ABSTRACT
The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is one of the world’s oldest beverages and is the most consumed drink throughout the world, after water. It belongs to the family Theacea. The exact place where the plant first grew is not known. There is evidence that tea was consumed in China about 5,000 years ago. Tea plays a significant role in many countries and is not only a drink but also an ancient tradition, unique to each culture. The United Nations designated 21 May as International Tea Day to celebrate the tea industry around the world and to raise public awareness of the importance of tea. Tea is available for consumption in six main varieties, distinguished from the others by the oxidization and fermentation techniques applied. Tea quality depends on the quality of raw (green) leaves and the processing methods. The quality of tea is also influenced by a variety of environmental factors such as variations in temperature, rainfall, and the amount of sunlight and horticultural factors such as fertilization, plucking standards, and the frequency of plucking.
