The most famous drink in the world is black tea. In many cultures black tea is seen as good for you because it can help you lose weight and protect against heart disease. Most black tea comes from Asia and Africa. There are mild and sweet black teas and strong and spicy ones. It can be hard to pick the right one because there are many types of black tea. Here is a list of all the different types of black tea to help you choose the best one.
What Is Black Tea
Camelia sinensis is the plant used to make black tea. This one makes other types of tea like green white and Pu erh tea. When it comes to taste and smell black tea is the best strong tea. The tea tastes different depending on where it comes from and how it is grown.
Many flavored teas and tisanes also contain black tea. Different types of black tea include cakes, balls, tea bags and also loose tea. The most general way to group black tea is by where it is grown: China, India, Sri Lanka and also Africa.
The Best Types Of Black Tea
Indian Types of Black Tea
Assam Black Tea
This types of black tea is the best in its class. A big part of India called Assam grows tea from which Assam black tea comes. The British Empire found this type of ship long ago and used it as a base to build its empire.
They used Assam black tea to challenge China’s stronghold in the market. It tastes herbal and feels crispy which makes it great as a base for flavored teas. It is also a base for masala chai and is used in breakfast mixes. This type of tea tastes similar to chocolate and grows in places that get a lot of rain.
Darjeeling Black Tea
The Indian state of West Bengal is home to Darjeeling where Darjeeling tea is grown. Because it tastes so high and light people have called it the champagne of tea. Tea tastes change based on when it was picked. These times are called flushes. Every year from early spring to late fall Darjeeling tea leaves are picked at four different times. Mild and light Darjeeling tea leaves are made in the first flush.
The second flush takes place in June making strong black tea with musk and spice. A third flush during the rainy season makes monsoon Darjeeling tea. The second one is the most common way to mix black tea. There are the most tannins in the last flush which happens in late fall. This means the black tea picked this year is better.
Nilgiri Black Tea
Nilgiri tea is grown in the Southern Indian mountain ranges of the Western Ghats. It is also called Blue Mountain tea. Small farmers are the main ones who produce it. To make the most money small scale farms combine their goods and let a more prominent company finish the production. There are many places in the world where Nilgiri tea is grown. Some kinds are grown 8000 feet above the ground.
It tastes sweet and fruity like tea. Because it doesn’t make tea taste bitter, it is the best for iced tea. Machines mainly produce this black tea which comes in tea bags. Only some sellers pick the leaves by hand and treat them. The second one costs more than the tea leaves made by a machine.
Chinese Types of Black Tea
Keemun Black Tea
Queen Hongcha is another name for this types of black tea. Only the state of Anhui in China makes it. Experts like Keemune say it is of high quality. This drink tastes great and is a lot like wine. Not as quickly as some other black tea brands this one oxidizes. So it tastes completely different from other things.
It smells like flowers and fruit with hints of tobacco and pine. If you want to enjoy Keemun the best, don’t add any other sweets or ingredients. Milk honey and sugar take away from the taste of the tea so they should be used in small amounts. The tea tastes like chocolate that hasn’t been sweetened. The complex taste comes from the slow fading and also browning process.
Yunnan Black Tea
Dianhong is the name of this types of black tea which is found in China Yunnan area. Yunnan black tea has many leaf buds called golden tips. It turns a brassy orange color instead of black or brown like some other black teas. People in China still consider it the most potent tea even though it has been improved. The tea tastes rich and smooth with hints of chocolate and honey. Some companies add a spicy sweetness.
Lapsang Souchong
Because this tea tastes like tobacco, people call it the whiskey of tea. The high Wuyi Mountains in Fujian province are the only places it can be found. It is different from other teas because of how it is made. To make tea the leaves are burned over a wood fire. This explains why the tea smells and tastes like smoke. Lapsang Souchong is one of the best tastes of black tea and people who like intense flavors tend to enjoy it the most. It tastes strong so it is the best drink instead of coffee.
Sri Lankan Types of Black Tea
Ceylon Black Tea
Since it grows there the tea is named after Sri Lanka’s old official name. The smell and taste of black tea differ based on where it grows in the country. Some farms are in the woods and others are near the coast.
Delicious Ceylon tea with a golden color comes from plants that grow higher up. Grapes grown in the lower highlands are dark brown and taste better. Ceylon tea tastes more muscular and has hints of spice. Most of the time it turns black when brewed.
How To Prepare Black Tea
Loose Leaf Tea Vs Tea Bags
Tea leaves are better than tea bags. The second type is made using the Cut Tear Crush CTC method. The leaves are put into big machines and smashed into small pieces. Teas with broken leaves don’t taste as strong as teas with whole leaves.
The second one is more expensive but it is the same grade. Loose leaf teas have leaves that are picked by hand and expanded in hot water to make the best black tea ever. If you can always buy organic loose leaf black tea to avoid pesticides and chemicals that might change the traditional taste of the tea.
Water Quality And Temperature
For the tea only use spring water or water that still needs to be cleaned. Because distilled water doesn’t let the tea leaves grow the flavor could be more robust but chemicals in tap water might change the taste. It might surprise you that like other things tea can burn when cooked for too long. Set the temperature of your tea to between 200 and 212 F. Stick to 200F for slightly burned teas like Pu erh tea.
Steeping Time
This will change depending on the black tea you are making. However it does take about three to five minutes. You can taste it every 30 seconds but remember it strengthens as it stays there longer. Black tea is the world’s most famous and well liked type of tea. People from all over the world love it. Before you choose your best try all the different types of black tea. If you follow this plan it will be an adventure you will never forget.
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