Black tea is consumed by millions of people every day and it is one of the most popular types of teas because of its strong and rich taste along with some health benefits it contains. When it comes to buying Lipton black tea or any other brand of product, sometimes it becomes very hard, especially for the new blend tea drink due to the many brands of this tea. If you are confused with so many regions, brands, and different tastes of black tea, this blog will help you.
In this blog, we will help you learn the various important factors that should be given consideration while choosing black tea just like you follow for any brand of coffee like Nescafe decaf coffee. Here, you will get to know the choosing factors which involve the origin, taste, processing techniques, and nutritional values.
Get to Know the Different Varieties
Tea varieties: Think about different types of tea and their mixtures and present your thoughts about different types of tea and their blends, which can be useful when implementing this knowledge in practical work.
Different types of black tea are there which provide the customer a different flavor to taste. It is therefore important to recognize the differences between pure teas and blends so as to make the best choice depending on one’s tastes.
- Single origin: These are teas produced in a given area, for instance in Assam or Darjeeling area. Tea sourced from a single region gives a raw experience of the tea type, that is, the real taste of the region.
- Blended tea: Blends involve mixing black teas from the premier locations, so as to come up with the most appropriate taste and flavor. Common combinations are English Breakfast, and Earl Grey. English Breakfast tends to be a strong and heavy blend while on the other hand, Earl Grey contains oils extracted from bergamot making the blend have a tinge of the citrus family.
- Flavored one: If people want to try new tastes each and every time, then they should try the flavored black teas. Black tea is also flavored with spices, fruits, and flowers in a bid to come up with new tastes. Some examples of flavored black tea are chai tea and black tea with vanilla, cinnamon, or lavender added to it.
Know the Process of Making Tea
Processing also plays a factor in the taste of black tea as it is processed differently from the other two types of tea. The procedure usually comprises the stages such as withering, rolling, oxidation, and drying of tea leaves. Of all the factors, oxidation plays a significant role in defining the kind of strength and flavor present in teas.
- Oxidised tea: Full oxidation is used for all types of traditional black tea which results in the characteristic dark tone of the beverage and the robust taste. These teas are mostly full-bodied and possess rich malty or fruity notes, or in some cases, both.
- Light oxidation: Black teas like the first flush of Darjeeling are produced through a shorter oxidation which gives it a floral note taste.
It is therefore very important to comprehend how the varying degrees of oxidation have an impact on the tastes that are available in tea so that a particular tea that a consumer desires can be selected.
How to Ascertain the Quality of Black Tea?
The quality of black tea can always be determined by the quality of the leaves that are used in the preparation of the drink. The most superior black teas are the whole-leaf teas which are large leaves with a complete optimum taste and a splendid fragrance.
- Loose-Leaf Tea: Black teas from the loose-leaf variety are often richer in taste than tea bags because the tea leaves are capable of swelling in the water. While buying loose-leaf tea, the tea leaves should be entire and untorn and must have an even pigmentation.
- Tea Bags vs. Loose-Leaf Tea: The tea bags may also use tea dust which is also regarded as low quality or fannings. Although these may be easier to prepare, they are also made into smaller tea particles and thus take a shorter time to brew as compared to loose-leaf tea but they may not have the same rich taste as the loose-leaf one. In the case of convenience opt for those tea bags that have a pyramidical appearance; these bags contain larger portions of tea leaves in order to enhance the flavor.
Health Benefits of Drinking Black Tea
Apart from the taste, black tea has many qualities that are beneficial to the human body and these qualities may play a major role when choosing the best tea brand. Black tea is believed to contain a high content of antioxidants for example polyphenols which aid in the elimination of detrimental free radicals in the body thereby reducing the occurrence of chronic diseases. Black tea has been associated with many health benefits such as better heart health, improved digestive system, and increased mental prowess.
Conclusion
The choice of the best black tea will depend on the individual’s personal preference, the type of tea, and the effects that he or she wants to achieve physically. So, if you like your black tea strong and malty, delicate and floral, or smoky and full-bodied, there’s a black tea for you. Thus, by looking at the origin, kind, processing technique, and quality of the leaves you will be able to locate the right black tea that will fit your taste buds and improve your daily cup of tea.
