Contents
Introduction
Black tea, also called “red tea”, is known as the most popular tea in the West. The list of black tea is very diverse, making black tea a good choice for blending with other ingredients. Some of the famous tea beverages made using black tea are Earl Grey Tea, English breakfast, Masala chai, etc. Many people use black tea daily, most likely due to its bold flavor and long shelf life.
What is black tea?
Black tea is produced from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Different from green tea, black tea is oxidized for a long time. This causes the tea leaves to turn into dark brown colors. Black tea is known as red tea due to the reddish color of its liquor. The flavor can range from malty or smoky to fruity and sweet. Black tea has a strong taste and sweet aftertaste.
Black tea is currently produced in India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya, Vietnam,… This proves the popularity of black tea in the world.
The processing method of black tea creates its distinctive appearance and flavor. So, how is black tea made?
How is black tea made?
The process of making tea can be done according to 2 methods: Orthodox and CTC (Cut, Tear, Curl). With Orthodox, tea leaves will be rolled to have the finished black tea leaves which are long and slightly twisted. Besides, in the CTC processing method, tea leaves will be cut into fine pieces, then rolled up into pellets. Due to the difference in appearance, CTC tea is brewed quicker than Orthodox tea.
Know more about the difference between black tea Othodox and CTC:
Orthodox processing method
– Selecting freshest tea leaves: Tea leaves are picked by hand to get the highest quality.
– Withering: Freshly harvested tea leaves are withered under a fan cooling system to achieve the desired amount of moisture.
– Rolling: Through the rolling process, the cell walls of tea leaves are broken, releasing their enzymes and other compounds.
– Fermentation: Fermentation creates some chemical changes that make the color and taste of black tea.
– Drying: The leaves are dried to stop the fermentation process and finish the tea for sale.
– Sorting and classifying tea grades: Black tea is removed from impurities and classified into different grades.
– Packing: Tea is packed in PP/PE bags for storage.
CTC processing method
– Selecting freshest tea leaves: Tea leaves are picked by hand to get the highest quality.
– Withering: Freshly harvested tea leaves are withered under a fan cooling system to achieve the desired amount of moisture.
– Rolling: Through the rolling process, the cell walls of tea leaves are broken, releasing their enzymes and other compounds.
– Cutting/Tearing/Curling (CTC): Tea leaves pass through cylindrical rollers with sharp teeth that will crush, tear and curl the tea into tiny, hard green pellets.
– Fermentation: Fermentation creates some chemical changes that make the color and taste of black tea.
– Drying: The tea is dried to stop the fermentation process and finish the tea for sale.
– Sorting and classifying tea grades: Black tea is removed from impurities and classified into different grades.
– Packing: Tea is packed in PP/PE bags for storage.
Related products:
Is black tea good for health?
Black tea brings many health benefits, including boosting heart health, helping with digestion, and reducing stress,… That is the reason why black tea has become more and more popular.
– Good for energy: Caffeine in tea can help to boost energy, promote blood circulation to the brain, help alertness and increase concentration.
– High in antioxidants: Black tea is a good source of antioxidants, which will help to reduce harmful free radicals, and reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases.
– Good for heart health: Flavonoids, which are found in black tea, are very effective in preventing heart attacks and strokes.
– Helping with digestion: Black tea contains tannins and other chemicals that can soothe stomach troubles.
– Reducing stress: Drinking black tea can help to reduce stress due to L-theanine, an amino acid in tea. L-theanine helps to relax, improve mood and increase the ability to concentrate on work.
How to brew black tea?
To make a good cup of tea, you should use one teaspoon of black tea leaves for every six ounces in your pot. Before pouring into it, the temperature of the water can range from 190° to 212°F. Then, add the leaves to the boiling water and steep for 2 to 6 minutes. The time will depend on the type of black and your tastes. After that, pour the tea through a strainer so that there is no tea leaf in your cups.
Black tea is usually more astringent and bitter than green tea, but when brewed properly, it becomes milder and more flavorful. It is the unique flavor, which makes black tea different from other types of tea.
Read more about how to make a good cup of tea here:
How to make a good cup of tea with loose leaf at first time for beginners
How much caffeine is in black tea?
The caffeine content in black tea depends on several factors, including tea varieties, the number of tea leaves in a cup, the size of leaves, water temperature, and steep time. In general, caffeine in black tea is less than in coffee but more than in green tea. Generally speaking, black tea contains between 14 to 61 milligrams of caffeine per 8 fl oz brew. However, black tea beverages blended with other ingredients such as milk,… will have less caffeine than pure black tea.
Source:
https://www.harney.com/pages/black-tea-101
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/caffeine-in-tea-vs-coffee#caffeine-concerns
Conclusion
Besides green tea, black tea is also a popular type of tea. With the unique taste, black tea Orthodox and CTC become more and more popular. Black tea has become an indispensable drink in some cultures around the world. For more information about black tea, contact our tea experts via email at info@vietnam-tea.com.
About Future Generation Co., Ltd
We are FGC, the leading tea exporter in Vietnam and one of the biggest tea suppliers in the world. Our tea products are diverse in types, grades, and production methods. We provide customers with Loose tea (such as Black tea, Green tea, and Oolong tea), Herbal tea ( such as Rose tea, Chamomile tea, and Lotus tea), and Specialty tea (such as Matcha), RTD Tea, and Teabags. Our mission is to become Vietnam’s leading healthy beverage company.
We ensure stable tea sources for domestic markets and exports with vast high-grown tea farms and available herb gardens. Our tea gardens and factories also meet international standards such as VietGAP, ISO, HACCP, etc. In addition, we constantly innovate our machinery system, strengthen production capacity, and increase productivity. We also provide private label and customized packaging services for small and medium enterprises.
If you are tea distributors, tea importers, teashop managers, or even tea lovers, we are committed to being your prestigious tea source supplier in Vietnam!
Contact:
Address: R4 building, Office Quarter 02, Royal City, 72A Nguyen Trai St., Thanh Xuan Dist., Hanoi.
Phone: +84 24 73 000 125/ +84 24 6664 7788
Mail: info@vietnam-tea.com
Website: https://vietnam-tea.com/
