According to legend, tea was discovered in China about 5,000 years ago when a tea leaf fell into a bowl held by Emperor Shen Nung while he was seated beneath a wild tea plant. While this story cannot be verified, it is widely accepted that the Chinese and tribes from the Indo China hill regions of Burma, Thailand (formerly Siam) and Cambodia began infusing tea leaves with boiling water at least 2,000 years ago.

Today, tea is grown predominantly in the tropics and enjoyed by millions of people from all walks of life. It is now the second highest consumed beverage in the world, after water. In some countries, tea drinking has become integral to sacred ceremonies while in most western cultures, it is associated with socialising, relaxing and rejuvenating.

Used for its medicinal properties in ancient times, tea is experiencing resurgence in popularity as health professionals discover and promote its medicinal properties.

Today, there are essentially six categories of black and green tea:

Blends
Teas that have been harvested in different countries are blended to ensure consistency in leaf appearance, flavour and aroma which can be impacted by seasonal variations.

Specific origin
Blended with other teas from the same country, specific origin teas include Ceylon tea, Indian tea, African tea or Fujian green tea from China. At Madura, we market a pure Assam tea which has a unique, rich aroma and malty taste unique to its country of origin.

Specific occasion
Throughout the world, tea has been developed to celebrate different occasions or times of the day, including Ceremonial Green or White Tea, Dragon Pearl and Sencha Tea. The Madura English Breakfast Tea is a traditional specific occasion tea blended from of our finest estate tea and superior Ceylon and South Indian teas.

Flavour enhanced
Some teas are enhanced during processing with a flavour, flower or spice to produce a unique aroma, look and taste. At Madura, we produce an exquisite selection of teas that are naturally flavoured including Madura Earl Grey Tea, Madura Green Tea & Jasmine, Madura Green Tea & Mint, Madura Green Tea & Papaya Leaf, Madura Green Tea & Australian Lemon Myrtle and Madura Te Chai.

Historical
Some tea blends date back to the early tea trade of the 17th century and include Royal Ceylon, Prince of Wales, Russian Caravan and Matcha green tea powder.

Single estate
Teas that are unblended and harvested from a single plantation, such as Castleton in Darjeeling or Thowra in Assam, are referred to as single estate teas. While generally renowned for their quality, they smell, taste and look different with each harvest.