South-East Asia: The Land of Tea

There's been a surge of interest in the teas produced in South-East Asia: Thai teas, Malay teas and Indonesian teas are more and more popular in the Western market. Not obvious tea destinations (India and China hotels offer tea plantation visits, for example), South-East Asian countries still produce some of the best teas in the world. Read on for more information about where these teas are grown and how they are drank by locals.

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Some of the best tea to come out of South-East Asia comes from the Cameron Highlands. The highest spot accessible by car in the entire country, the Cameron Highlands are a set of five settlements dating from the late 1800s, when a British surveyor (named Cameron) visited the place. The British eventually installed a hill station for tea farming and health resorts.

The high altitude and temperate climate are perfect for the growing of tea. There are a number of varieties being cultivated there, but the favoured variety remains Oolong. Tea plantations in the Cameron Highlands are open to visitors and offer tea tasting. You can also buy your favourite blend right there on the plantation.

Java, Indonesia

Java is not only a place for coffee: it also offers amazing tea varieties. Java grows mostly green tea but exports some black tea for export. Most of the plantations are located in West Java, where there are high plateaus with a perfect temperature for tea farming.

Visit the Pagilaran plantation near Semarang (in Central Java) or head out west and higher in the mountains for the Puncak plantation. 1 to 2 hours away from Jakarta, hop on to one of the organized tours to Bogor tea plantations.

Thailand

The Thai have their own national tea drink, commonly called "thai tea". Called "cha-yen" in Thai, it's an iced tea made from strong black tea, a mix of spices, condensed milk and sugar. It's usually topped with evaporated milk to create a creamy appearance.

The spices added to Thai tea can include star anise and tamarind. The Thai can add orange blossom water or lime juice to their teas. Different regions have different spice blends so it'll always be a tasty surprise. In Thailand, cha-yen is served in clear plastic bags filled with ice. More Western restaurants serve it in a tall glass or blend it into a frappe.

Vietnam

Vietnam has many tea-growing regions almost unknown outside of Asia. Growing a variety similar to Keemun and Yunan teas, the Vietnamese are known to produce a high quality lotus tea, similar to jasmine tea. In lotus tea, the tea leaves are either left inside lotus leaves for a day and then removed, or lotus leaves and petals are ground up and mixed in with the tea. This kind of tea is very strong, and usually requires less than 2 minutes for brewing.

Ask the desk of your Vietnam accommodation for a taste of these exclusive and high-quality teas. They are available all over the country, but if you are staying close to the highlands, you might even be able to visit a plantation and witness the production process.

Similar Articles:

• The Many Kinds of Tea
• Steuarts Black Tea with Cinnamon
• Five Most Commonly Sold Drinks
• The Top Five Hot Beverages Served at Cafes
• All Natural, Organic Hampstead Tea – Rediscover Iced Tea