The Online Guide to... Tea

Puerh tea gets better with age

Puerh Tea is a unique tea that traces its origin to the Puerh town in Yunnan province. It is most outstanding brewed in freshly boiled water in a porcelain or Yixing teaware at 90º C to 100ºC.

Tealeaf grading, the different methods

Tealeaf grading is done in different ways in different countries. The most popular way to grade tealeaves is according to the leaf size. The tea can then be whole leaf, broken or small leaf, fannings & even dust.

For two decades, tea clippers were the most outstanding in the world

The tea clippers sailed the high seas for less than two decades. But in this brief period in the middle 19th century they captured the imagination of the entire world. They became the symbols of romance and glamour, of speed and courage, of seamanship and racing skills.

seven tea brewing tips that can add zing to your tea cup

There are seven tea brewing tips that can add extra flavor to your tea. These are:

The story of the humble teapot

The origin of the humble teapot is clouded in mystery. The most common theory is that either the teapot design was borrowed from the Islamic coffee pots or the globular Chinese wine vessels of the mid 1600s.

The many benefits of green tea

There are many benefits of green tea. The ancient Chinese knew several of these while a few have been established by recent research. Together, they make compelling reason to switch to green tea.

A tea taster is the most sought after individual

One of the most prized professionals in a tea plantation is the tea taster. It is this individual who judges the taste & flavor of each brand of tea. Based on this individual's verdict a company goes ahead and markets the tea.

Tea tasting is much more than swirling the tea

Tea tasting is a process by which tea tasters determine the character, quality, and value of tea. The tasters examine the tea both before and after preparation, and then give their verdict. This is a very specialized task and very few are equipped to do it.

Try Chai, tea latte and milk tea

The tea connoisseurs love their tea black; but there are millions of others who can't have tea without milk. Over the centuries, these tea lovers have developed their own brand of milk tea, each peculiar to their region and taste buds. The simplest is tea with milk.

White tea comes from tender buds & young leaves

White tea is tea made by steaming and drying new growth buds and young leaves to inactivate polyphenol. Before steaming, the buds are protected from sunlight to prevent chlorophyll formation. Similarly, the leaves are plucked young so as to retain high concentrations of catechins.

Making the leaf is a long and arduous process

Few of us realize the effort that goes into making the leaf. Most of us open the tea pack, and based on our liking, brew the tea in hot or cold water. We have no clue as to how the tea leaf has been processed, or how the natural aroma and flavor of tealeaves has been preserved for being released at infusion time.

Go for Oolong tea if you want a different cuppa

Oolong Tea is a traditional Chinese tea that is prepared by oxidizing it more than the green tea but less than the black tea. It does not have the grassy taste of black tea; rather it has a very different, indescribable flavor. It is generally brewed strong towards the bitter side, but still has a sweet after-taste.

Orange Pekoe is not orange but a delicious black tea

Orange Pekoe is a black Chinese tea that is made from the new flushes -- that is flower buds plucked with the two youngest leaves. This is a very delicate operation, and great care is taken in picking the right leaves and buds.

Red Rooibos brings both health and flavor

Unlike other teas, Red Rooibos tea comes from Aspalathus linearis, a small shrubby bush that grows to a height of half to one meter, and is found only in South Africa. All other teas come from Camellia sinensis.

Straining of tea should not be taken for granted

Straining of tea is important for those people who brew loose tea because the tealeaves tend to accumulate at the bottom of the pot or cup & create sticky foliage. Many people use tea bags to avoid such a situation. However, good quality strainers make it possible today to keep all loose tealeaves out of the teacup or teapot.

Good tea accessories can add a dash of romance to tea

Tea can be poured in a porcelain cup, a metal glass or a shallow saucer. Some may gulp it down; others may swish it or slurp it; yet others may sip it delicately from fine china cups placed on delicate saucers. Depending upon your likes & dislikes you can find a way to have tea.

Tea bags have added a new flavor

The tea bag was born when customers of a New York tea merchant started using small silk bags containing tea, like infusers. They placed these bags inside the pot, rather than emptying out the contents. The concept caught on & soon the first real tea bags made of gauze and, later, paper hit the market.

One plant, 3,000 kinds of tea

The plant is One: Camellia sinensis. The leaves are the same: tea leaves. But the kinds of tea accessible in the market: a breathtaking Three,000 plus. The majority of these teas are exotic, and limited to small regions of the world.

There is nothing that can match the Japanese tea ceremony

The Japanese tea ceremony is a very elaborate affair. It is like a sacred ritual that is conducted in a special room called chashitsu located in the tea house. Each aspect of the ceremony is symbolic & adds great charm and meaning to this unique event.

Iced tea is America’s gift to the world

Americans love iced tea though few are aware that it is an American innovation. This is because tea is an Asian brew & all innovations have been pioneered there. However, iced tea's popularity can be traced to the heat wave of 1904 when tea merchant Richard Blechynden decided to serve tea over ice

How to make tea the right way

Making tea is a delicate art. Not everybody knows how to make tea the right way. Some learn by trial and error; some use tea-making books; while some never learn at all.

Green tea can cause weight loss too!

Green tea is not only a great beverage to start your day with but it can also remove some of the extra pounds that you may have accumulated over the years. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition green tea extract increases your metabolism rate by 4%.

If you like flavor, then go for green tea

When it comes to flavor there are few teas that can match green tea. This tea, which comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, is produced mainly in China, Japan and India and has addicts world-wide.

Bubble tea is the new fad

Bubble tea from Asia is the latest craze in the US. It comes in a variety of exciting flavors, and can be served hot or cold with tapioca balls. Also called Boba, pearl tea, or milk tea, this tea is an exciting, colorful, tasty and chewy combination of drink and dessert.

Boston Tea Party changed US history

December 16, 1773 will always be remembered in the history of America as the Boston Tea Party day. On this day, a group of angry young men donned war paint and swooped down 3 British ships that were anchored in the Boston harbor.