Tea

Tea:-

      The most popular non - alcoholic beverages,tea is a stimulating and refreshing drink . All tea comes from" Camellia sinensis" , an evergreen shrub that may grow up to 60feet in the wild . When cultivated for harvest , the tea bushes are kept to height of about three feet . There are over 3000 varieties of tea each with their own specific characteristics . Tea leaves have a characteristic oval shape and serrated edge . Younger the leaves better the quality of the tea. The delicate astringent flavour and slightly bitter taste of tea make it a popular drink . India ,Kenya , Indonesia ,Sri Lanka , Japan and China are main tea producers .             

Types of Tea :-

        The climate ,soil conditions where the tea is grown , and how the tea is processed ,determines the flavor Characteristics of the tea . Tea is  harvested after each flush - the sprouting of the top two leaves and bud . Tea pickers ' motto is ‘ two leaf and a bud ’ .The top two leaves and bud are hand plucked and then processed into any of the five types of tea , which are Black ,Green , Yellow ,White and Oolong .

Black tea :-

        The leaves are withered , then rolled till they become soft and massy . This is done to break up the fiber and cells of the leaf to liberate the constituents so that their extraction is easy . The leaves are then fermented . During the process of fermentaion  some of the acid in the leaves oxidizes and is converted into less soluble forms while more essential oil develop .After fermentation is complete , the leaves are fried in a drying machine .

Green tea:-

       It is obtained when leaves are withered ,steamed , dried ,rolled ,and packed . This tea is not subject to fermentation . All tea - producing country make green tea , considered the best tea for health .

White tea :-

  It is attained by withering the leaves indoors by slightly backing , rolling ,and drying them .

Yellow tea:- 

     It is similar to green tea , the only difference being that the leaves are allowed to gain yellow colour naturally by exposing to air .

Oolong tea :-

     It is made by withering leaves , tossing them in a basket to get little bruises , oxidizing , partially ,backing ,rolling , drying and finally frying them.

Steps in tea processing :-

•  Black tea  :- Fresh tea leaves → sorting and cleaning → withering → cutting / rolling →full fermentation →drying .
• Green tea:- Freshing tea leaves →Sorting and cleaning →withering → steaming / pan frying →drying , rolling  ,and shaping .
• Yellow tea :-Freshing tea leaves  →Sorting and cleaning →withering →steaming →moist heating → rolling →drying .
• White tea :- Fresh tea leaves → sorting and cleaning → withering → drying .
• Oolong tea:- Fresh tea leaves → sorting and cleaning → withering → bruising leaf edges → short fermentaion  → pan frying → drying .

Blending teas :- 

Teas available in the market are blended with teas from other areas to achieve better flavour and unique characteristics , and to make them economical. Expensive teas are blended with cheaper ones in varying proportions according to the targeted market segment .

          Some teas are flavoured with additives during processing . Some examples are vanilla ,bergamot , caramel , jasmine etc .

Tea blends and their characteristic :-

•  Assam :- A strong full - bodied ,and malty flavour drink ,it is usually taken with milk .
• Darjeeling :- Thin ,light coloured ,delicate flavour , astringent tannic characteristics . Best enjoyed with out milk , however ,a little milk may be added if preferred . Black tea may be taken with lemon .
• Earl grey :-  It is a blend Darjeeling and China tea , flavoured with oil extracted from the rind of Bergamot orange . It is best taken black or with leamon .
• Jasmine tea :- Green or white tea dried with jasmine , it is taken with out milk to appreciate the flavour .
• Rose :- mixed with rose petals during oxidation ,it has a delicious rose flavour . It may be served with milk or with out milk .
• Lotus :- Green tea is mixed with fragrant stamens of torus , allowing it to be absorb the lotus flavour . Vietnam is known for lotus tea . It is taken with out milk .
• Mint :- Green tea flavoured with the herb mint . This tea is very popular in the middle  east and in desert area of North Africa . It is best enjoyed with out milk .
• Lapsang Souchong :- Chinese black tea , smoke dried over pinewood fire ,it gives a smokey flavour . It is taken black .
• Sri Lanka :- Pale golden tea with good flavour , it is served with lemon or milk .
• Spices :- Tea flavoured with spices such as cinnamon, cloves , cardamom ,black pepper , fennel , nutmeg ,cassia ,anise ,mace , ginger . It is popular in India and middle East served with milk . It is sold as masala chai .

Brewing temperature and time for different types of tea:- 

•   White tea→66-70⁰  C →1-2 minutes 
•  Yellow tea→ 71 -77⁰C →1 - 2 minutes
•   Green tea →77-82⁰C → 1-2 minutes 
•  Oolong tea→ 82- 88⁰C→ 2-3 minutes
•   Black tea → 95⁰C →3-5 minutes .