Tea is thought to have originated in China, over 4000 years ago. From China it spread by seed, and for the most part without the intervention of man, to most other parts of what is now known as the tea-growing world, either directly or in steps from one country to another.
Most China teas are produced in the traditional manner: by families owning small farms. There are over 1,200 varieties of tea grown in China, the majority of which are green and since very few are exported, we are limited to what taste experience we can enjoy.