Black Tea: When Are The Best Pluckings?

Black tea has become a worldwide phenomenon.  In cafes and coffeehouses, teahouses and trendy bistros, black tea has become a favorite beverage of tea drinkers around the globe.  The uniqueness of black tea lies in the processingóa procedure that helps to give the beverage its magnificent flavor and consistency.

Black tea, like green tea and specialty white tea, is derived from the Camellia Sinensis plant.  The primary difference between black tea and green tea lies in its fermentation.  Through the fermentation procedure, tea leaves take on a red color, then turn black after they have been dried.  In sharp contrast, green tea does not undergo fermentation, but instead is heat-treated, enabling it to maintain its distinctive green coloring. 

At this point, itís unclear why fermentation was begun.  Perhaps it was created in order to preserve tea for substantial lengths of time.  In any case, fermentation helps to give black tea its unique taste.  Because of the variety of ways you can serve black tea, it is often highly favored over other forms of tea. 

Black teas are generally classified according to their grading.  For instance, Pekoe is a black tea that is derived from medium plucking of the second leaf of the tea bush.  The term ìPekoeî comes from the Chinese word meaning ìwhite hair.î  The terminology refers to early pluckings, which evidence traces of white down.   Meanwhile, Broken Orange Pekoe is a smaller leaf tea that has broken segments but a number of tips.  In contrast, Broken Pekoe consists of broken portions of a coarse leaf sans tips. 

Fannings consist of small grainy leaf particles which have been taken out of higher grade teas.    In contrast, Flowery Orange Pekoe may consist of a whole leaf or broken leaf with a great deal of tip, causing it to have a particularly fine quality.  Meanwhile, Flowery Pekoe is a black tea with a whole leaf that has been rolled lengthwise, while Orange Pekoe has a leaf ranging in size from eight to 15 millimeters with only a few tips. 

The term ìdustî refers to the smallest particle leaf size which is customarily utilized for tea bag teas.  This is because they tend to reach full flavor and strength quite quickly.   In order to be prepared for market, the graded tea leaf is placed into plywood chests which have been lined with aluminum paper.   

Black tea may also be specially flavored or scented.  These teas are often produced from standard-grade teas that have been accented with flowers, flavored oils, or flavored crystals.   Interestingly enough, there can be incredible differences in teas according to the quality and the flavoring.  Typically, teas that are derived from natural flavoring techniques create the most flavorful teas.  some teas are so aromatic that they are reminiscent of perfume.

While the timing of pluckings can make a difference in terms of a teaís consistency, it is the region in which it is harvested that often makes the biggest impact.  For instance, Assam tea is grown in a region in northern India and is known for its full-bodied strength.  Darjeeling, in northeast India, produces whatís often known as the champagne of teas.  These teas are legendary for their scent and light flavoring.

Darjeeling tea can actually come in a variety of flavors, including flowery and nutty.   Meanwhile, Keemum from China and Taiwan is frequently called the burgundy of teas, thanks to its sweet, rich, fruity flavor.

Lapsang Souchong, also from China and Taiwan, is known for its smokinessóa smokiness which comes from drying the tea leaves over a fire.  It is often referred to as an evening tea because it tends to be low in caffeine.  Meanwhile, Yunnan, derived from Chinaís Yunnan province, is full-bodied and slightly peppery in nature.

You may be curious about the differences between black tea and green tea.  Both types of tea can have significant therapeutic benefits, but green tea is the older of the two and tends to have less caffeine.  As a result, green tea might be considered generally more soothing than black tea, although there are varieties of black tea that are known for calming nerves.

Pluckings are only part of the story, when it comes to evaluating the merits of tea.  However, early pluckings can be indicative of a superior variety.  The more you drink black tea, the more youíll come to appreciate its unique qualities.  It is a beverage that can really grow on you and, with so many varieties to choose from, you may find that youíll never get bored with it. 

A growing body of research indicating its health benefits is also a key selling point.   As a result, chances are good that black tea will continue to grow in popularity in the years ahead in localities around the globe.

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A Beginners Guide To Oolong Tea

Over the last few years green tea has become very popular and is available in most stores and cafÈs. It is also used in all kinds of products such as shampoo, face cream, candles and many other daily items. Oolong tea is produced from the same plant, which is called Camellia Sinensis. The difference is that Oolong is a semi-fermented brew whereas green tea is unfermented.

The fermentation process is carried out by a skilled worker who can ferment the tea to many different levels to create different varieties. The leaves are stimulated until the oxidization process reaches the desired level and then cooked to finish the process.

The leaves are further processed after the fermentation to enhance the smell, texture and the flavor. This is done by rolling and rubbing the tea. It it possible to achieve many different levels of tea, and when the processing is over a knowledgeable master of Oolong will check the leaves and give them a grade.

The history of Oolong tells us that it was first produced in Fujian province in China. Some of the finest tea still comes from this area although it is now also produced in many other places including Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand.

One of the reasons that green tea has become so popular is that there are believed to many health benefits which can be obtained by regular drinking. These benefits are also reported to exist in Oolong and are retained even after the tea is processed. Some of the common benefits claimed are the stimulation of the metabolism and the ability to enhance the digestion.

If you are interested in trying some Oolong then it is recommended to find a quality supplier. There are many sellers on the Internet who can supply good tea and many who can supply not so good tea. The stuff in the local Chinese store tends to be of very low quality and not worth buying. Look for a specialist tea merchant and try a few different ones to find the best quality.

Some of the more popular varieties include Gao Shan, Tie Guan Yin, Vietnamese Golden Buds and Formosa Oolong which comes from Taiwan. Don't be afraid to get stuck in and try a few varieties. I can tell you that a good Oolong is really a great tea so if you are not impressed with what you buy then shop around for another merchant because the good stuff is out there.

4 Types of Tea: How is Each One Made

Tea is one of the most popular after food drinks in the world, but still very few people are aware that there are four inherently different flavours and types of tea one can find in every supermarket. Each tea is made out of different ingredients and each tea has its advantages and disadvantages. I will explain.

What you should always remember is that there are only four types of tea.
1) Black tea
2) Green tea
3) White tea
4) Oolong tea

All these are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis, also known as the tea plant. Other herbal infusions such as chamomile tea, ginger tea or red tea made of rooibos leaves are disqualified as types of tea since the tea plant is not involved in their making. The difference between the four tea variations lies in the process of making them. In addition, each type of tea has another flavor and various health benefits.

1) Black Tea
The strong flavored burnt Sienna colored hot beverage is the most popular type of tea in the West. Either served with a squeeze of lemon or added milk and a cube of sugar, the cup of black tea is part of daily tea ceremonies that take place worldwide. Black tea is made of heavily oxidized Camellia sinensis leaves. When served plain, it contains no calories, carbohydrates, or fats. A cup of black tea contains more caffeine than any other types of tea but less than in any cup of coffee.

2) Green Tea
The lightly oxidized tea has been popular in China, Japan and Korea for centuries. Recently, rumors on its health benefits increased its popularity in the West as well. It has been proven that drinking green tea can lower cholesterol, prevent cancer, increase metabolic rates and be helpful in variety of other conditions and illnesses. The green tea is lightly oxidized, dried, but not fermented. It is usually served plain, without sugar or milk. Since some of the green tea variants taste a bit bitter, it should be brewed in lower temperature than the boiling point.

3) White Tea
White tea is rarer and more expensive than the other types of teas mentioned above. Originated in the Fujian province of china, the white tea is made of young Camellia sinensis leaves, which go through a long process of steaming or frying, inactivate fermenting and drying. Since the leaves are harvested while the buds are still covered by white hair, it is called white tea. White tea has the most delicate, sweet taste than the other types of tea. Moreover, it contains the smallest amount of caffeine and the largest amount of antioxidant that help prevent cancer.

4) Oolong Tea
The traditional Chinese tea is the common companion of Chinese foods such as dim sum and chop suey in American Chinese restaurants. The oolong tea, black dragon in Chinese, got its name after its long, dark distinguished leaves that look like wild black dragons when brewed. The unique taste of the oolong tea is achieved by a long process that includes sun drying of the Camellia sinensis leaves, light oxidization, cooling and drying processes. The result is a lighter flavor than the popular black tea and stronger than the delicate green tea.

5) Red Tea
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3 Healthy Benefits Of White Tea

It is not just chefs but also medical researchers who are praising the benefits of white tea for your health.  In fact there are many different kinds of benefit of white tea that a person can have and we will look at some people.  But first we will provide you with a brief explanation as to what white tea is.  It is made from the immature tea leaves that will be picked before the buds have fully opened on the plant.  The name comes from the silver fuzz which still covers the buds and this in turn then turns the tea white as it dries.  There are many different varieties of white tea available and this all depends on the amount of leaves to buds that are used in each mixture.  The White Peony for example has one bud for every 2 leaves in its mixture whilst Silver Needles (the crËme de la crËme) is made entirely from the down buds and these are normally picked within a 2 day period during early Spring.

So we have now looked at what White Tea is we will now go on to the different benefits a person can gain from using this particular product.

1.  Anti-Viral and Anti-Bacterial Effects

Studies carried out at Pace University have indicated that White Tea extract may have prophylactic applications which can help to retard the growth of bacteria which can cause Staphylococcus infections, Steptococcus infections, Pneumonia and Dental Caries.  It was also found that White Tea is more effective than Green Tea at inactivating bacterial viruses as well as having an anti-viral effect on human pathogenic viruses.  

2.  Anti-Fungal Effect

There have been studies carried out which indicate that this has an anti-fungal effect on Penicillium Chrysogenum and Saccharomyces Cerervisiae.  It was found that in the presence of White Tea extract these were totally inactivated. 

3.  Skin Cancer and Cell Damage Protection

Scientists have now found that the White Tea extract can protect against the Langerhans cell obliteration.  It was found that not only the extract protected skin after exposure to sunlight but also a person's immune system was restored also.  They also found that the DNA damage which occurs to cells after exposure to sunlight was limited.  It is believed that the anti-oxidant properties in the White Tea extract are the reason for it being so effective.  It is also suggested that the extract may provide a person with anti-aging benefits.

So as you can see from above there are many reasons as to what the benefit of white tea can have for a person in order to help them live a much healthier and happier life.