Secrets of tea plant revealed by science

[nitpicker]

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39747720

Secrets of tea plant revealed by science

By Helen Briggs
BBC News

8 hours ago

From the section Science & Environment

Botanists have unlocked the genetic secrets of the plant prized for producing tea. A team in China has decoded the genetic building blocks of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, whose leaves are used for all types of tea, including black, green and oolong. The research gives an insight into the chemicals that give tea its flavour.
(snip)

The researchers found that the leaves of the tea plant contain high levels of chemicals that give tea its distinctive flavour. They include flavonoids and caffeine. Other members of the Camellia genus contain these chemicals at much lower levels.

Dr Monique Simmonds, deputy director of science at Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, UK, who is not connected with the research, said it provided an important insight into the genetic building blocks of tea. She told BBC News: ''Overall, the findings from this study could have a significant impact on those involved in the breeding of tea but also those involved in breeding many plants used medicinally and in cosmetics, as the compounds that occur in tea are often associated with the biological properties of plants used medicinally or in cosmetics.''

Decoding the genome of the tea plant took more than five years. At three billion DNA base pairs in length, the tea plant genome is more than four times the size of the coffee plant genome and much larger than most sequenced plant species.
(snip)

Six main types of tea are produced from Camellia sinensis - white, yellow, green, oolong, black and post-fermented. Each has its own aroma, taste and appearance. The distinctive flavours of these teas are created by their different chemical compositions.
(snip)

[Javaman]

1. Earl Grey, Hot. nt

[gelatinous cube]

5. I tried Earl Grey because of Picard.

I wasn't too big a fan of tea, until I tried experimenting with E.G. Quickly became a favorite. I've become the only regular tea drinker in a coffee family.

[Petrushka]

6. My favorite tea: Stash Earl Grey with Double Bergamot, hot

https://www.bing.com/search?q=Stash+earl+grey+with+double+bergamot&pc=MOZI&form=MOZSBR

[warmfeet]

2. I've never had a tea that I didn't like.

Tea is yummy!

[oldcynic]

3. why did anybody ever think milk in tea was a good idea?

Only mad dogs and Englishmen could have created such a disgusting habit.

[YOHABLO]

4. Different strokes for different folks. Some teas are just fine with milk IMO

I never liked milk in tea until I lived in Scotland for a year. They drink black tea, which is very strong and tastes wonderful with milk. It's almost customary to put milk in the tea by a proprietor unless you say you'd rather not have milk. They'll ask you sometimes if you want it white or dark. (it's all very strange but when in Rome as they say)