About tea, its variety, production and consumption

Man created many varieties of tea: black, yellow, white, green, red, differing from each other not only in color, but also in appearance and taste. It is not surprising, since tea is a favorite drink of many. After the tea is harvested, in most cases it goes through 3 stages of processing:

• fermentation;
• drying;
• sorting.

After sorting into large-leaf, small-leaf and other parameters, tea is packed in large or small boxes and bags to go to points of sale where you can buy it.

The nuances of processing various varieties and types of tea

Each type of processing has its own characteristics as:

1. Black tea. The most demanded drink among amateurs. Differs in appearance and different tastes depending on the size of the finished sheet and other features. Black tea is processed for a long time, about 18 hours is spent on wilting the leaves, provided that the weather is dry. True, in artificially created conditions, this process is reduced to 4-5 hours. After that, the leaves are rolled, starting fermentation, and dried.
2. When processing green tea, the biggest challenge is to stop the fermentation process so that the tea leaf retains its original flavor and aroma. The leaves are steamed, rolled, dried, and as a result, a useful product, small or large-leaf, is obtained, which is especially valuable.
3. Red tea falls between green and black. Its infusion has a tart taste and yellow-red color. Technology Leaf processing consists of several stages:
   • drying;
   • twisting;
   • fermentation for a short time;
   • steam treatment;
   • the last is drying, after which the tea is packaged in boxes and paper bags.
4. White tea is a special drink made from the youngest leaves and even buds. They are slightly dried, scattered to dry under the sun, and then transferred to the shade. Fermentation in this case is as weak as the taste of the brewed tea is light.

In addition to just white, green, black, red teas, there are derivatives from them that have their own names.

Tea drinks with proper names

• Puer tea. This is an ancient Chinese drink, as the locals believe, prolonging life, endowing with beauty and health. Its leaves are plucked from ordinary tea trees. There are 3 types of pu-erh: green, black, white, and its taste depends on the shape into which it was pressed after the main processing.
  
  
  
• Oolong tea or oolong tea. These are the most fragrant medium fermented drinks in China. There are many of them, and they are called differently:
  • Tie Guan Yin;
  • milk oolong;
  • alishan and others.
  
  
  
  
  Oolongs are not only fragrant, but also delicious.
• Matcha or Matcha is a type of green tea made from young leaves using a special technology in China and Japan. The resulting product is converted to a bright green powder. Prepare a drink by pouring boiling water over it, and then whipping it with a special whisk. Drink without sugar.
  
  
  
  
• Mate is very unusual due to its raw materials and production peculiarities. It is made from Paraguayan holly foliage and has a tobacco flavor added during manufacture. There are so many invigorating substances in it that it can compete with any kind of coffee. Today it is grown not only in Paraguay, but also in Argentina and Brazil.
  
  
  
  
• Rooibos or Rooibos. It is a red or green tea of South African origin with a unique taste. Different colors of the drink are obtained due to special processing. Red is made from needle-like leaves as well as the stems of the aspalatus plant, which are crushed and fermented. Green tea is hardly processed and, as a result, ordinary green tea is obtained, which differs from others in herbal taste. Manufacturers also create flavored varieties: strawberry, vanilla, chocolate.
  
  
  
  
• Bound or flower tea. This is an amazingly delicious aromatic drink, the buds of which open in a tea vessel. Its manufacturing technology is rather complicated, so it is quite expensive, but if desired, it is easy to order, since it is in demand and is widespread everywhere.
  
  
  
  
• Herbal tea contains various plants, among which there are many medicinal ones. It may include:
  • herbs;
  • flowers;
  • leaves of shrubs and trees;
  • different fruits;
  • plants' seeds;
  • their bark.
  
  
  
  Herbal teas are exceptionally healthy drinks, but since they have a healing effect and affect the body, it is worth consulting a doctor before consuming this or that type.
• Composite teas most often contain a mixture of black and green drinks with flowers, fruits and various herbs. They are tasty and healthy, many can be drunk both hot and cold.
  
  
  

In addition to the listed ones, there are also fruit teas, from which you can either choose ready-made ones sold in offline and online stores, or make them yourself. But in the case of fruit and herbal drinks, it should be borne in mind that purchased ones are made by masters who accurately observe the technology and proportions to obtain the desired taste and the necessary useful elements.