Gastroback 42439 Gourmet Tea Advanced Automatic - Manual (Page 9)

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tea insiGhts
There are four main types of teas from the tea plant camellia sinensis. The picking and pro-
cessing methods determine the type of tea finally produced.
1.
Black tea
Black tea is the most common type of tea worldwide. It is made by fermenting
the harvested leaves for a couple of hours before heating or drying. This
oxidation darkens the leaves and increases the amount of caffeine. Of all the
teas, black tea has the strongest
colour and flavour.
2.
white tea
White tea is the rarest and the most exclusive tea. White tea consists of the
whitish buds of the tea plant which are steamed then left to dry naturally. This
tea is low in caffeine and has a slightly sweet flavour.
3.
Green tea
Green tea makes up approximately ten percent of the world’s tea. The leaves
are picked, rolled and dried before they can go brown. Green tea has a
distinctive aroma and has a
slight astringent taste.
4
. oolong tea
Oolong Tea is semi fermented, which means leaves are processed immedia-
tely after picking. They only have a short period of oxidation which turns the
leaves from green to red/brown. Its leaves have a floral, fruity quality and
hence have a delicate fruity taste. It is recommended not to drink Oolong tea
with milk, sugar or lemon.
5.
herbal infusions or tisanes
Herbal infused teas are not produced from the tea plant, but from flowers, leaves, roots or
seeds. Common herbal beverages are chamomile, peppermint, fennel, rose hip, and lemon
verbena. Herbal infusions that do not contain tea will generally not become bitter with ex-
tended brews. These can often be brewed with boiling water 3 times without jeopardising
the taste.
6.
Blends
Tea producers make blends by combining different types of teas, often in order to achieve
flavour consistency from one season to the next. Common black tea blends include English
Breakfast, Earl Grey, Irish Breakfast, and Russian Caravan.
tip: Brewed tea leaves make an ideal garden fertilizer and help condition the soil.
tea storage
• Teas stored inside a vacuum sealed bag can be stored for up to two years, depending
on the quality and grade of tea. Once opened, tea should be stored in an airtight container
and kept in a dry and dark place.
• Once opened, black teas will last longer than green and oolong teas but all tea needs to
be stored in ideal conditions.
• You can tell when tea is past its best if it has lost its aroma and will create either a bitter
or dull tasting cup.