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the Chinese tea plant. Although a Chinese [[tea]],<ref>
the Chinese tea plant. Although a Chinese [[tea]],<ref>
"More exotic sounding is Russian Caravan tea – named after the camel caravan that brought China tea to Europe along the silk and spice trade route – a blend of China tea."
"More exotic sounding is Russian Caravan tea – named after the camel caravan that brought China tea to Europe along the silk and spice trade route – a blend of China tea."
Susan Cohen, ''[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=dxl7EMm8kY4C&pg=PA20 Where to Take Tea]: A Guide to Britain's Best Tearooms'', ([[New Holland Publishers]], 2008), p. 20.</ref> its name originates from the 18th century [[camel train|camel caravan]]s that facilitated the transcontinental tea trade from tea-producing areas (namely India, Ceylon and China) to Europe via Russia. "It took at least half a year to make the six-thousand-mile journey from the Chinese border to Russia, and the voyage was harsh."<ref>Sarah Elizabeth Murray, ''[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=YAWRD86pYvwC&pg=PA145 Moveable Feasts]: From Ancient Rome to the 21st Century, the Incredible Journeys of the Food We Eat'', ([[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan]], 2007), pp. 145–146.</ref> The tea can also not include Lapsang Souchong in the blend giving it more malted flavor.<ref>[http://www.britishtea.com/russiancaravan-2.aspx]</ref>
Susan Cohen, ''[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=dxl7EMm8kY4C&pg=PA20 Where to Take Tea]: A Guide to Britain's Best Tearooms'', ([[New Holland Publishers]], 2008), p. 20.</ref> its name originates from the 18th century [[camel train|camel caravan]]s that facilitated the transcontinental tea trade from tea-producing areas (namely India, Ceylon and China) to Europe via Russia. "It took at least half a year to make the six-thousand-mile journey from the Chinese border to Russia, and the voyage was harsh."<ref>Sarah Elizabeth Murray, ''[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=YAWRD86pYvwC&pg=PA145 Moveable Feasts]: From Ancient Rome to the 21st Century, the Incredible Journeys of the Food We Eat'', ([[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan]], 2007), pp. 145–146.</ref> Some varieties do not include Lapsang Souchong, thus having a less smoky flavor.<ref>[http://www.britishtea.com/russiancaravan-2.aspx]</ref>
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The southern route by Odessa is far cheaper, but the tea is supposed to suffer in flavour in its transit through the tropical seas, while it improves in its passage through the cold dry climate of Mongolia and Siberia, by losing that unpleasant taste of firing [whereby tea was dried using direct heat]. As Russian epicures believe that a peculiar delicacy of flavor is imparted to it by the slight moisture it absorbs when nightly unloaded and placed on the snow-covered steppes, the enhanced price it commands compensates for the greater expense and difficulty of its carriage by this route.<ref>
The southern route by Odessa is far cheaper, but the tea is supposed to suffer in flavour in its transit through the tropical seas, while it improves in its passage through the cold dry climate of Mongolia and Siberia, by losing that unpleasant taste of firing [whereby tea was dried using direct heat]. As Russian epicures believe that a peculiar delicacy of flavor is imparted to it by the slight moisture it absorbs when nightly unloaded and placed on the snow-covered steppes, the enhanced price it commands compensates for the greater expense and difficulty of its carriage by this route.<ref>

Revision as of 13:13, 5 July 2011

File:Russian Caravan Tea.jpg
A box of Russian Caravan made by Twinings

Russian Caravan is a blend of Oolong, Keemun and Lapsang Souchong teas, all produced from Camellia sinensis—(Linnaeus) Kuntze, 1887—[1] the Chinese tea plant. Although a Chinese tea,[2] its name originates from the 18th century camel caravans that facilitated the transcontinental tea trade from tea-producing areas (namely India, Ceylon and China) to Europe via Russia. "It took at least half a year to make the six-thousand-mile journey from the Chinese border to Russia, and the voyage was harsh."[3] Some varieties do not include Lapsang Souchong, thus having a less smoky flavor.[4]

The southern route by Odessa is far cheaper, but the tea is supposed to suffer in flavour in its transit through the tropical seas, while it improves in its passage through the cold dry climate of Mongolia and Siberia, by losing that unpleasant taste of firing [whereby tea was dried using direct heat]. As Russian epicures believe that a peculiar delicacy of flavor is imparted to it by the slight moisture it absorbs when nightly unloaded and placed on the snow-covered steppes, the enhanced price it commands compensates for the greater expense and difficulty of its carriage by this route.[5]

Notes and references

  1. ^ Species allocated to genus in Otto Kuntze, Trudy Imperatorskago S. Peterburgskago Botaničeskago Sada 10 (1887): 195.
  2. ^ "More exotic sounding is Russian Caravan tea – named after the camel caravan that brought China tea to Europe along the silk and spice trade route – a blend of China tea." Susan Cohen, Where to Take Tea: A Guide to Britain's Best Tearooms, (New Holland Publishers, 2008), p. 20.
  3. ^ Sarah Elizabeth Murray, Moveable Feasts: From Ancient Rome to the 21st Century, the Incredible Journeys of the Food We Eat, (Macmillan, 2007), pp. 145–146.
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ The Dublin Review (1888), part I, p.422.

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