Tea is available in many varieties. And, flavored teas, which are some of the most popular teas, are made from every number of tea that can be produced. The main aspect in obtaining a delicious flavored tea is the quality of the tea base.
Teas are grown in 1000s of tea gardens around the world, and some are a lot better than others. To put it simply, the most effective tea gardens are those that pay careful attention to the details that go into growing various types of tea. And, the most effective tea originates from the most effective tea gardens.
Kinds of tea differ primarily in how they’re harvested and produced. All tea originates from the Camellia sinensis plant, however the variations in harvesting and processing the tea gives this 1 plant a variety of flavors.
Black tea, which will be probably the most commonly consumed tea in the Western world, is fermented tea. The tea leaves are plucked, dried and then fermented to turn them a deep red. (This is just why black tea is known as red tea in nearly all of Asia.) Black tea is really a very healthy beverage. However, the fermentation procedure that black tea undergoes changes the anti-oxidant levels in the tea leaves, and reduces some of the health advantages, particularly once you compare them to other tea varieties.
Green tea extract is left unfermented. The leaves are withered and dried and then graded and packaged. This simple processing leaves green tea really natural state. The leaves brew up to green or pale amber color and employ a natural, sometimes grassy, flavor. Green tea extract has been revered for the health benefits.
Because green tea undergoes so little processing, the tea’s anti-oxidants are left in their natural state. These anti-oxidants have now been shown to work at preventing serious illnesses like heart disease and cancer and at slowing down the aging process.
White tea can also be unfermented, so it’s the exact same anti-oxidants and health great things about green tea. However, white tea is distinctive from green tea because it is harvested so early. White tea leaves are harvested only in early spring, ahead of the buds have even opened, and while they’re still covered in a superb white hair. This early harvest provides tea an extremely light, sweet and delicate flavor. White tea is harvested just once a year, which makes it the rarest of all teas.
Oolong tea is really a semi-fermented tea, approximately a green and black tea. The fermentation time varies from country to country, but is significantly shorter compared to the fermentation period of black teas. Oolong teas also retain a large percentage of the natural anti-oxidants, making them an extremely healthy tea, as well. Particularly, oolong tea is thought to be a quite effective weight reduction supplement.
All these teas has different processing requirements, but all must result from a vigilantly tended tea garden.
The very first work of the tea gardener’s year begins in February or March, when the tea plants are pruned. Enough time of pruning, along with the time of the very first plucking, varies by climate.
The very first harvest begins since the tea plants are ready. The most effective tea gardens still pluck the leaves manually, so that they may choose only the leaves which can be truly ready for processing. The leaves are withered first, sometimes in the sun, and sometimes in sheds, based upon the area. White teas are often withered right in the fields.
Next, the tea must be processed. 花茶 This method can be extremely different based upon the tea variety. Black teas are fermented at this point, where as green teas are steamed or fired next to prevent fermentation from occurring. Oolong teas are bruised to begin the fermentation process and then fashioned into a ball employing a cloth sack. They’re shaken or tumbled regularly throughout the fermentation process and checked regularly in order that they are permitted to ferment just the right amount of time. Once fermentation is complete, the leaves are steamed or fired to prevent the fermentation process.
Steaming or drying the leaves must be handled carefully to create the best flavor. Next the tea must be finished. This finishing process includes sorting the leaves according to grade and sometimes, firing them or roasting them one final time before they’re sent off to be packaged.
For flavored teas, the flavorings are added only at that point. Many tea gardeners make flavored teas only using flavors that they have usage of in their area. Like, a lot of the world’s jasmine tea is produced in China, where in fact the jasmine blossoms are the greatest and most fragrant in the world.
The tea must be properly stored to be able to maintain flavor. It is important that tea leaves be stored in airtight containers in order that no moisture is let in.
During the summer, green tea growers may make a second, third, and sometimes even fourth harvest. Tea gardens in some areas and producing some varieties will continue to harvest tea until frost. However, it is the very first harvest of the season that produces the best quality green tea. Subsequent harvests will always be a lesser grade of tea.
During the summer, the tea gardener may also do fight with weeds and insects. Since the most effective tea gardens are organic – meaning no herbicides or pesticides are employed, keeping the gardens free from weeds and pests can be extremely labor intensive.
Autumn is when tea trees undergo their heaviest period of growth. During this time, gardeners will amend and aerate the soil and fertilize the trees. By October, the tea trees will need to be pruned again before the winter comes. Pruning must be carefully timed to ensure that the spring buds will appear at just the right time.
During winter, tea gardeners must look closely at their young tea trees, as much might need protection from the cold. Furthermore, many tea farmers will prepare new areas for gardening and plant new tea trees if the elements permits.
Quality tea gardens are labor intensive and require great skill to maintain. It’s only the tea gardeners that have this skill, patience and tenacity that produce the best teas.