun facts and tea trivia blog  are just some of the amazing and surprising facts that have been unearthed by our team. No particular order (as they say) is placed on them. they are just short, surprising facts and trivia about Tea.

• Tea is  a “beverage” which is “brewed ” from a plant known as Camillia Sinesis. There are other varieties of this plant, is the one though which gives us the beverage we know as tea.
• Globally there are said to be  over 3 million tons of “tea” produced around the world annually
• If your tea doesn’t contain the leaves of Camellia Sinensis then it’s not actually tea. It’s known as Tisane.
• Tisanes are similar in their processing and consumption and still steeped in hot water. They’re infused with a variety of herbs and spices for a flavoursome brew.
• Did you know, the tea plant Camellia Sinensis needs at least 50 inches of rain a year
• Only the top 1 to 2 inches of a mature plant, referred to as the new ‘flushes’ of the plant are picked. A new flush grows within 7 to 14 days during the growing season
• It’s believed that the best green tea is produced during the first harvest of the year, which falls in early April to mid-May
• Earl Grey Tea was thought to have been named after Earl Charles Grey. At the time he was Prime Minister during the mid 19th Century.
• “Tech Alert” …. It is recommended to always use fresh water when brewing tea. Avoid boiling the water more than once before brewing tea, this may spoil your tea taste.
• In some parts of the world, Tea, in particular, Pu-Erh Tea, has been used as a type of currency. Tea pressed into discs were widely used throughout  Asia for trading.
• Pirates often targeted Tea carrying ships in the south China sea. The most famous of these was Black Bart, who said to have preferred Tea to Rum.
• Tea was heavily taxed in 18th Century England. So high were the taxes that smuggling tea became big business.
• In 1747 a group of thieves known as the “Hawkhurst Gang” had their ship had its contraband of tea confiscated by customs officials. Two weeks later the gang stole their tea back from the customs house where it was being held– leaving everything else behind??
• In 1662 at the marriage of Charles II and Catherine of Braganza. The Dowry included chests of tea such was the value placed on it.
• When making tea, steeping (brewing) time is critical. Steeping time also varies depending on the type of Tea.
• Black tea requires 3-5 minutes steeping “brewing” time is required for the best brew. Delicate Oolongs and green teas only need 2 minutes steeping time
• Did you know – Tea is the second most consumed beverage on the planet – after……………. Water!
• The oldest known tea in the world was found in tea caddies  left in the tomb of the Han Dynasty Emperor Jing who was buried around 141 BC.
• More than 625 tons in weight of tea are consumed in the North American continent every single day.
• Darjeeling tea is generally a more expensive Tea. This because it is  only grown in a 70 square mile area at the foot of the Himalayas.

We hope you have enjoyed joining our trivia trail into tea? All these fun facts have been brought to you by our dedicated Stiggins Tea Sommelier’s who always make tea a happy brew for anytime of the day.