Traditionally and typically, tea is sold as deriving from a named
area. This gives the buyer a prime clue as to type, character, and
expected quality.

I have just noticed a news item that may give consternation to these
traditionalists:

>>snip>>>
The Zimbabwean tea company "Tanganda" has announced that it is to
establish tea plantations in Mozambique as part of its expansion
plans, reports Friday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias". The
company's managing director, Andrew Mills, revealed that Tanganda has
completed feasibility studies, and has decided to establish the
plantations in Mozambican soil, but the tea will be processed in
Zimbabwe.
>>>unsnip>>>>

Will this tea then be classified a Mozambican or a Zimbabwian? Is tea
from Darjeeling grown leaf, transported by truck to, and processed in
Assam - a Darjeeling or an Assam? I suspect the Tea Board of India
would accept neither classification.

And as a quizzical afterthought - how many of the "Senchas" available
now actually derive from China, processed in Chinese/Japanese joint
venture built factories processing Japanese bushes growing in China?
There are apparently at least 80 such factories.

Nigel at Teacraft