The culture of tea drinking appeared in antiquity. Modern man drinks a cup of tea at least once during the day. It allows you to switch, change activities, relax or cheer up, warm up in the cold season. Both adults and children love tea. Convenience and speed of preparation, pleasant taste made it popular all over the world.
Many people believe that there are only two types of brewed tea - black and green, however, in addition to them there is a wide variety of types of tea: red, white, yellow, pu-erh, oolong, herbal, etc.
The best and most delicious tea is obtained from freshly brewed tea tree leaves. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to prepare a cup in accordance with the technology, since there may not be everything necessary for this nearby. In order to solve this problem, manufacturers began to pack tea leaves in bags, making the drink available to anyone, anywhere. In this article, we will look at the criteria for choosing tea bags, get acquainted with the features of products from the best manufacturers and make a rating of brands based on user reviews, as well as find out what to look for in order not to make mistakes when choosing.
Content
Most types of this product are made from tea tree leaves, which are harvested by hand from plantations. However, tea leaves are not always used for the production of goods; some drinks are prepared from other plants and fruits. But, since they are not very popular, we will not consider them in this article.
Depending on which leaves are used to prepare the product, not only the taste characteristics, but also the quality of the tea depend. On this basis, there are distinguished: high-grade (a whole sheet is used), medium-grade (fragments of sheets) and low-grade species (sheets are crushed into powder). Experts recommend evaluating this parameter before choosing a product, since the highest quality drink is obtained from large-leaf varieties.
Black tea is made from leaves that have been fully fermented. In accordance with the technology, plant elements are placed in a room with certain indicators of humidity and temperature. Under the influence of microorganisms, the leaves change their color, acquire a specific aroma. Red tea is the same black tea, only this name is used most often in Asian countries. The differences in the name are due to the fact that Asians pay attention to the color of the drink, while Europeans pay attention to the color of the raw materials. For brewing, you must use boiling water, the infusion must be kept for at least 6 minutes.
Green - the second most popular - is made from raw materials that are dried immediately after collection. The infusion received this name from the color of the drink obtained after brewing. According to buyers, such a variety cannot be brewed several times, and to obtain a result, it is enough to pour the leaves with water at a temperature of 85 ° C.
White varieties differ from others in the color of the leaves on the bush - they have a light shade. For the manufacture of the product, not only leaves are used, but also tree buds. After collecting them, they are dried in the sun (sometimes fire is also used for this purpose). The drink has an almost transparent color and a pleasant sweetish aroma. According to the recommendations of experts, you should not use boiling water for brewing - you need to use water with a temperature of about 65 ° C.
For the manufacture of yellow variety use only leaf buds that have not yet blossomed. Immediately after collection, they are dried in the sun, poured over with boiling water and dried. To obtain the desired result, you need to use water with a temperature of 70 ° C.
Oolong. The preparation of this variety is lengthy and difficult. The collected leaves are dried in the sun, after which they curl and begin to ferment. Then, the raw materials are fried, rolled again and re-dried. After such leaves are poured with boiling water, they acquire an unusual color: the green center contrasts with the red edges. The resulting beverage can range from pale white to bright red. Boiling water is used for quick brewing, and to obtain the best aroma, it is recommended to fill the raw material with warm water at about 65 ° C and leave for at least 5 minutes.
Puerh is made from "old" leaves, which are stored in a certain way for several years. After oxidation and fermentation occurs during storage, the raw material acquires a dark color, which is transferred to the infusion during brewing.
Herbal infusions, as the name suggests, are made from a variety of herbs and plants. The most popular of them are St. John's wort, rose hips, linden, raspberries, thyme, etc.
For a long time, manufacturers took advantage of the fact that inside the tea bag it was not visible what was poured inside, and used low-quality raw materials, which in taste and aroma hardly resembled a real drink. Recently, the situation has changed, there is a tendency for self-respecting manufacturers to start preparing tea bags from quality raw materials in order to maintain their reputation at a high level.
There is a myth that says that after a bag of raw materials is poured with boiling water, you can immediately drink the infusion. Firstly, you need to understand that depending on the type of tea, you need to use water of different temperatures for brewing, as well as withstand different duration of infusion. As a general rule, brewing in light colors (white, yellow, green) should be infused for 1-2 minutes, while the water temperature for the first type should not exceed 70 ° C, for the second - 75 ° C, for the third - 80 ° C.
Oolong, pu-erh, black (red) and herbal drinks take longer to brew - from two to 6 minutes. Most of them require the use of boiling water (for oolong - 85 ° C).
According to the recommendations of experts, for varieties with large leaves or fruit additives, the infusion time should be extended by 1-2 minutes.
The benefits and harms of black tea have been described many times, and are known to everyone. This drink not only tones, but also energizes, charges with a positive mood for the whole day.
The branded drink of the English trade mark Greenfield has long been sold on store shelves and is known to almost everyone. The goods are manufactured by the largest manufacturer in Russia, LLC Orimi.
The product is sold in various forms of release - boxes of 25 or 10 pieces, or as part of gift sets. Despite the fact that this is a Russian-made product, it is manufactured under license and in full compliance with the requirements of international standards. The composition has no extraneous additives, there is only one main ingredient - long ceylon tea.Since the bags are small in size, the contents are crushed, according to the international classification, it is closest to "sowing and crumb".
The box is standard for this type of goods - inside the cardboard box there are individual foil bags. Thanks to such packaging, the contents of the package retain their taste and aroma for a long time. According to the description on the package, to prepare the drink, pour boiling water over the sachet and leave for 3-5 minutes. On the advice of the tasters, such a long period should be kept only if you like strong tea. For an infusion of medium strength, it is enough to stand the bag for no more than 1 minute.
Specifications:
Index | Value |
---|---|
View | the black |
Variety | ceylon |
Country of origin of raw materials | Sri Lanka |
Shelf life | 36 months |
Number of sachets, pieces | 100 |
Average price, rub. | 107 |
Translated from English, the name of the product means "English breakfast". A cup of this aromatic drink is supposed to start the day, but it will be appropriate at any time of the day. The product is produced both in bulk and in packaged form. Buyers note the natural composition of the product - Kenyan, Indian and Ceylon black leaf, and nothing more.
A cardboard box contains 25 bags, each of which is in an individual foil envelope. The cardboard box has an incision at the bottom, along which you can tear off the window in order to take out the bags. Each individual envelope contains information on how to brew the infusion yourself, as well as its holding time (4 minutes). As with the previous product, it should be borne in mind that this time must be waited for to obtain a strong infusion; for a light drink, one minute is enough.
Specifications:
Index | Value |
---|---|
View | the black |
Variety | Kenyan, Indian, Ceylon black long |
Country of origin of raw materials | Asia |
Shelf life | 36 months |
Number of sachets, pieces | 25 |
Average price, rub. | 98 |
The products of this English company are not well known among ordinary customers, however, many of those who have tried the drink note its decent taste and aroma. Fans of the Earl gray variety argue that in case of doubts about the product of which company it is better to buy, you should pay attention to this particular manufacturer. The bags are made of special filter paper, which allows the grains to soak in water and saturate it with taste. They are great for quick brewing as they do not require long infusion. Each envelope is packed in a foil wrapped to prevent loss of flavor during storage. To give the drink an unusual aroma, bergamot flavoring is added to the composition.
Specifications:
Index | Value |
---|---|
View | the black |
Variety | Earl gray |
Country of origin of raw materials | India |
Shelf life | 36 months |
Number of sachets, pieces | 50 |
Average price, rub. | 399 |
One of the most delicious herbal and fruit teas, according to customers.The name of the tea translates as "pleasure", and indeed, after you taste it, it is difficult to give up the desire to brew another cup. The composition with rose hips, lemon, apple flavors is complemented by a light floral aroma. This drink is liked by both adults and children.
Mixed envelopes are packed in individual scent-preserving foil bags. Each of them has instructions for use. Despite the fact that the manufacturer requires 2-3 minutes of infusion, in a minute the drink acquires a pleasant taste.
Specifications:
Index | Value |
---|---|
View | the black |
Variety | Earl gray |
Country of origin of raw materials | India |
Shelf life | 36 months |
Number of sachets, pieces | 50 |
Average price, rub. | 399 |
The review is continued by the representative of Svay, who has established itself on the positive side with its taste. The product is packed in a cardboard box, inside of which are pyramids with large leaf tea. Many customers claim that this is one of the tastiest drinks that can be found on store shelves in Russia.
The pyramids are made of durable polymer material through which you can see that there are really large leaves inside. According to buyers, only boiling water is required for brewing, since tea will not be infused in warm water.
Specifications:
Index | Value |
---|---|
View | the black |
Variety | ceylon |
Country of origin of raw materials | Sri Lanka |
Shelf life | 24 months |
Number of sachets, pieces | 20 |
Average price, rub. | 185 |
The next contender in the rating is the product of the Russian company "Orimi" LLC, sold in bright packaging, on which, in addition to colorful drawings, a large amount of information is applied. Here you can familiarize yourself with the composition of the product and recommendations for brewing, as well as learn about new products from this brand with other flavors. Inside there are 25 bags, each of which is packed in an individual foil envelope.
After brewing, a dark yellow infusion with a rich and bright aroma is obtained. Buyers note that inside the sachet there are large pieces of leaflets, and not dust, as in most budget products.
Specifications:
Index | Value |
---|---|
View | green |
Variety | long green tea, chopped strawberries, mango, white peach and strawberry flavor |
Country of origin of raw materials | not known |
Shelf life | 24 months |
Number of sachets, pieces | 25 |
Average price, rub. | 59 |
Despite the fact that the name means lemon balm, in addition to it, to give the tea a pleasant taste, mint is added, as well as a natural lemon flavor. The colorful box holds 25 individually wrapped sachets. The contents of a bag of fine grinding, all fragments are equal to each other. The infusion turns out to be yellow-green in color, the more it is kept, the darker the result.
The taste of lemon balm is most pronounced, after which mint is felt, and lemon leaves a subtle aftertaste. After the cup is empty, no astringency or chemical aftertaste remains.
Specifications:
Index | Value |
---|---|
View | green |
Variety | long green tea, lemon balm and mint leaves, natural lemon flavor |
Country of origin of raw materials | China |
Shelf life | 24 months |
Number of sachets, pieces | 25 |
Average price, rub. | 224 |
There are 20 pyramids in a bright and colorful package, without individual packaging, which are simply piled on top of each other. The composition of the drink is unusual - in addition to the main ingredient, there is a pineapple, an artificial mango-flavored flavoring agent, as well as flower petals - rose, orange. Inside the pyramids are fragments of tea leaves and flower petals. All this creates an unusual exotic complex of taste and aroma that is popular with adults and children.
Buyers note the rich taste with minimal astringency of green tea, a pleasant fruity aftertaste. For brewing, you need to keep the pyramids in boiling water for no more than two minutes.
Specifications:
Index | Value |
---|---|
View | green |
Variety | green leaf tea, pineapple pieces, mango flavor, rose petals, orange blossom petals |
Country of origin of raw materials | China |
Shelf life | 24 months |
Number of sachets, pieces | 20 |
Average price, rub. | 128 |
This drink can be attributed to tea only conditionally, since this ingredient is in the last place in the composition, which indicates its small percentage. Besides him, here you can find leaves of currants, mint, goldenrod, hibiscus, chamomile and thyme, flowers and fruits of sea buckthorn, cornflower, rose hips. Tea has a tonic effect, energizes and saturates the body with vitamins. According to the manufacturer, the product is also able to relieve physical and mental fatigue accumulated during the day.
Inside the carton there is a tray containing a plastic bag with pyramids. One pyramid is designed for one teapot, or 3-4 cups of infusion. There is also a variant with sachets like those sold in regular tea packages. In this case, they are packed in individual foil envelopes. Buyers note that it is more convenient to brew pyramids or sachets than leaf collection, since it is difficult to completely remove it from the cup due to its small structure. The manufacturer recommends pouring boiling water over the contents of the pyramids and keeping it for 20-30 minutes.
Specifications:
Index | Value |
---|---|
View | green |
Variety | currant (leaf), mint (leaf), goldenrod, hibiscus, chamomile, sea buckthorn (leaf and berry), thyme, cornflower (color), wild rose, green tea |
Country of origin of raw materials | Russia |
Shelf life | 24 months |
Number of sachets, pieces | 10 |
Average price, rub. | 185 |
Made from Chinese long tea. In addition to natural sheet raw materials, there is nothing superfluous in the composition. The drink is more of a budget product, this can be seen from the way the manufacturer saved on everything - cheap cardboard packaging, the lack of individual envelopes for each sachet, etc. Inside the box there are 25 sachets of 1.8 grams each.
After brewing, the resulting brown tea is unlike regular green tea. Inside the sachet there are crushed medium-sized leaves, without impurities. The manufacturer recommends keeping the infusion in boiling water for 3 minutes, but after one it can be consumed.The more infusion, the stronger the drink.
Specifications:
Index | Value |
---|---|
View | green |
Variety | tea green leaf small chinese |
Country of origin of raw materials | China |
Shelf life | 36 months |
Number of sachets, pieces | 25 |
Average price, rub. | 50 |
The "green" modification of the English manufacturer deserves no less attention than the "black" one. The product is sold in colorful packaging, the color of which clearly hints at its contents. Each sachet is individually foil-wrapped to retain the flavor inside.
Buyers note the beautiful olive color of the infusion (which indicates the quality of the raw materials), as well as the rich taste with a creamy hue. Even after a long brew, the infusion does not acquire bitterness, as is the case with cheap varieties. This tea is recommended to be drunk fresh, as in this case it retains the maximum amount of nutrients.
Specifications:
Index | Value |
---|---|
View | green |
Variety | Chinese long green tea |
Country of origin of raw materials | China |
Shelf life | 36 months |
Number of sachets, pieces | 25 |
Average price, rub. | 110 |
This exclusive line from Lipton is not often found on store shelves. A beautiful bright box immediately attracts the attention of buyers. Inside there are twenty pyramids, in which are poured tea leaves, folded in a certain way. Besides them, the composition contains only osmanthus and pear flavors. The pyramids are translucent, through them you can see tea leaves rolled into tubes, which are straightened in boiling water.
The homeland of tea leaves is East Asia, namely the island of Java. The brand name is translated as "gunpowder". Buyers note that the number of leaves in the pyramid is enough not only for one, but even for 2 or three cups.
Specifications:
Index | Value |
---|---|
View | green |
Variety | long green tea, osmanthus and natural pear flavor |
Country of origin of raw materials | Java island |
Shelf life | 24 months |
Number of sachets, pieces | 20 |
Average price, rub. | 70 |
This novelty is suitable for those who like to experiment with different flavors. The brand is still rarely found on sale, but it has every chance of gaining popularity among lovers of the tea ceremony.
Inside the colorful package are 25 sachets, each individually wrapped. Immediately after brewing the bag, a pleasant tart aroma appears, after two minutes the infusion is ready. It takes on a rich yellow-brown color and a pleasant taste, leaving a delicate floral aftertaste. Bitterness is practically not felt, a small tea residue remains at the bottom of the cup. The tannin in green leaves can darken the walls of the cup, this is normal. Some connoisseurs note that the absence of such a plaque, on the contrary, may indicate that the raw materials used to make the product are not natural.
Specifications:
Index | Value |
---|---|
View | green |
Variety | green tea |
Country of origin of raw materials | China |
Shelf life | 24 months |
Number of sachets, pieces | 25 |
Average price, rub. | 126 |
A drink from a well-known eco manufacturer is rarely found on free sale, it is best to order it on the Iherb profile website. The first thing that catches your eye when looking at the packaging is a note about the caffeine content. In addition to this ingredient, there are also a variety of beneficial substances, including antioxidants. In addition to tea leaves, the composition includes: lemongrass, mint, passionfruit, plum and kombucha. The last ingredient is hardly known to anyone; the unusual word hides "kombucha", which was previously grown in jars on the windowsill. The brand is based on the name of the Indian Yogi Bhavan.
Each sachet has instructions for brewing tea. It is recommended to keep the infusion for about 3 minutes. If the strength is insufficient, you can use two envelopes. It is not recommended to exceed the daily requirement of 4 cups. The result is a pleasant infusion without bitterness, a pleasant fruity and floral aroma spreads around the room. Wishes and wise sayings are printed on the label of each packet.
Specifications:
Index | Value |
---|---|
View | green |
Variety | green tea, lemongrass, peppermint leaf, kombucha, natural passion fruit flavor, natural plum flavor |
Country of origin of raw materials | India |
Shelf life | 24 months |
Number of sachets, pieces | 16 |
Average price, rub. | 303 |
Due to the wide variety of tea brands, finding a tasty and inexpensive drink for every day is not an easy task. We recommend paying attention not only to the price of the product, but also to the ingredients from which it is made. It will not be superfluous to estimate (if there is such a possibility) the size of the grinding of the leaves. The larger they are, the tastier the infusion of them will be.
Unfortunately, brands that use natural raw materials are becoming less common, and even the brand that you are used to buying constantly can suddenly become noticeably worse. We recommend not to dwell on one brand and try new formulations, since there are more and more of them lately. Before buying, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with customer reviews of a particular brand to find out what to expect from your purchase. We hope that our article will help you navigate the variety of tea brands and make the right choice.