Polyphenolic compounds from plants, including green tea, were found to have such activity. The best tea in China is grown in mountainous regions below 6,000 feet, in acid soil. The altitude and mountain cloud shield against extreme sun and create the right temperature and humidity to enable the leaves and buds to develop slowly and remain tender. In such ideal conditions, the leaves contain a higher content of polyphenols and essential oils. There is no standaridised system of describing the quality of tea leaves.
Green tea is graded using different terminology in each tea-growing region.
Black tea can be graded according to an international standard but it is the size and physical attributes of the leaves which are described, not the quality of beverage they will produce. The grading terminology of tea sold from this website is that used by the plantations themselves. Tea is also harvested in late spring and throughout the summer and autumn at intervals of 7-10 days. As spring gives way to summer, the heat of the sun tends to coursen and age the tea leaves. We do not sell any summer or autumn harvested tea.