With a rich array of flavours and traditions, tea weaves a global narrative that transcends borders. Each region adds its own unique essence to the world of tea, crafting a diverse and captivating story.

Join us on a journey through some of the most celebrated tea regions. Discover the exquisite brews that define them, along with the intricate processes that shape their distinctive characteristics.

Taiwanese Tea: creating most prestigious oolong teas

Taiwan teas are celebrated for their rich diversity and exceptional quality, shaped by the island's unique terroir, which includes varied altitudes, microclimates, and soil types.

The island's mountainous regions, with their misty, cool conditions, provide ideal growing environments that enhance the flavours and aromas of the teas.

The diverse climate zones—from tropical lowlands to temperate highlands—allow for a wide range of tea varieties, each with distinct characteristics.

Additionally, traditional Taiwanese tea cultivation and processing techniques, such as hand-picking and artisanal fermentation, further contribute to the depth and complexity of Taiwan’s teas.

Renowned Taiwanese Teas

Dong Ding tea is renowned for its floral and honey-like, melon and lilac notes, offering a rich, nuanced flavour that reflects the high-altitude, misty conditions of Taiwan’s mountainous regions.

Japanese Tea and the buddhist monks

Tea made its arrival in Japan during the 9th century, brought by Buddhist monks who had returned from their studies in Chinese monasteries. Notable figures such as Eichū, Saichō, and Kūkai were instrumental in introducing tea to Japan.

They carried seeds with them, which they had discovered during their periods of study in China. These early monks planted the seeds, paving the way for tea cultivation in Japan and setting the stage for the rich tea culture that would develop over the centuries.

Japanese Tea Terroirs

Japan's tea regions are defined by their fertile soil, temperate climate, and proximity to the sea, all of which contribute to the unique qualities of Japanese tea. The meticulous art of tea cultivation begins with hand-harvesting the youngest leaves and buds, ensuring the highest quality.

Unlike in China and India, where specific teas are traditionally associated with particular regions, Japanese teas are produced throughout the country using similar manufacturing methods.

• Matcha tea

One of Japan's most iconic teas, matcha tea undergoes a special process where the leaves are first shaded to enhance their flavour and then steamed to preserve their vibrant green colour. This shading technique increases the tea's umami flavour and imparts a richer, more complex taste.

After steaming, the leaves are dried and ground into a fine powder, which is used to make the frothy, bright green tea that is both a traditional beverage and a key ingredient in many Japanese sweets. We source our Newby’s premium ceremonial matcha tea from Uji, a region renowned for producing some of the finest matcha in Japan.

• Sencha tea

The most classic Japanese green tea, Sencha tea is steamed shortly after harvest to halt oxidation. This method helps maintain its fresh, grassy flavour and bright green hue. Sencha tea is renowned for its balanced taste and is the quintessential Japanese green tea, enjoyed daily by many for its umami profile.

• Genmaicha tea

Genmaicha tea is a renowned Japanese tea that combines green tea with roasted brown rice. This blend creates a distinctive flavour profile with toasty, nutty notes. Genmaicha pairs particularly well with sushi.

The creation of Genmaicha has a practical origin: roasted rice was originally added to loose leaf tea to prolong its freshness and offer a more economical option during times of scarcity.

Chinese Tea: The Birthplace of Tea

China, the birthplace of tea, is a land of immense diversity in climate and geography, which is reflected in its vast array of tea varieties and processing techniques. Chinese teas are meticulously hand-plucked, with a focus on selecting the top two leaves and the bud.

Chinese Independent Tea Gardens

In contrast to India, where large tea estates such as Darjeeling and Assam dominate tea production, China’s tea industry is characterised by a diverse landscape of independent tea gardens. These smaller, family-run gardens are scattered across various provinces.

This decentralised approach allows for a wide range of tea varieties and processing methods, reflecting the unique characteristics of each local tea garden.

Chinese Tea Terroirs

China’s vast and varied terroirs significantly influence its tea. The country’s diverse landscapes include the misty mountains of Fujian, known for their rich, aromatic oolongs teas; the lush hills of Yunnan, where deep, earthy Pu-erh teas are produced; and the cooler, high-altitude of Zhejiang Province, which contribute to the delicate flavours of green tea.

Each region’s unique climate, soil, and elevation create distinct characteristics to the teas, resulting in a wide array of flavour profiles and quality levels.

• Chinese Green Teas

Chinese green teas are known for their fresh, grassy flavours and bright green hues. Longjing (Dragon Well) is famed for its flat, sword-shaped leaves and rich, nutty aroma.

Hunan tea offers a light, delicate, and vegetal taste, while Jasmine Pearls combine hand-rolled green tea leaves with jasmine flowers, providing a fragrant, floral flavour with subtle sweetness. These traditional teas are enjoyed for their refreshing qualities and are typically served without milk or sugar.

• Chinese White Teas

Chinese white teas are minimally processed, made from young leaves and buds that are withered and dried. At Newby, we exclusively source our white teas from Fujian Province, renowned for its exceptional quality and traditional craftsmanship. White Peony (Bai Mudan) is known for its slightly fruity, floral flavour and smooth, mellow taste. Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen), made from unopened buds, offers a delicate, sweet flavour with a light, floral aroma.

White teas are cherished for their subtlety and natural sweetness.

• Chinese Oolong Teas

Oolong teas undergo partial oxidation, ranging from 10% to 70%, which creates varied flavour profiles. Fujian Oolong Tie Guan Yin (meaning Iron Goddess of Mercy) is noted for its orchid-like aroma and smooth, sweet taste. Oolong teas are valued for their complex flavours and can be steeped multiple times.

• Chinese Flowering Teas

Flowering teas are an artisanal craft where dried flowers are hand-stitched with tea leaves into tight bundles. When steeped, these bundles unfurl into beautiful flowers, creating a visually stunning tea experience. Common varieties include those blending green tea with jasmine blossoms or lily bulbs, offering a delicate, fragrant flavour and an impressive visual display.

• Chinese Pu-Erh Tea

Pu-erh tea is crafted through a unique fermentation process that involves aging the tea leaves to develop complex, earthy flavours.

The method of making pu-erh tea begins with pan-frying the leaves, followed by compressing them into cakes or bricks and aging them over several years, resulting in a deep, rich taste profile.

• Chinese Lapsang Souchong

Lapsang Souchong is a distinctive Chinese tea known for its smoky flavour, achieved through a unique process where the leaves are withered over pinewood fires before being rolled and dried. This traditional method gives a deep, aromatic smokiness to Lapsang Souchong.

Our tea masters meticulously select only hand-plucked teas from China’s finest tea gardens, ensuring each leaf meets the highest standards of quality and flavour. This careful selection process guarantees that every cup delivers the purest and most exceptional tea experience.

Indian Tea: The World’s Largest Producer of Black Tea

India, a leading player in the global tea market, is the world's largest producer of black tea, contributing around 25% of global production, which equates to approximately 1.3 million tons annually. The country's diverse landscapes—from the cool, misty hills of Darjeeling to the warm, humid plains of Assam—provide ideal conditions for cultivating black tea.

Newby's Indian black teas

Newby Teas specialises in Indian black teas, with a dedicated team in India sourcing the finest leaves from each estate. We focus exclusively on prime season teas, which are known for their exceptional quality.

The first flush, typically harvested in spring, has delicate, floral notes and bright flavours. The second flush, gathered in early summer, produces richer, more robust teas with deeper, fuller flavours.

• Assam Tea

Assam tea is particularly renowned for its bold, malty character. Grown in the lush, subtropical climate of Assam, this tea undergoes full oxidation, resulting in a strong, dark brew with a deep amber colour. Its robust flavour profile and hearty body make it a popular choice for those who enjoy a strong, invigorating cup of tea.

• Darjeeling Tea

Newby Teas ensures the quality of these exceptional teas through a sustainable state-of-the-art packing and preservation centre in Kolkata. This facility maintains the freshness and character of the teas from the moment they are harvested, ensuring that each cup reflects the rich, diverse heritage of Indian tea.

Sri Lanka tea: the island of floral teas

In Sri Lanka, the tea-growing landscape is as varied as it is stunning, ranging from lush lowlands to the misty heights of the highlands, creating a unique environment for cultivating Sri Lanka tea. This diversity in terrain creates a unique environment for cultivating Ceylon tea, which is celebrated for its bright, brisk flavour and vibrant colour.

The process begins with hand-plucking, where only the top leaves and buds are selected to ensure premium quality. These leaves are then withered to reduce moisture, rolled to release essential oils, oxidised to develop flavour, and finally fired to preserve the tea’s distinctive character.

This meticulous approach results in a rich variety of teas: the high-altitude regions such as Nuwara Eliya produce light, delicate brews with floral notes, while the lowland and mid-grown areas offer teas with a fuller body and robust flavour.

Each sip of Newby’s Ceylon tea, a fine example of Sri Lanka tea, captures the essence of the island’s extraordinary tea culture.

Kenyan Tea: Tea Defining the Kenyan Landscape

Kenya's tea-growing regions are characterised by high altitudes and rich volcanic soils, creating an ideal environment for cultivating high-quality tea. The country's unique conditions contribute to the vibrant colour and full-bodied taste of Kenyan tea.

The leaves are generally harvested using mechanical methods, which are well-suited for large-scale production. This approach supports the efficient harvesting of tea on a vast scale, meeting global demand effectively.

• • Pride of Africa Tea

Our Pride of Africa tea is sourced from Kenya and is an exceptional example of this rich tea tradition. With its bold and invigorating flavour, it serves as the perfect breakfast tea and can easily replace classic options like English Breakfast. Pride of Africa's robust profile and vibrant character make it an excellent choice for starting the day with a malty and refreshing cup.

Kenyan teas have become a popular choice for those seeking a strong, invigorating brew, showcasing the country’s growing prominence in the global tea market. This dynamic approach highlights Kenya's ability to deliver both quality and consistency.

South African Tea: Producing The Most Loved African Herbal Tea

In South Africa's Cederberg region, the distinctive climate and soil create an ideal environment for Rooibos tea, a herbal tea made from the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant.

The leaves are hand-harvested and then bruised to release their natural oils. They are subsequently fermented to develop their characteristic flavour and reddish-brown colour before being dried. This unique processing method imparts a smooth, slightly sweet taste to Rooibos tea, making it a popular caffeine-free alternative to traditional teas.

At Newby Teas, we source the finest Rooibos tea to ensure premium quality. We offer a unique creation called Rooibos Orange, available in plastic-free pyramid teabags, and Rooibos Breakfast, which comes as loose leaf. These herbal teas are warming and fruity, perfect for enjoying in the afternoon or before bed, as Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free.

The Story of Newby Tea

Founded in 2000, Newby Teas was designed to be more than a luxury tea brand; it aimed to preserve tea's rich history and make a positive impact today. Our award-winning teas are served in prestigious venues worldwide, while our commitment extends to safeguarding tea heritage through the Chitra Collection, the world’s largest private collection of teaware. Newby is dedicated to sustainability and social good, funding various initiatives through the N. Sethia Foundation in education, health, and disaster relief. Soon celebrating 25 years, Newby Teas continues to blend a passion for exceptional tea with a vision for a better future.

Who is the owner of Newby Tea?

Newby Tea is substantially owned by the N. Sethia Foundation, established by Nirmal Sethia, a businessman with a lifelong passion for tea. From a young age, Nirmal Sethia was captivated by the rich traditions and complexities of tea. His early fascination grew into a profound dedication to the art of tea blending, which he has nurtured throughout his career. This enduring passion has guided the N. Sethia Foundation’s commitment to preserving the heritage of tea with the Chitra Collection, and elevating Newby Tea as a symbol of excellence and tradition.