Chinese Tea Industry
Tea (Camellia sinensis) has been one of the most important plants throughout human history and has far-reaching impacts, historically, socially, economically, and culturally.
Tea (Camellia sinensis) has been one of the most important plants throughout human history and has far-reaching impacts, historically, socially, economically, and culturally.
I had the opportunity to work (Dec 2014 – April 2015) for a high-end Chinese tea import and distribution company based out of California.
During this position, I spent ten-day in Fujian, China meeting with and purchasing from tea producers.
Although it was brief, this position was unique and inspiring because I was able to see the vast ways people interact with a single plant. An everyday aspect of the job was sitting with clients, brewing the same plant that could be vastly changed by: harvest time, harvest location, plant age, processing method, age, etc., to find the one combination of those features that the client enjoyed most.
Me using a gaiwan (盖碗; /ˈɡaɪwɑːn/), a traditional lidded cup commonly used for tea assessment in Fujian, China.