Tea garden facts for kids
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A tea garden is an outdoor area or garden where people can enjoy tea and snacks. It's a place designed for relaxing and drinking tea. In some countries, like India, the term "tea garden" can also mean a large farm where tea plants are grown, known as a tea plantation.
Long ago in England, tea gardens were part of bigger "pleasure gardens." These were fun parks where people went to enjoy themselves. Often, families or friends would visit. While some might play games, others would go to the tea garden to relax. Today, a tea garden often means the outdoor seating area of a cafe or a tearoom.
Types of Tea Gardens
Tea gardens come in different styles and have different purposes around the world.
Tea Plantations
In places like India and Sri Lanka, a "tea garden" often refers to a tea plantation. These are huge farms where tea plants are grown and harvested. Workers carefully pick the tea leaves that are later processed to make the tea we drink.
Japanese Tea Gardens (Roji)
In Japanese gardening, a special type of garden is called a roji. This is a small, quiet garden found at the entrance to a Japanese teahouse. Its main purpose is to help guests feel calm and ready for the Japanese tea ceremony.
These gardens are usually seen from a path. They are designed to be beautiful as you walk through them. You wouldn't normally sit and drink tea in a roji garden itself. They often feature stepping stones, moss, and bamboo gates. This style is also popular for small front gardens of homes.
Herb Gardens for Tea
Sometimes, a "tea garden" can be a special herb garden. This type of garden focuses on growing herbs that can be used to make herbal teas. Some common herbs grown for tea include:
- Chamomile
- Bee balm
- Peppermint
- Lemon balm
- Lavender
These herbs are picked and dried. Then, they are steeped in hot water to make a flavorful and often soothing drink.
