How to Choose Quality Tea? Simple Tips for Connoisseurs of Elite Chinese Varieties
How to properly choose tea? What is the best Chinese tea? What is the most delicious Chinese tea? How to select quality tea? Where to buy good tea? These and many other questions arise almost every time when the topic concerns the choice of one of the popular and sought-after drinks among Ukrainians – aromatic tea that warms in winter and refreshes in summer.
Quality, variety, taste, aroma, and beneficial properties. These are precisely the criteria to pay attention to when buying tea. In reality, the situation is such that most Ukrainians buy the product in supermarkets without considering the above qualities of the tea leaf. And that’s a mistake! Tea is a drink "for the soul and body," and tea drinking is a wonderful opportunity not only to enjoy a tasty, aromatic, and healthy drink but also to relax, clear the mind, gain new energy, and calm the nervous system… This is believed not only by the Chinese but by millions worldwide. Every variety of quality Chinese tea (not counting bagged surrogates made from dust and fannings) has not only unique taste and aroma but also a healing composition that positively affects the human body as a whole. Each type works differently and has an exclusive taste and aroma with individual notes and shades.
Benefits of Chinese Tea
If we refer to the topics "tea benefits and harms" and "Chinese tea varieties," we can highlight the main points. With regular consumption:
- Black tea – raises blood pressure.
- Green tea – protects the cardiovascular system from diseases.
- Red tea – strengthens the immune system and perfectly quenches thirst.
- White tea – slows aging at the cellular level.
- Yellow tea – regenerates bone tissue, helping to get rid of arthritis and rheumatism.
- Pu-erh – tones and normalizes gastrointestinal function.
- Oolong – promotes proper and active weight loss.
The best tea varieties have multiple healing directions beyond those listed above. The benefits of each type are substantial and extensive. You can learn detailed descriptions of each variety on the pages of our blog.
Returning to the article’s topic: how to choose good tea? There are main criteria that determine the quality of tea leaves.
- Color. The blend should have a uniform color. For black tea, leaves should be black; for green tea – green. If there are brown, "rusty," or gray shades in any variety, it indicates poor quality or improper storage.
- Size. Good tea has tea leaves of approximately the same size that meet international standards.
- Cleanliness. Quality raw material has no foreign inclusions (crushed leaves, crumbs, sticks, dust, twigs, wood, paper, etc.).
- Leaf curling: weak and strong. A sign of quality fermentation is strong curling of tea leaves. Large-leaf varieties typically have a long, thin shape. For green teas: strong curling means a stronger tea, weak curling means a milder taste and stronger aroma. Uncurled leaves indicate natural drying methods.
- Moisture level. Quality tea contains 3–6% moisture. The more moisture, the worse the quality. At 20%, the raw material molds and becomes toxic. Overdry leaves become brittle. You can easily check by rubbing a few leaves in your palm. If they turn to dust easily – zero quality. If the leaf quickly returns to its original form, it indicates the right moisture content and high quality.
- Smell. Leaves should have a pleasant characteristic aroma without foreign notes. Good black tea smells resinous-floral or slightly sweet, green tea – grassy and slightly bitter. The smell of burning indicates overdrying. Any foreign smell indicates poor storage and packaging.
- Freshness. All quality Chinese teas are characterized by freshness except Pu-erh, which improves and becomes more expensive with age. Price depends on leaf age: the most expensive tea has leaves 1–2 months old, 3–5 month old leaves cost less but taste and aroma differences are hardly noticeable, and healing properties remain unchanged. Tea loses value significantly if stored 6 months to a year. Buy freshly packed leaves that have not lost much aroma. Tea stored over a year develops strong astringency, bitterness, and unpleasantness.
- Understand that the maximum aroma and beneficial properties of real Chinese tea are short-lived. Therefore, buy in small portions.
How to Choose Black Tea?
In Ukraine, "black tea" refers both to classic black varieties and Chinese red teas. Pu-erh, one of the most elite fermented varieties that becomes tastier and more aromatic with age, also belongs here. Since black tea is the most popular in Ukraine, we give it special attention and list the main criteria for choosing it.
- Leaves should have a uniform black color.
- Leaves should be of the same size.
- When rubbed between fingers, the raw material should not crumble into dust. When squeezed, the leaf should return to its original shape.
- Tea should have a pleasant smell without foreign notes. Large leaves give a mild taste, medium leaves – astringency and richness. Granulated tea is considered lowest quality.
How to Choose Tea by Type?
Regarding types, there are two subdivisions: by leaf form and by packaging.
Types by Leaf Form
- Whole leaf – the most expensive and high-class tea. Made from unopened buds – tips and young leaves. The more tips in the raw material, the higher its quality (more aromatic, tastier, more valuable drink).
- Medium leaf – mid-price category. Made from broken and specially crushed leaves. The infusion is strong and astringent, brews faster but loses the aroma present in whole-leaf tea.
- Small leaf – the cheapest. Made from specially crushed leaves and even production residues from whole and medium leaf types.
Types by Packaging
- Loose leaf – the most common form, consisting of many separate tea leaves packed in paper or metal packaging.
- Pressed – looks like briquettes of various shapes formed under high pressure. Shapes can be simple or fancy – ball, square, disc, mushroom… Weight from 100 grams and up.
- Extracted – tea extract or concentrate without natural tea leaf. Granules or powder synthesized chemically.
Which Tea is Best to Buy?
This depends on taste, preferences, desired healing effect, and product cost. If you value a bright sweet taste with a smoky aromatic note, an ideal choice is expensive Pu-erh. If you like delicate, refined drinks, explore the exquisite privilege of white and yellow teas. If you want to enjoy something original and at the same time slowly but surely reduce excess weight, regularly drink oolong tea, and your figure will always be slim and attractive.
Whatever variety you choose, remember: elite Chinese tea should be drunk slowly and in small sips, gradually enjoying subtle taste and aroma notes. It is not meant to be drunk "on the go." It gives healing effects only when treated with due attention and respect.
Chinese Tea for Weight Loss, Names
Women and men who want to lose weight cannot but be interested in the effect of Chinese teas on body cleansing. The effectiveness of these products has been proven for centuries. Millions have been convinced that quality elite Chinese teas:
- accelerate metabolism,
- make the body actively break down stored fat reserves,
- prevent the formation of fat layers,
- remove toxins,
- eliminate excess fluid,
- reduce hunger,
- help get rid of the habit of overeating,
- tone up,
- improve mood,
- help cope with stress.
If we look at their effectiveness classification, we can conclude:
- oolongs help lose weight best,
- second – white teas,
- third – green teas,
- fourth – yellow teas.
Where to Buy Good Tea?
Suppose you’ve decided which tea to choose. The next question: where to buy Chinese tea? We mean high-quality tip variety. The definite answer: only in trusted specialized tea shops and online stores that ensure not only direct product supply from China but also proper raw material storage. Otherwise, there’s no point in buying an expensive product. Good Chinese tea will be such if you buy it from a professional seller who treats tea as a true treasure that can give people warmth, joy, and pleasure on a physical and spiritual level. If you turn to "Miy Chai," you can be convinced of staff professionalism, raw material quality, proper storage, fast delivery, and optimal pricing.
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