Physically speaking, tea has properties of both a solution and a suspension. It is a solution of all the water-soluble compounds that have been extracted from the tea leaves, such as the polyphenols and amino acids, but is a suspension when all of the insoluble components are considered, such as the cellulose in the tea leaves. [ citation needed] Tea infusions are among most consumed beverages globally. [54] Tea growing is tough going". The New Zealand Herald. 17 August 2013. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015 . Retrieved 24 January 2015.

Be mindful of your spoon. Stir in an up and down motion, from top to bottom of the cup, without clanging your teaspoon or leaving it in the cup – and certainly don’t put the spoon in your mouth. Instant tea", similar to freeze-dried instant coffee and an alternative to brewed tea, can be consumed either hot or cold. Instant tea was developed in the 1930s, with Nestlé introducing the first commercial product in 1946, while Redi-Tea debuted instant iced tea in 1953. Additives such as chai, vanilla, honey or fruit, are popular, as is powdered milk. Lipton Institute of Tea – Interview of Steve, Tea technology manager, Chapter: A Culture of Innovation". Lipton. 2008. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011 . Retrieved 26 June 2008. Chinese (small-leaf) type tea ( C. sinensis var. sinensis) may have originated in southern China possibly with hybridization of unknown wild tea relatives. However, since there are no known wild populations of this tea, its origin is speculative. [18] [19] Mary Lou Heiss; Robert J. Heiss. The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide. Camellia sinensis originated in southeast Asia, specifically around the intersection of 29th parallel and 98th meridian, the point of confluence of the lands of southwest China and Tibet , north Burma, and northeast India, citing Mondal (2007) p. 519Given their genetic differences forming distinct clades, Chinese Assam-type tea ( C. sinensis var. assamica) may have two different parentages – one being found in southern Yunnan ( Xishuangbanna, Pu'er City) and the other in western Yunnan ( Lincang, Baoshan). Many types of Southern Yunnan Assam tea have been hybridized with the closely related species Camellia taliensis. Unlike Southern Yunnan Assam tea, Western Yunnan Assam tea shares many genetic similarities with Indian Assam-type tea (also C. sinensis var. assamica). Thus, Western Yunnan Assam tea and Indian Assam tea both may have originated from the same parent plant in the area where southwestern China, Indo-Burma, and Tibet meet. However, as the Indian Assam tea shares no haplotypes with Western Yunnan Assam tea, Indian Assam tea is likely to have originated from an independent domestication. Some Indian Assam tea appears to have hybridized with the species Camellia pubicosta. [18] [19] The purpose of an afternoon tea is not just to enjoy the food, but also to enjoy the company. Providing a finger-food spread means that guests can help themselves when they want to, and it allows people to mingle and strike up a conversation.

Breakfast tea is early in the morning and it is a foundamental part of this reach meal for British people. Located in the heart of Phnom Penh, Raffles Hotel Le Royal serves up a titillating afternoon tea combining sweet delights, such as mango tartlets, chocolate mousses and vanilla mille-feuilles with savoury salmon sandwiches and fresh scones, all washed down with lashings of premium tea in fine Chinaware. a b c Meegahakumbura, MK; Wambulwa, MC; Thapa, KK; etal. (2016). "Indications for three independent domestication events for the tea plant ( Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) and new insights into the origin of tea germplasm in China and India revealed by nuclear microsatellites". PLOS ONE. 11 (5): e0155369. Bibcode: 2016PLoSO..1155369M. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155369. PMC 4878758. PMID 27218820. It features an all-new selection of traditional sandwiches, oven-fresh scones, scrumptious patisseries and signature madeleines, in addition to an expanded menu of teas from around the world, ranging from bold Assam tea from India to delicate green tea from China, locally produced Vietnamese teas and more.Few resorts in Vietnam pay heed to the nation’s unique heritage quite as rigorously as Banyan Tree Lang Co. Known for its phong thuy (feng shui), the traditional architecture of its villas and its stunning location sandwiched between the mountains and the East Sea, the resort exudes a very Vietnamese atmosphere. Mondal, T. K. (2007). "Tea". In Pua, E.C.; Davey, M.R. (eds.). Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry. Vol.60: Transgenic Crops V. Berlin: Springer. pp.519–20. ISBN 978-3-540-49160-6. Afternoon tea at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is now a languorous affair in Le Club Bar, a bright, airy venue with a timeless feel overlooking the hotel’s garden courtyard.