fresh from origin Yunnan is the name of the Southern Chinese
province bordering Vietnam. It's believed to be the birthplace
of tea, and the oldest wild growing tea tree (never pruned to be
bush height) is about 1,700 years old. Yunnan's most senior
cultivated tree is a relative youngster - a mere 800 years old.
These are the large leafed tea varieties - Camellia sinensis
assamica - which is also found in India. Yunnan also has the
distinction of producing more black tea than any other part of
China, although it's a relative newcomer to this variety. Black
tea was first produced here in 1939, and is distinguished by its
unique peppery, earthy and sometimes cocoay flavor.