Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
The World of Tea
Explore Tea
"The first time you take tea with someone you are a stranger, the second time you become an honored guest, the third time you become family." -Balti proverb
All Things Tea
A World of Tea Drinkers
Tea unites the world. It is the second largest consumed beverage in the world with water being the first. More tea is drunk in China than in any other country.
Top 5 Tea Drinking Countries
- China
- India
- Pakistan
- USA
- Iran
What is Tea?
Tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, a subtropical evergreen plant. Different teas are created based on the way the tea buds and leaves are plucked and processed. The taste variations starts at the growing stage-location, soil, altitude and weather patterns. Much of the world's tea is grown on tea estates and smallholdings, known as tea gardens. Growing of tea in rural communities is central to their development in livelihood, education and healthcare.
Types of Tea
There are five types of true tea. Ranked by strength.
- White--Delicate and subtle taste, hardly processed
- Green--From light and floral to earthy and vegetable taste; very diverse tastes
- Oolong--A blend between black and green tea with the flavor of green tea and the strength of black tea. Tastes range from rich and fruity to floral delicate.
- Black- Aromatic, strong, and full flavor and taste
- Pu-erh-Earthy, strong and smooth flavor and taste, categorized as raw (sheng) or cooked (shou), fermentation for sheng pu-erh takes 10-50 years while fermentation for shou pu-erh takes 45-60 days
Making the Right Cup of Tea
- Rule 1: Always use fresh water. Never re-boil water.
- Rule 2: Heat the water to the correct temperature. Black tea and herbal infusions require boiling water (212 degrees). Green, tea, white tea and oolong tea do not require boiled water as it will scorch the leaves and take away from their delicate flavor (176 degrees).
- Rule 3: Only use quality tea. Quality tea has big leaves and can be steeped multiple times.
- Rule 4: Use the right amount of water. Pay attention to the "tea to water" ratio.
- Rule 5: Brew for 3 minutes. The big leaves of quality tea, takes on average 3 minutes for the tea leaves to infuse and release their flavor in the water.
- Rule 6: Warm the tea pot or tea cup, especially with black tea. A cold vessel will lower the water temperature immediately.
- Rule 7: Enjoy the tea. Let the brew cool once the tea has separated from the water.
- Rule 8: When tasting tea: Scrutinize (view color and brightness), Sniff (inhale the tea aroma), Slurp (taste the flavor with a large slurp to bring oxygen in your mouth), Spit-Don't Swallow (spit out first taste to experience the full flavor)
Tea Varietals and Labels
Like wine, tea is divided into regional and individual estate varietals (up to 1,500) and manufacturing styles that impact the tastes and colors of different teas. The largest producing regions of black tea are Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiri Mountains in India. Darjeeling is thought of as the champagne of teas. Sri Lanka produces Ceylon teas and their teas are characterized by altitude. Key African tea producers are in the east of Africa. Malawi is known as the most beautiful tea-growing countries in the world. Taiwan is recognized for the production of its oolong tea.