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The Story of Tea
    Tea remained unknown to the western world until the sixteenth century, / when European explorers who gaveled to China and other Far Eastern countries / returned with a host of new foods, spices, and beverages. / Very soon a thriving commerce in China teas was established. / In 1826 the Dutch established plantations on Java. / followed some ten years later by British, / who set up tea estates in India. / The production of tea has since spread rapidly. / Tea is made from the leaves of an evergreen tropical and subtropical plant. / Black tea is produced by first allowing tea leaves to wither. / The leaves are fed through rolling machines to release the juices. / The rolled tea leaves are then placed in extremely humid rooms / and left to ferment. / Fermentation is stopped by drying the leaves over fires in pans, trays, or baskets, / a process that also seals in their final flavor. /