Black Tea – A Quick Guide
Black tea is a type of tea that is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have been oxidized. It has a dark colour and a robust flavour. Black tea is one of the world’s most popular types of tea, especially in Europe and North America.
A cup of black tea contains about half the amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. It can be consumed hot or cold, but it is usually served hot with milk and sugar or lemon.
What is the History of Black Tea?
There are many legends about the origins of Black tea, but they are most commonly linked to Chinese culture. The Chinese word for “tea” is yin cha and is pronounced the same as the characters for “dark tea.” It is commonly mistaken for a type of black tea but more accurately refers to “ruled tea.”
The story goes that an emperor named Shennong, who ruled during the 27th century BC, was sitting under a tree when some leaves from the tree blew into his cup of boiling water. He found it to taste good and drank some more for taste. From then on, he would drink this concoction regularly, and his subjects followed suit.
This story has been handed down for generations in China, but many other stories exist about the discovery or invention of tea. One such story tells about the Bodhidharma, who was said to be a Buddhist monk from India who travelled to China in 500 AD. He had been meditating for nine years without sleep or food when he fell asleep due to exhaustion, and a few leaves blew into his mouth while he slept, which made him wake up feeling refreshed.
How does it taste?
The taste of black tea is a complex mixture of flavours. The prominent flavour is due to the oxidation process during production.
The taste can be described in many ways. It can be bitter, astringent, robust, sharp and pungent. The level of these tastes depends on several factors, including the type of leaves and water used in production and the time it has been brewed.
What are the health benefits?
Drinking tea is one of the best ways to stay healthy as this not only absorbs toxic elements from the body but also protects the heart and lowers the risk of diabetes, stroke and depression. Drinking black tea can help boost your metabolism, which in turn helps you lose weight.
Some of the health benefits are:
– Boosts your metabolism.
– Helps you lose weight.
– Improves cognitive function and mood.
– Lowers risk of heart disease and diabetes.
No sugar or milk is an excellent choice as it boosts your metabolism and eliminates fat cells. It also has no side effects for people with sensitive stomachs or diabetes mellitus type 2 and does not cause tooth decay. Black tea also reduces cancer risks as it blocks toxins and carcinogens entering the body, thus reducing cancerous growths in body parts, including breasts, bladder etc.
How do People Enjoy it?
People drink black tea for many reasons. Some people drink it because they enjoy the taste, while others drink it because they believe it has health benefits. Black tea-drinking culture varies from country to country, but there are some similarities in black tea-drinking traditions across different cultures.
In China, people drink in the morning and afternoon. In the evening, they drink green tea.
In India, people drink with milk and sugar. They also add spices like cardamom or cinnamon to make it more flavorful.
In Japan, people drink after dinner as a dessert or snack.
Understanding the Difference Between Black and Green Teas
The difference between black and green tea is in how they are processed. Black tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, which are fermented before drying. Green tea is made from unfermented leaves that are dried without fermenting them first.
How do you make?
Making black tea is a simple process. All you need is boiling water, a cup, and some black tea leaves.
First, boil the water in a pot or kettle. Then pour the boiling water into your cup. Add the desired amount of black tea leaves to your cup and steep it for 3-5 minutes. Finally, enjoy your hot cup of black tea!
