was originally discovered in China which remains a major producer and consumer of tea to the present date. Containing only one-third the amount of caffeine as a cup of filtered coffee, tea is enjoyed as a refreshing beverage the world over. It is estimated that there are around 1,500 different varieties of tea. The flavour of tea, like wine, is influenced by climatic conditions and the soil in which it is grown. However, there are several basic tea types:
green counterparts and has less caffeine. Traditionally originating in the Fujian province of China, they are made from leaf buds and leaves of the Da Bai (Big White) tea plant. Very young new leaf buds and baby leaves are simply gathered and dried - often in the sun. Look out for the Pai Mu Tan Imperial and Yin Zhen (literally silver needles) varieties. Again this type of tea is consumed without the addition of milk.
BLACK TEA
Black tea is the type of tea that ended up in the salty waters of Green teas are also known as Boston harbour almost 250 years non-fermented or unfermented teas. ago. It is widely produced in China, The traditional method of processIndia and Ceylon, and is the most ing green teas involves withering common tea drank by consumers (where the leaves are allowed to dry outside Asia. The major characterout slightly to make the leaf more istic of black tea is that after pluckpliable), heating, rolling and drying, withering and rolling, the leaves ing. The fresh leaves are spread out are allowed to brown in a process on bamboo trays and exposed to known as oxidation. Chinese teas sunlight or warm air for a couple of are oxidized very slowly, making hours then heated to prevent oxida- them mellower in flavour compared tion and preserve freshness. Finally, to Indian teas. Look out for Assam, the leaves are rolled into various Darjeeling, Dimbula and Nuwara. shapes and then dried. Almost all These teas can be drank with or green teas are produced in China without the addition of milk. and Japan. Some names to look out for are Gunpowder, Chun Mee (literally meaning Precious Eyebrows) These are teas which have been and the semi-oxidised Oolong, flavoured with the additions of which is a premium Chinese tea scents, oils or blossoms. The two somewhere between green and most popular are jasmine which is black. All these teas are best drank Chinese tea that has been mixed without milk. with dried jasmine blossoms to produce its unique floral tones, and Earl Grey, a blend of black China teas White tea is the least processed treated with natural oils of the citrus of all tea types. Because of its miniBergamot fruit, which gives the tea mal processing, white tea contains the characteristic perfumed aroma more nutrients than its black or and flavour.
GREEN TEA
SPECIALITY
WHITE TEA
NOVEMBER 2012
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