Although there is only one tea plant, but actually has about 3,000 varieties of tea. Differences in tea growing areas and conditions, tea processing, and plant age also affect the final product of tea. Consideration should be given to the following factors when you choose your favorite tea.
Regional Growth
Especially tea grown and manufactured in China, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Japan and South Africa. Tea in Europe and the U.S. are mostly imported from the above mentioned nations. Geographic regions have different climates, soil and moisture factors. All these factors contribute to the overall nature of the leaf. It is understood that the areas most prides itself on the uniqueness of their products. You can select products from a particular region to other regions.
Types of Tea
Black, green and oolong tea are the main categories. Black completely fermented, unfermented green and oolong teas are semi-fermented. Different categories of tea have different levels of caffeine content. Black has some caffeine (about half as much as coffee), green has a one-third as much as black, and oolong tea has half as much as black. Define your caffeine tolerance when you shop for your tea.
Loose leaf or tea Bags
Clearly, loose leaf has a higher quality than tea bags. Tea bags are convenient, but generally contain low quality leaves a powder or broken, called fanning. When you make a purchase this drink, a choice must be made between quality and comfort.
Taste
Chewing the leaves carefully. The leaves are good to have fresh maturity. You can also infuse the tea leaves to see if extending smoothly and sank down slowly. Another indicator of quality is the color of the liquid. Good liquor is emerald green or gold. It has the color of a sweet bitterness with a lasting aftertaste. The liquid tea brewed from stale brown smelly and dark.
Other Considerations
Selecting Time: There are several harvests a year period, referred to as flushes (semi-flush, flush 2, and flush the fall). Flush Each offers a different flavor. For green tea, first flush are considered higher quality.
Choosing a Method: The method how teas are picked and processed, changes in the quality of the final tea product. Hand picking and processing are the most damaging and produce better quality. Handling the machine can damage the leaves cause rapid oxidation and fermentation, which in turn lowers the level of nutrition and taste.