Symbolism & fun facts
Rest
This tea plant represents rest and time for yourself. Soon you won’t even need to go out and buy teabags because you will be growing your own tea!
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Natural
After water, tea is the most widely consumed drink in the world. That is because of the pleasant taste, as well as the natural antibodies, such as caffeine,
which have a stimulating effect.
Afternoon tea
Traditional English afternoon tea was introduced by Anna, Duchess of Bedford, in 1840. Tea was served with bread and butter at 4 o’clock sharp every day to satisfy her appetite.
Light
Watering
Temperature
Care
Baby
Here I am! Your very own baby tea plant. I hope you will take good care of me. Put me somewhere indoors with lots of light and give me a little water every other day.
After 2 weeks
After 2 weeks of pampering, it is ti me for a larger pot! Preferably a pot of 2 litres or more with holes for drainage underneath (so I don’t ‘drown’).
Outside
You can now put me outside. Put me in partial shade for a week or so, so I can acclimatise to the harsh sun. I can tolerate cold, but I need to take shelter in a cool place indoors if temperatures drop below -5°C. I remain green all year round.
Teenager
What you nurture will grow. I do my very best. Once I am twice the height of my pot, it is time for a larger home.
Pruning
Prune me back a little in spring. I will then take on a fuller shape and produce more young tea leaves. I get a little peckish when I develop new leaves and will be very grateful for a little extra plant food!
You decide how tall I become. The bigger my pot the more leaves I produce. In milder places you can put me in the open ground.
Making your own tea
Once your tea plant is a little bigger, you can harvest the leaves yourself.
This is how you go about making black tea:
1) Pick the last four leaves on the end of a sprig during the growing
season (starti ng in May).
2) Roll the leaves into a ball until they take on a reddish hue.
3) Allow the leaves to ferment in a cool, dark place for 2 to 3 days.
4) Dry the leaves in the oven for 20 minutes at 120°C.
5) Tea-ti me!
