Tea is more than just a thirst-quenching drink. For the Chinese, tea drinking is a real ceremony, to which great attention is paid. Everything is important here: from the very selection of the container for brewing, to the choice of the type of loose tea, which is desirable to use on this particular day. It is worth paying tribute to the old-timers of the Celestial Empire, who know a lot about this divine drink and preserve the ancient traditions of its brewing. They are not ready to share all their knowledge, but some information has become publicly available. We would like to introduce you to her, as well as tell you about the best varieties of flavored tea.
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According to the legends and beliefs that have come down to us, the tea leaf was discovered as early as the third millennium BC. That Chinese man was a doctor and traveled to collect medicinal herbs. The young man constantly carried a pot of water with him, where he prepared decoctions.
Quite by accident, several tea leaves got there. Having drunk the elixir, the young man felt a surge of strength and vivacity, the mood improved, fatigue disappeared. After this interesting incident, tea began to be read throughout Asia. At the very beginning, drinking was taken as a medicine, and only after decades it began to be used simply to quench thirst, while enjoying it.
Centuries passed, and people learned to develop new varieties of tea, came up with ways of processing it, even added to rice during the frying process. Some nationalities use tea leaves not only for preparing a tonic drink, but also add them to salads, pickle, and consume them raw.
The drink came to Russia only in the 17th century, but today our country ranks fourth in terms of its consumption, leaving only China, India and Turkey ahead.
It should be noted that green tea retains its beneficial properties with minimal processing. After picking, drying and rolling, the oxidation of the leaves is quickly stopped so that they do not reach the black tea stage.
Some people believe that tea should be drunk naturally, while others choose flavored options. Fortunately, there is no shortage of them. The best manufacturers are willingly engaged in their release and annually offer their admirers new products that are unique in their composition, differing in price, taste, list of herbal supplements, release form, packaging.
Although true gourmets claim that it is the fillers that spoil this divine drink, it is worth noting that even in the good old days, tea with all kinds of additives was very appreciated. It was used not only by commoners, but also by nobles. Moreover, the list of additives was impressive. Basically, these were herbs and dried wild berries, which, according to experts, not only enhanced the aroma of the drink, but also gave it additional healing properties.
There are two main flavors:
Dried herbs and fruits are natural. Healthy because they are natural. But one cannot say with absolute certainty that synthetic ones have a detrimental effect on the body. Much depends on the production technology and the integrity of the manufacturer. Those firms that lead the rating of quality products will never produce low-quality products, thereby harming their image.
How do you choose the right quality popular variety? You need to pay attention to the inscription on the package. If the manufacturer wrote "identical to natural", then the chemical composition practically does not differ from its natural counterpart, although it is produced artificially.
It should be noted that synthetic hoods, of which there are a great many varieties, are subject to serious control at all stages of their production, so the quality of the product is high. This product, as a rule, is budgetary, since a large amount of expensive raw materials are not used for its manufacture.
There is a misconception that flavorings are added to low-quality or inexpensive teas in order to increase their purchasing power. It's all about the decency of the manufacturer. Although, according to buyers, it is worth paying attention to high-quality flavors, since additives only add spice to an amazing drink.
The most common ways to flavor tea are:
There is no consensus about which tea company is better to buy. It all depends on the individual preferences of the person. There are many popular products. The best one costs a lot of money. The selection criteria are as follows: quality and naturalness.
Before answering the question of which product is better to buy, you need to understand for yourself what varieties are, review the ratings, study the description and reviews. Today, there are a huge number of options for where to buy quality products. In each settlement there are specialized shops of one manufacturer or another or multi-brand tea shops. There, the sales manager will answer all your questions, give advice and help you decide on a purchase, based on your preferences, and help you avoid mistakes when choosing.
More advanced compatriots prefer to order goods online in an online store. At the same time, the average price will be lower, since there is a direct delivery from the manufacturer's warehouse and there are no extra charges and associated costs.
Black tea connoisseurs know that the drink tastes tart - spicy, with a rich aftertaste and fruity - honey bouquet, which has absorbed the amazing depth of Ceylon and Chinese tea. For an ideal combination, pieces of dried or dried fruits, berries, flower petals are added to it, which further emphasize the aroma and taste. To soften the drink, add caramel or cream as additives.
This amazing strawberry flavored long tea is made in China. Large tea leaves are mixed with fragrant berries. The added milk caramel gives the drink a pleasant creamy taste. To properly brew a wonderful drink, you need to pour boiling water over 2 teaspoons of the mixture, insist for 7 minutes.
The composition is rich in antioxidants. Its regular use helps to improve the immune system, prevents viral and colds. Caffeine and tannin will relieve fatigue, make it possible to feel a surge of vigor, normalize the nervous system, help get out of a depressive state, lift mood, and activate the brain.
How much the product costs: by weight in specialized stores, it can be purchased for an average of 70 rubles (50 g).
Black leaf tea, native to Sri Lanka. It is a high quality collection from a tea bush. Large whole leaves are twisted around the axis. After proper brewing, you can taste the unique tart aroma of a dark brown drink with an unsurpassed velvety taste. It is necessary to brew in such a way that the liquid is completely transparent, without turbidity. Experts recommend using it for those who suffer from vitamin C deficiency.
The average cost is 123.50 rubles for 50 g.
Belongs to the category of elite varieties. Its second name is Puer Gong Ting. Truly "royal drink". Over the past few centuries, they have been treated to high-ranking officials, ambassadors of different countries, diplomats, and prominent figures. For its production, the highest quality buds of bushes are selected, which have absorbed clean mountain air, gentle sun, whisper of the breeze. Bushes grow in the Chinese province of Yunnan. The presence of a humid climate and clean mountain air give the leaves a unique taste.
The prepared drink is red-brown and has a rich aroma, where there are subtle notes of prunes and woody shades. It has a long aftertaste, nutty flavor. Tones up, invigorates, increases activity, concentration and mental activity. Its many beneficial properties make it an excellent remedy for inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases.
Connoisseurs of beauty brew this divine drink in a glass, porcelain or clay container. Cooking method:
The purchase price for 50 g is 250 rubles.
A flavored tea assortment based on red oolong and black tea grown on Chinese plantations. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that cocoa beans, carob pieces, truffle aroma and Brazilian pink pepper act as additives, thanks to which the drink has a pleasant bitterness. The brewed tea is not dark in color, but orange.
As soon as a new package is opened, a chocolate smell spreads throughout the room. Truffle notes are clearly felt, the aftertaste is slightly sweet. It is consumed without sugar even by those who are used to everything sweet. The composition is of high quality, clean. In it you will not find any debris, no dust, no foreign matter.
For a product weighing 50 g, you need to pay 150 rubles.
At one time, green tea was flavored only with jasmine. Today, a large number of different additives are used that give the drink an unrivaled aroma and taste. Their characteristic features are refined aroma, amazing astringency, high quality. The collected leaves are immediately dried, which makes it possible to preserve all their useful qualities. Only natural additives are used (fruit, berries, cream, citrus fruits, exotic).
High-quality branded drink, the mixture of which is packaged in sachets. Melissa and mint act as flavors. The main feature is a tart taste and a refreshing aftertaste. Melissa gives the tea a delicate lemon scent. The mixture consists of:
To avoid depressurization, all sachets are packed in individual sachets. You need to brew a drink no more than one to two minutes.
100 sachets of 1.5 g each can be purchased for 339 rubles.
The second name of the product is "White-haired monkey", and this is no accident. Tea leaves of this variety have white villi. When twisted, they resemble the tails of white-haired monkeys. To obtain a light and pleasant taste, only young leaves and buds are used. The aroma is full of fruity notes, the smack of subtle fruity sweetness. You can brew it several times, with the first one being golden, and the second emerald. It is not recommended to pour them with steep boiling water. The water should be heated to a maximum of 80 degrees. The drink is infused for about two minutes.
This brand is very popular among connoisseurs of tonic and invigorating drinks. It is advisable to use it after waking up in the morning to get a boost of vivacity for the whole day.It perfectly quenches thirst without a pronounced aftertaste, which makes it possible to use it for a rather long time, without losing interest in it.
According to experts, the leaves can be brewed three times. But it should be borne in mind that with each subsequent time the number of useful elements decreases, and if 50% of them are present in the first cup, then in the last only 10%.
An expensive product can be purchased at a price of 500 rubles per 100 g.
The world-renowned company for the production of excellent quality tea has a full cycle at its disposal: from fields for collecting tea leaves to factory buildings where finished products are packed and stored. The company is famous for its natural compositions and high quality. The production is concentrated in Kolkata, one of the most tea regions in the world.
Newby products have won the GTA English Awards numerous times, the number of titles is countless. Five times gold medal recipient, out of 65 in total. Since 2011, the company has won the North American Tea Championship with 34 prestigious awards.
Mint is added to this variety of green tea, which corresponds to the ancient Moroccan tradition. Its use resembles a ritual. Sold in pyramids at a price of 530 rubles for 25 pieces.
The name suggests that it is a high quality organic beverage. It is very popular among modern tea-lovers. For packaging, heat-sealable filters are used, in which it is convenient to brew with full preservation of taste. The absence of a polyethylene component in the packaging helps people to recycle them quite easily without harming the environment.
The tea has an amazing taste of cinnamon, it consists of almost 100% natural ingredients, only 3% is a pomegranate flavor. The Dutch company is engaged in production.
The product can be purchased at a price of 420 rubles per pack (25 sachets).
In production, semi-fermented oolongs are used, which are collected from specially bred tea bushes, differing in the size of the leaves. They are twisted by means of a special technology, which makes it possible to obtain a strong and deep tea taste as a result. The leaf takes on an intricate shape, most often in the form of a ball. There are options when the tea leaves are covered with ginseng and licorice gruel. At the same time, they visually become similar to small stones.
Milk oolong is considered the most popular. Its main feature is the presence of a milky taste and aroma. This effect is obtained by processing the leaves with a special milk extract.
If it were a Russian-made product, then it would be called "Big Red Robe". The variety is considered one of the oldest in the territory of the Middle Kingdom. The legends that have come down to us tell that the sick mother of one of the emperors of the Tang dynasty, whose reign falls from the 5th to the 8th century AD, was cured with tea made from this variety. High-quality oolong can only be obtained from old-timers. Mature leaves are fermented for a long time, then rolled, dried, heated over coals for a long time in wicker baskets. After all these manipulations, the welding is obtained with a birch tint.
The product can be purchased for 200 rubles per 50 grams.
The literal translation is "The Iron Goddess of Mercy." The variety is famous for the divine scent of lilac, so it was named after the Chinese goddess, the patroness of the weaker sex. Anxi County is considered the birthplace of Tie Guan Yin, and also a famous tea province. Tea plantations are located at the 1000 mark, where there is a lot of solar heat, clean air and red rocky ground, which contains a huge amount of minerals.
Fermentation is carried out in a short time, thereby preserving the floral and sweet aroma and delicate freshness. There is a fruity herbal flavor and a slight milky aftertaste. The peculiarity of the variety is that it can be brewed 10 times, constantly enjoying the drink.
The cost of the product is 136 rubles for 50 g.
A relatively "young" drink, which was born in 1980, had the original name Jin Xuan, which means "Golden Flower". He became famous for his gustatory qualities, having won universal recognition among lovers of the beautiful and unique. The milky aftertaste gave rise to its second name - "Nai Xiang" (Milk tea). For a long time, demand outstripped supply, so manufacturers sold tea with flavors under the Milky Oolong brand.
Fermentation takes a long time, resulting in a soft, delicate and sweet taste that brings back memories of childhood. You can buy such a divine drink at a price of 165 rubles for 50 g.
The unique oolong is made in Taiwan using Japanese technology. Alishan is the name of the area where tea plantations grow. Gaba is the abbreviated English name for gamma aminobutyric acid. This substance helps to slow down nerve impulses, protecting the brain from overstrain. If a person feels such overloads every day and from year to year, then by the time he reaches adulthood, his nervous system loosens, he becomes hot-tempered, unrestrained, aggressive, or lethargy, lifelessness appears, and falls into depression.
So that tea leaves can accumulate a large amount of this acid, special containers are used for their fermentation, from which air is pumped out, and nitrogen is pumped in instead. The result is a golden drink with a barely perceptible sourness.
The manufacturer offers its customers a product at a price of 990 rubles for 50 g.
The East cannot imagine itself without the world's most famous plant - Ginseng. Its positive qualities can be described for hours.No wonder he is considered the elixir of longevity. Everyone knows that he recovers strength, helps to minimize the negative consequences of ailments suffered, restores the body's performance after surgery. The miracle drink is produced in China, Fujian province. The product looks like gray - green balls, which, after being poured with boiling water, open, enchanting the people nearby with a sweetish aroma.
The average price for a product is 714 rubles for 50 g.
Tea is not just a tonic drink. He gives pleasure to those who eat, helps to maintain a conversation, to spend time with the benefit of business, strengthens family ties, helps lovers to explain. No wonder the Chinese have elevated tea drinking to the rank of a ceremony. And to this day in the Celestial Empire there is a saying: "If you want to make peace with a person, invite him for a cup of tea."