| If you are a tea drinker, you may enjoy growing | | | | additional acidity. You can also make your own soil for |
| your own tea plant. Today's tea drinkers get their | | | | tea plants with a mix of sphagnum moss, bark |
| tea from local shops, in tea bags or in canisters. You | | | | shavings, sand and regular potting soil. It may seem |
| may find it rewarding to drink your own freshly | | | | ironic, given the destination of the leaves, but do not |
| picked, dried, and brewed tea leaves. | | | | over water your tea plant. The soil should be allowed |
| Camellia sinensis is the Latin name for the tea plant | | | | to dry out between waterings. As the tea grows, |
| that provides the world with green, black, and oolong | | | | you will have to either repot the plant or thin out the |
| varieties of tea. Tea surpasses even coffee as the | | | | roots if you want to keep the plant in the same pot. |
| world's favorite infused water drink. To be properly | | | | Potted tea grows best in rooms between 65 to 86 |
| called "tea", the main ingredient needs to be leaves | | | | degrees Fahrenheit. Growth will slow or stop at much |
| from the Camellia sinensis plant, a native of east Asia. | | | | below 65 degrees, so warm, sunny rooms or |
| The origin of tea is buried under many layers of | | | | greenhouses are best for tea growth. |
| history and legend. Generally, the Chinese are | | | | Growing tea is only the first step. In order to enjoy |
| considered to have been the first drinkers of tea and | | | | your tea, you need to know when and how to pick |
| they credit Shennong, a legendary emperor, with its | | | | and dry the leaves. Tea plants take some time to |
| discovery. India and Japan claim that Bodhidharma, a | | | | grow to the point where you can harvest their |
| monk of India, discovered the tea that they cultivate. | | | | leaves. For all teas, you will want to pick the |
| Tea, as we know it in British culture, was not | | | | youngest leaves and buds on the tea plant. |
| imported until the 1600s. Europeans migrating to the | | | | For green tea, let them dry in the shade for a few |
| United States brought their tea with them, which has | | | | hours. Steam them on the stove like vegetables for |
| spawned a derivative mainly popular in the southern | | | | about 1 minute. Then, spread on a baking sheet in |
| United States - sweetened iced tea. | | | | the oven at 250F for about 20 minutes. |
| You may be able to get seeds or plants at your local | | | | For oolong tea, let them wilt in the sun for about 45 |
| nursery, but if you can't find any, you can always | | | | minutes. Then, bring them inside to sit at room |
| order seeds online. One place that sells grown plants | | | | temperature for a few hours (make sure you stir |
| is Although the tea plant is mainly associated with | | | | them up every hour to help them along). When their |
| Asia, its area of origin, it can grow happily outside in | | | | edges turn red, pop them into the oven for 20 |
| the U.S. Hardiness Zone 8 (Texas, Georgia, northern | | | | minutes at 250F. |
| Florida, etc.). Acidic, well-drained, sandy soil is the | | | | For black tea, crush the leaves with your hands until |
| home of choice for the tea plant. You'll also need to | | | | they turn dark red. Then you want to spread them |
| invest in some kind of pruning shears, because tea | | | | out on a tray for a couple of days in a cool location. |
| will grow quite large and bushy without prudent | | | | Finally, you complete the drying process with 20 |
| pruning to keep it manageable. | | | | minutes in a 250F oven. |
| If you don't have the climate or the space to plop | | | | All teas should be kept in an air-tight container. For |
| your tea plant outside, you can grow it in a pot. Mix | | | | different tastes, mix herbs, spices or flowers in with |
| some sphagnum moss in with the potting soil for | | | | the tea leaves. Enjoy! |