WHAT IS TEA ?

For thousands of years, the tea drinking tradition has been a ritual deeply rooted in cultures around the world. Originating in China, around 2737 BC, this tradition then spread to Japan, then the Netherlands, and finally all of Europe. Indonesia also has a similar tradition, considering that Indonesia is one of the largest and best tea producers in the world. Tea entered Indonesia in 1686, which is brought as an ornamental plant by Dr. Andreas Cleyer is a Dutch national. It was only in 1782 that the Dutch government began to cultivate tea plants on the island of Java by bringing in tea seeds from China. Since then, the tradition of drinking tea has grown in this country, especially in Java. Tea in Indonesia is known for the highest content of catechins (natural antioxidants) in the world. Most of the tea production in Indonesia is in the form of black tea, followed by green tea. Some regions are also known for producing delicious tasting teas and have been exported to a number of countries. There are also various types of tea, including olong tea, green tea and black tea. Besides being delicious, tea is popular because it is believed to have many health benefits, including increasing metabolism, anti-inflammation, reducing the risk of death from certain chronic diseases, increasing insulin sensitivity, good for brain health, increasing fertility, and good for intestinal health. About 70% of the national tea production is produced in West Java, grown in the wet highlands. More than half of the tea production in Indonesia is exported, but Indonesia also imports tea from outside (from Vietnam). Currently, the government is preparing a number of steps related to the domestic tea industry, such as the national tea consumption movement and other fiscal incentives that can stimulate this industry. The opportunity to increase Indonesia's tea exports is still considered high, especially to mainstay countries such as Malaysia, Russia, Germany, the United States, Pakistan, and so on.