TeaOverview on Tea Leaf Family and Its Flavors
A cup of tea is just more than a refreshment drink. It is a companion that accompanies us right from the daybreak and helps us breathe an air of relief in the midst of daily chores. Gourmet tea forms an inevitable part of chatting sessions with friends and dear ones and adds flavor in our leisure hours.
It is interesting to note that gourmet loose tea leaf is available in variety of tea types. Some of the most popular gourmet tea leaf includes Black tea, Green tea, Oolong tea, Matcha tea and more. Each of these widely differs in their origin, processing and taste. Among those mentioned above, green tea happens to be a widely popular gourmet tea variety and is an accredited in many countries and regions. The tea originated mainly in China and Japan. Due to minimal oxidation process, green tea is capable of retaining most of its essential ingredients. The tea is rich in Vitamin C and smells like fresh cut grass. It exhibits anti-oxidant properties and is highly recommended for individuals affected by obesity. Very often the tea has been subjected to research by scholars and some researchers advocate the fact that green tea is capable of preventing certain types of cancer and neurological diseases.
The features and properties of green tea are strikingly similar to that of Oolong tea leaf. Mostly found in valleys of China and Taiwan, the amber colored tea leaves are generally long and emit a rosy aroma. However unlike its counter parts, it goes through a shorter oxidation process and hence is able to retain most of its natural properties. The tea is handpicked in early spring and then process manually by using traditional techniques. In some cases, the tea is rolled to produce long curly varieties and again sometimes it is grinded to form ball like structure. When the tea is put into shape of long curls, it is often referred as black dragon tea.
Matcha is yet another loose tea variety composed of antioxidant properties. The tea was first brought into Japan by monk Eisai. The tea was consumed in monasteries and slowly became a part of Japanese heritage. The specialty of this tea type is that it significantly boosts oneò€™s energy level immediately after consumption. The processing techniques are very similar to that of other gourmet tea leaf. During the phase of early plantation, the leaves are protected from sunlight so as to increase its chlorophyll content. This makes the leaves darker and increases the content of amino acids that makes it sweeter in taste. However, when consumed, the leaves are not removed when brewed but whisked with water and consumed entirely. Sometimes, the leaves are also mixed with orange juice or cold soy milk to spice up the connoisseur.
Apart from the mentioned types, other varieties of gourmet tea leaf include Black tea, Rooibos, Pu-Erh, organic and herbal tea. Each has its own unique flavor and contributes to maintain sound health of its consumer. Tea addicts find gourmet leaf a sound health product and also a rejuvenating drink that would spice up their mood after every afternoon siesta.