Black Tea...Flavorful & Healthy...
Move Over Green Tea...Make Some Room for Black Tea on the Healthy Tea List...
Black tea offers us gastronomical delight and a bounty of health benefits to boot...
What we don't tend to consider so much is the range of black teas out there and the variety in the leaf appearance, the broth color/aroma, and the cup characteristics.
Black tea IS just black tea...isn't it?...
Consider this: if both black and green teas come from the same genetic plant, Camellia sinensis, what creates the difference between the leaf appearance, broth color, and cup character between black and green teas...let alone different black and green teas?
Oxidation defines tea types...
The same natural process that turns an apple bite brown will change tealeaves from green to brown, unless something is done to prevent that from happening.
In the case of green tea, the leaves are processed in such a fashion to prevent the browning of the leaves, and in the case of black teas, the process is fashioned to encourage it.
So, it is the level or amount of oxidation that the tea leaves are processed to that determines the type of finished tea the leaves will be turned into.
Here's the key to black teas, though: countless manipulations can be done with tealeaves during the processing as the tealeaves are oxidizing. The result is an opportunity for artisans and tea masters to create unique greatness by making the most of their leaf material.
In your teacup, the oxidation continues...
The steeping time and temperature of the water determine:
Briskness: A lively and slightly astringent sensation and mouth feel, as opposed to a flat or soft broth.
Strength or robustness: Think of it as the level of boldness, with strong meaning powerful character.
Thickness: The viscosity or body, ranging from water-light to thick and almost syrupy.
Aroma: The presence and level of distinct, desirable, and fragrant aroma molecules.
Taste: The level of salt, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami, determined by the concentration of ingredients in the broth.
Flavor: The blending of Aroma and Taste in the flavor center of your brain.
While all of these Tea Characteristics are influenced by oxidation levels, steeping conditions are key to finding the perfect balance in the cup for your unique taste.
For Tips on Steeping Perfection, Click Here...
The recipe for producing black teas and the secret of tea greatness...
It all begins with taking care of the tealeaves. As you would imagine, plant care and tea garden management are at the core of tea excellence. Probably 60-80% of the tea goodness results from the unique terroir of the tea, with 20-40% being influenced by the processing of the leaves.
From there, the manufacturing or processing consists of plucking, withering, rolling, oxidation, firing, and grading.
The Secret and Key to achieving Black Tea Greatness is the attention to detail and technique applied at each critical-to-quality step in the process.
Chemical changes in the leaves along metabolic pathways begin the instant a tealeaf is plucked. That change is managed carefully throughout the processing of the leaves to ensure the process will yield excellence in the finished tea.
What does all this mean?...
It means Variety. It means that all black teas are what is called Fully Oxidized, but the processing conditions influence the leaf appearance and cup experience dramatically.
Within all this is the Joy of Black Teas. Growing locations affect the leaf material produced, and creative processing techniques manipulate the leaf material in ways to optimize the result in the cup.
Taking a look at the range of fully oxidized teas available in our Black Tea Collection begins to give one the awareness of the range of character and enjoyment options available to us...who knew?
Look, never abandon your favorites...I get it. However, be sure to broaden your tea enjoyment, and you will be thrilled you did.
There is more to that fabulous cup of tea than loving the taste...knowing how good it is for you...
Because black tea is Fully Oxidized by definition, the chemical changes in the leaf material result in particular health benefit strengths that develop during the oxidation stage of processing...
Camellia sinensis, the tea plant, offers us a plethora of health advantages beyond our mood boost when enjoying a great cup of tea. In fact, the ancient Chinese considered tea to be 10,000 Medicines...A Full-Body Tonic...
Here is a short list of the major health strengths of fully-oxidized teas: Digestive Health, Cardiovascular Health, Artery Health, Brain Health, Bloodfat & Cholesterol Health...
Knowing when you are sippin' and savorin' that what you are doing is good for your wellbeing and longevity is a positive experience you will want to have again and again.
You see, we can't simply say that black tea is just black tea...it is way more than that...
Visually comparing many black teas against others, it seems hard to believe that they are all the same kind of tea...but they are. That's the amazing part.
The range of this tea type is rather astonishing, and many tea drinkers don't even realize it exists...that is where a lot of tea drinking joy lies.
Take advantage of Black Teas, Flavorful and Healthy, and make your tea drinking...even better.
