Here in the UK, we like to think we created the iconic cup of tea. We certainly seem to hark on about it the most.
You may even include a bag filled with PG tips every time you go abroad, because other countries simply don’t do tea as well as we do. Or do they?
In reality, we didn’t create tea. Not even close. And we’re not the only avid tea-drinking nation, either. So, it follows that sticking with a UK trip isn’t the only way to enjoy your favourite drink as you travel. Simply consider a stay in one of the following iconic travel destinations, which many would argue serve a better cuppa than anything you could get back home!
# 1 – China
Experts believe that we’ve been drinking tea here in the UK for around 350 years, but that long heritage certainly doesn’t suggest that we actually created this hot drink sensation. For that, we have to thank the Chinese, who piqued us to the tea post with a tradition that stretches way back to ancient times.
During a trip to China, you can dive right into a big vat of tea-based history by visiting locations including Longjing, home to China’s most famed green tea, where tourists can see tea villages and plantations first-hand as well as visiting China’s National Tea Museum. Other worthwhile visits include UNESCO-protected Wuyi Mountain, home to oolong tea, and the tea plantations of southern Yunnan, where you could enjoy a cuppa right before you head to the local elephant reserve.
# 2 – Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon (yes, of Ceylon tea fame), remains one of the world’s most prevalent tea exporters. As such, there’s plenty here for tea lovers to get stuck into.
Visiting the Ceylon Tea Museum, just south of Kandy, is an especially great way to learn about Sri Lanka’s tea-based history, but you’ll also want to explore the country’s tea plantations, including those in so-called ‘tea country’, Nuwara Eliya. This is a top spot for countless Sri Lanka tours, and it’s easy to see why, with tourists able to explore lush green tea plantations and factories, as well as indulge in high tea at the High Club, which is set amongst the scenic beauty of the Blue Mountains.
# 3 – Nepal
Tea and Buddhism go together better than milk and sugar, and never is that more evident than in Nepal, a heavily Buddhist country where the tea on offer is undeniably top-class. Nepal’s high altitudes make for especially great growing of the national Nepali tea, which is famed for its distinctive flavour. In the mountains, local people also boil tea, water, and milk together to create a sweet, creamy cuppa you’re sure to love.
Top tea spots worth adding to your Nepalese tea itinerary include capital Kanchanjangha, ‘the gateway to tea tourism’, and Ilam, a major tea-producing region in the Koshi Province.
If you think UK tea is the best, then think again by adding these top tea-lover destinations to your upcoming travel plans.
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