Russian Caravan Russian Caravan Russian Caravan is a blend of oolong, keemun, and lapsang souchong teas, all produced from "Camellia sinensis" the Chinese tea plant. It is described as an aromatic and full-bodied tea with a sweet, malty, and smoky taste. Some varieties do not include lapsang souchong, and thus have a less smoky flavor. Although a Chinese tea, 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
Argentine tea culture Argentine tea culture Argentine tea culture is influenced by local and imported varieties and customs. The country is a major producer of tea ("Camellia sinensis"), but is best known for the cultivation and consumption of mate, made with the leaves of the local yerba mate plant. When Jesuit missionaries first came to Argentina, they tried to ban the popular indigenous tea, "yerba maté", out of concern about its addictive qualities. They ultimately reversed their stance and began cultivating "yerba maté" on plantations in the Misiones province in particular (and elsewhere in South America), until the expulsion of the religious order