Black Tea - Rich,
Healthy & Aromatic
Are you a fervent
drinker of tea? Is there a particular kind of tea that you have a
liking for? Herbal teas are all the rage, but have you ever
thought of trying out black tea? This particular kind of tea
contains more caffeine and has a rich, aromatic flavor. Black tea,
popularly called Camellia Sinensis is in fact an evergreen shrub,
widely cultivated in China, and has a spicy or sweet taste, but at
times, there is a slight trace of chocolate or perhaps some floral
additives. Black tea originated in China, possibly 4000 years
back.
In 1773, black tea
gained notoriety due to the well-known Boston Harbor Tea party. As
a defiant sign of independence, colonists tossed tea straight into
the harbor. The 18th century saw the rise in popularity
of tea across England with the now familiar tea and crumpets being
regularly served in the afternoons.
Tea thrives best in
tropical climates, especially in rain forests. Generally, tea is
cultivated in countries in the South American or Asian continent.
Places with high altitudes are the best for the growing of tea.
Black tea, which is highly popular, constitutes about eighty
percent of total tea sales. Black tea retains its flavor for a
long time. Although the tea shrub can attain heights of more than
forty feet, it is usually trimmed to about 3 to 4 feet.
The first flush or the
initial tea buds that burst forth are considered the finest
quality tealeaves. After these leaves are carefully picked, others
soon grow back, and this chain is maintained until the Fall. The
mature leaves, found nearer to the base of the stem are not of
good quality and hence are not picked.
Quite a few people
like to take pure, black tea without adding anything to it. There
are others, who favor the addition of lemon or milk, and sugar or
perhaps may even put in cinnamon and cloves. A few have a fondness
for a steaming hot cup of tea, whereas others love sipping iced
tea on a sweltering afternoon.
The tealeaves are
withered in order to process black tea. After that, the tea is
crushed, shredded, and rolled for further processing. The
tealeaves can be processed either by hand or by machines. Next,
the leaves are left to ferment, followed by drying. Subsequently
the leaves are separated, based on their size. These tealeaves can
be intact, broken, or crushed to dust. Afterwards the tea is sent
for packaging.
In general, tea is
made by first bringing water to a boil, adding the tea and then
letting it steep for about four minutes. Many people prefer
spicing up their tea by adding nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom. A
further regularly used additive is honey and most people use it in
place of sugar.
Drinking tea daily
helps one unwind and chill out, besides bringing down stress
levels. Many people discover that tea has a calming and comforting
effect and it enables them to loosen up and take things easy. Tea
is enriched with antioxidants that help resist disease. According
to research, tea leads to a rise in metabolism, thus resulting in
weight reduction. Tea is absolutely free of calories, unless honey
or sugar is added. Therefore, savor your tea without going on a
guilt trip. Enjoy as many cups of tea in a day!
