We’re huge tea lovers here at Bookishly. (We are British after all!) Tea and our unfaltering love for literature was very much the inspiration behind the Tea & Vintage Book Club.
But just where in the world can you get the best cup of tea? A big question with so many answers and they’re all right! Take a look this list, what do you think?
MOROCCO
You will never be short of tea when visiting Morocco, it’s ever-present. Moroccan tea is prepared with an infusion of herbs, such as mint, contains plenty of sugar and poured in a very specific way; its strong and sweet. Sometimes they add Chinese gunpowder tea, don’t worry it’s not actual gunpowder, the leaves are hand-rolled into tiny pellets resembling gunpowder. In the winter you’ll find lemon verbena tea.
Tea is always served with food and a tea ceremony is traditional to close any meal of the day.
SRI LANKA
One of the top 5 producers of Ceylon tea and the original namesake. Ceylon is considered the best tea in the world, extremely popular and comes as a black tea, a green tea and a white tea. Sri Lankans drink their black tea, very strong with milk and sugar. If you’re looking for beautiful surroundings to sit and enjoy a brew, Sri Lanka is for you.
Like many other countries sharing a pot of tea with friends and family is the perfect way to wind down at the end of the day.
INDIA
Is the second largest producer of tea after China. In India they prepare tea very differently. Typically, although drunk with milk and sugar, the leaves are not steeped separately but boiled along with additions and then boiled again after adding in the milk and sugar. The most special tea is boiled solely in milk.
Most famous for masala chai; a combination of black tea with milk, sugar, ginger and cardamom. A wonderful combination for Autumn & Winter.
CHINA
Tea culture in China is by far the world’s oldest, boasting mesmerising tea ceremonies, luxurious tea houses. If you want to have tea and chat head to Sichuan Province renowned for venues where you can gossip, play mah-jong or enjoy light entertainment. If China doesn’t have what you’re looking for when it comes to tea, it’s probably not worth the bother.
JAPAN
Another place with utterly beautiful tea ceremonies. You haven’t experienced the ultimate tea culture until you’ve taken part in a Japanese tea ceremony. Usually performed by a lady in a kimono, this time-honoured and traditional ritual involves green tea powder or matcha. Japan has the most delicious tea, especially blended with jasmine or roasted rice. Their traditional tea houses are small exquisitely designed and built ‘huts’, set in immaculate traditional gardens. This sounds like the ultimate place to take tea.
UNITED KINGDOM
There is no better place to have afternoon tea. The Duchess of Bedford started the tradition of 4 o’clock afternoon tea. This much loved ‘institution’ still retains an element of posh, especially if you’re lucky enough to dine in one of the UK’s top hotels. You’ll find yourself with a menu of delicious teas to choose from, not mention scones and sandwiches. What we lack in ceremony we make up for in emotional attachment.
Don’t confuse this with high tea, totally different a light evening meal, ordering this can lead to disappointment if you’re hoping for scones and sandwiches – how very British.
TURKEY
Real Turkish tea is delicious, it’s strong and dark. It’s not the apple tea served to tourists (does not contain apple or tea). The tea is brewed in a special pot, boiling hot without milk. Served in a small glass along with biscuits.
KENYA
Third largest tea producer in the world. Kenyan tea is a bright copper colour, sounds lively! Synonymous with the brand Brooke Bond. You can now go on plantation tours, picking Assam leaves with the locals. The Kenyans describe their tea much like France would describe wine; full bodied.
RUSSIA
Not the first place I would think of if asked ‘if you could pick a country to have tea, where would that be?’ The Russians love drinking tea and this simple ritual for making tea makes me think of wintry afternoons under blanket with tea on tap, literally. Using a samovar, a rather lovely looking brass tea kettle (much like a hot water urn), they make a brew using a tea concentrate, zavarka. Zavarka is strong and made from loose leaf, diluted with kipyatok (boiling water). Fill a quarter cup with the concentrate and top up with water.
Where would you add to the list?
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