In the 1st part I have already tried to show you the differences between types and kinds of tea. So, now it is exactly the time, to tell you more about kinds or sorts (as you like) of tea.

The first and the most popular kind of course, black tea. This name it got from colour of leaves after the process of oxidation. So, leaves become almost black, possess specific taste and contain a lot of caffeine in comparison to other kinds of teas (approximately, 50-60%).

Now, I will tell you more about a new kind of tea that gains popularity in the world: green tea. The process of oxidation is minimal. Actually, it is stopped, thus allowing us to taste delicious beverage with adorable taste and low caffeine content (only 10-30%).

Oolong tea this kind of tea is not known to everybody. Leaves undergo only partial oxidation. It is the golden mean between green and black kinds of tea in both taste and caffeine content.

White tea one of the most incredible and delicate tea. Its peculiar feature natural softness and sweetness. The smallest and the youngest tea leaves are used and no oxidation is required. Low content of caffeine.

Puerh tea is a special medical kind of black tea. It is the most mysterious of all teas. It is extremely strong with deep flavour, has no bitterness and a little bit peaty. Which one do you prefer?

It can sound a little bit strange, but all tea comes from one evergreen plant, it is called the Camellia Sinensis. So, why do we have so many kinds of tea? Where do they come from? These differences arise from the processes of: growing, processing and geographical conditions.

So, try not to confuse: there are 3 main types or varieties of Camellia sinensis. The India type (grows in Assam region), the China type and the Hybrid type (it is a cross breed from the 1st and 2nd types). The India type is a tea plant with big leaves and its favourite place of growing is low altitudes. The China type is a tea plant with small leaves, as a rule, it grows at high altitudes. The Hybrid type is something general between the following 2 types.

Now, it is so easy to imagine how much time, talent and knowledge tea-tasters and tea-manufacturers need in order to make so many tea blends from a single plant.

Can you answer a simple question, what is the most drinkable liquid in the world? Nod doubts, it is water. But, according to the calculations of the Tea Association of the USA, after water goes… TEA. It is the only one beverage to be consumed either hot or cold, with ice or with milk. It is possible to drink tea anytime and anywhere.

• More than 80% of all tea drunken was black tea and only 16% went to green tea;
• On the South and the Northeast of the USA is the biggest concentration of tea-lovers;
• About 85% of tea drunken was consumed with ice;
• Ready-to-drink tea became extremely popular in the USA (sum of sales - approximately $2.65 billion);
• Nearly 65% of tea prepared was made using a tea bag;
• In 2006 tea drinking in public places has increased by 10%;
• In 2005 Americans drunk more than 50 billion servings of tea.

Tea. What associations does this word provoke? Hearth, home, friends, cafes, careless meetings… This list can be enormous. We use this word very often, we drink tea, we buy tea, we make it, and so WHAT IS IT?

First of all, tea is a delicious beverage, made of specially treated tea-lives. As a rule, they are poured with hot water, special processes occur and tea is ready. Various flowers, herbs, fruits and spices can be added to tea.

Secondly, tea is a plant. To tell the truth, this statement must occupy the 1st place, but… I just cant put it before the process of tea-drinking. So, tea is an evergreen plant. Tea plant grows only in warm types of climate, a tropical one will be OK. Moreover, tea of high quality can be achieved only when plantations are located at the elevations (1000-1500 meters).

The third point, tea is just a word, possessing its own spelling, cases and pronunciation. It considered to be of Chinese origin and was written as THEE.

Interesting facts, as it turned out, tea is not a bush, it is a tree, but, people dont allow it to grow. What is more, such an innocent word as tea can have a little bit queer meaning: marijuana or even a break in a cricket play.

It is not a secret to any of you that our world changes every minute, every hour, sometimes we even have no time to become aware of these changes and can’t adapt to them. In such situations it seems that the whole world is turning upside down or life passes by and namely at that time I am coming to a conclusion that tea gives me desire to live, to move forward and to restore the emotional balance. Namely, because of it I feel myself comfortable in any situation. It sounds too quirky? But it is true. Just imagine: a usual busy day of a working woman: meetings, conversations, discussions, projects, decisions multiplied by high-heeled shoes, austere business suit and perfect hair-do… No time to relax, no time to think about yourself and to take a breath.

I solve this problem by means of tea, namely this simple procedure helps me to restore the balance and to collect my thoughts, while drinking tea, it seems to me that the world stops and I can enjoy the life as it is. Everything becomes clearer, easier, brighter. My mind and soul warms up and I begin thinking that life is not so bad. So, it is my own moment of happiness in the hustle-bustle of the big city and I enjoy it everyday of my life. I am in love with tea and everything concerning it, I have tea of various kinds and from different countries, I can’t imagine how I can live without this drink. My friends wonder and think that I am crazy, because I adore drinking tea even when it is 45 degrees above zero! Come on, join me!