Black Tea

Gathering around a teapot, having heartfelt conversations, and listening to the sound of boiling water can be an extremely cozy experience. However, many people still have misconceptions about cooking tea. Let's take a look at some things to avoid so that your tea drinking doesn't turn into an embarrassing situation. 01 Cooking Tea Directly in an Iron Teapot Generally, iron teapots have pores and are "breathable." When cooking tea leaves, iron reacts with tannic acid in the tea, forming ferric tannate, which is also a component of blue-black ink. As a result, the tea broth turns bluish-black. While not toxic, it can irritate the stomach lining, causing nausea, vomiting, and digestive issues. Suggestion: Iron teapots are suitable for boiling water, but for cooking tea leaves, clay or glass teapots are recommended for better taste. 02 Any Type of Tea Can Be Cooked There are generally two types of tea suitable for cooking. The first is heavily fermented teas like ripe Pu'er, Liu Bao tea, old tea heads, old tea leaves, aged white tea, and aged Tieguanyin. The second type is aged teas, such as aged white tea, aged Pu'er, aged Wuyi rock tea, and aged Tieguanyin. On the other hand,…...

Wilting is a fundamental and critical process in tea processing that directly affects the aroma, taste, and final quality of the tea. This article will explain the wilting process in detail and explore its application in the production of different types of tea and its impact on their quality. Basic Principles of the Wilting Process Wilting, also known as “water walking,” refers to the process where freshly picked tea leaves are subjected to natural evaporation or assisted methods under specific environmental conditions. This allows the moisture content within the leaves to gradually decrease, making them softer and promoting changes in their internal chemical composition. This process aids in the formation of the tea's aroma and improvement of its flavor. Application of Wilting in Different Types of Tea The wilting process plays a crucial role in the production of various teas, but the specific methods and duration vary depending on the type of tea and the desired quality: Green Tea: The wilting process for green tea is typically shorter, aimed at gently promoting changes in the tea’s internal chemical composition to maintain its green color and fresh aroma. Black Tea: In black tea production, the wilting period is longer, which is…...

People often like to add other ingredients when drinking tea to adjust its flavor. Some foods can stimulate the tea, making its aroma more intense, while others can enhance the tea's health benefits. What is the best thing to pair with Pu'er tea? It depends on your goal. If you want to cleanse your digestive system, you can pair it with honey. If you're looking for beauty benefits, rose flowers are a good choice. The Chinese approach to tea consumption has never been limited to plain drinking. On the contrary, there are many ingredients that complement tea well and can be excellent for adjusting flavors and promoting health, even for Pu'er tea, which is often associated with plain drinking. The people of Yunnan have their own unique additions to this tea. Combinations for Drinking Pu'er Tea 1. Pu'er Ripened Tea with Honey Ripened Pu'er tea can be enjoyed with honey, making the brewed tea sweet but not cloying, with an improved taste and higher nutritional value. To prepare, place ripened Pu'er tea in a clean teaware, pour boiling water over it, and steep. Once steeped, transfer the tea to a cup, let it cool slightly, then stir in an appropriate…...

The liquor of black tea is bright red, and its taste is mellow, sweet, and pleasant. However, many friends find that black tea can be quite particular when brewing it; if the temperature isn’t right, the tea doesn’t taste as it should. To understand this issue of water temperature, we must first consider another question: the rate at which the internal components of the tea leaves are released. It’s easy to understand that the higher the water temperature, the faster these components will be released. If you want a cup of tea that is full-bodied in color, aroma, and flavor quickly, then boiling water is the way to go. There has always been a belief in the industry that tender teas can be scalded by boiling water. However, considering green tea is often processed at temperatures above 85°C during stir-frying, where does the idea of scalding come from? Black tea is not stir-fried but goes through drying or sun-drying processes, typically at temperatures below 85°C. This leads to an interesting question: stir-fried green tea cannot be brewed with boiling water, nor can fermented black tea, suggesting that black tea is even more delicate than green tea? When it comes to…...

Unique Geographic Landscape The birthplace of Zhengshan XiaoZhong black tea, Tongmu Village in Xingcun Town, Wuyishan City (formerly Chongan County), is located within the Fujian Wuyi Mountain National Nature Reserve. The reserve lies between 27°33'N and 27°54'N latitude and 117°27'E and 117°51'E longitude, spanning 22 kilometers from southeast to northwest and 52 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of 565 square kilometers. Compared with other regions at the same latitude, Wuyi Mountain is situated in a humid forest zone, which offers unique natural environmental conditions. Its location on the edge of the world's largest continent and two major oceans means that it experiences strong northeast and east winds in winter, and warm and humid southeast and southwest winds in summer, along with frequent typhoons during summer and autumn, providing abundant rainfall. This region has the lowest temperatures, highest rainfall, highest relative humidity, and most fog days in Fujian Province. Under the climatic conditions of hot and rainy summers and wet and cold winters, a unique geographic landscape has formed around Wuyi Mountain. A World-Renowned Treasure Trove of Biodiversity Tongmu Village is located in the northern part of the Wuyi Mountain Range, within the Wuyi Mountain National Nature…...

Black tea is made from fully fermented (fermentation degree greater than 80%) tea leaves, using new buds and leaves suitable for making this type of tea as raw materials. It undergoes typical processes such as rolling, fermentation, and drying. Black tea contains various vitamins, and its leaves and infusion are red in color. It has the effects of invigorating the spirit, relieving fatigue, quenching thirst, cooling heat, and promoting diuresis. The Benefits and Effects of Black Tea 1. Elimination of Fatigue The caffeine contained in black tea stimulates the cerebral cortex and excites the central nervous system, thus having a refreshing and invigorating effect. It can also stimulate blood vessels and the heart, accelerating blood circulation, promoting metabolism, and facilitating the excretion of lactic acid (a substance that causes muscle fatigue), which helps to alleviate fatigue. 2. Prevention of Colds The flavonoids in black tea have the ability to kill toxic bacteria in food and render the influenza virus non-infectious. In addition to preventing colds, gargling with black tea can be beneficial when suffering from a sore throat due to a cold. 3. Prevention of Blood Clots The polyphenol antioxidants present in black tea exhibit clear anti-coagulant and fibrinolytic effects,…...

Summer is a good time to expel the cold and dampness from your body. As temperatures rise, so does the humidity in the air. For those with high levels of dampness, this can be even more harmful. Do you know how to get rid of dampness? Here are some recommended teas for summer to help. Tea is not medicine, but it's a great health drink. Although tea is not medicine, different people with different constitutions should make different choices. For those with high levels of dampness, there should also be different considerations when choosing tea... What are the harms of having high levels of dampness? 1. When dampness meets cold, it becomes cold-dampness; when it meets heat, it becomes damp-heat; when it meets wind, it becomes wind-dampness. Under the skin, it causes obesity; 2. If dampness remains in the body and isn't eliminated, one may experience loose stools and unformed feces. The tongue may appear yellowish and greasy; 3. Those with high levels of dampness feel lethargic throughout the day, affecting digestive functions. They may feel heavy-headed, with limbs and waist feeling weighed down by something, making them reluctant to move; 4. Those with high levels of dampness tend to…...

Black tea is a fully fermented tea and is the most consumed type of tea worldwide. Its mild nature makes it suitable for general consumption and is a popular recommendation among merchants. To fully appreciate the unique flavor of high-quality teas like ancient tree black tea, it must be brewed correctly. So how should one brew ancient tree black tea? Awakening the Tea: Use water at approximately 85°C for 10 seconds to awaken the tea. The resulting infusion will have a light apricot color that appears somewhat dull. When cooled, the tea has a rich, burnt aroma and a thin yet sweet taste with noticeable aftertaste. First Sipping (Third Infusion): Brew for about 5 seconds using water at around 85°C. The infusion turns a deep brownish red and emits a reddish glow in the cup. It tastes sweet right away, is rich and smooth, and leaves a lasting fragrance in the mouth. The sweetness remains in the mouth, encouraging continuous sipping. The lid of the cup has a faint burnt and sweet aroma mixed with a hint of milkiness. The bottom of the cup has a more pronounced milky aroma mixed with honey notes that linger. Fourth Infusion: The texture…...

Tea is the best beverage for middle-aged and elderly people. Scientific analysis has shown that tea contains proteins, fats, over 10 types of vitamins, as well as nearly 300 components such as polyphenols, caffeine, and lipopolysaccharides, which can regulate physiological functions and play a variety of health-preserving and pharmacological roles. What are the greatest benefits of drinking tea? 1. Improves Muscle Endurance. There is an antioxidant in tea called "catechins," which can increase the body's ability to burn fat, improve muscle endurance, help fight fatigue, and increase the duration of physical exercise. Regular consumption of green tea shows the most significant effects. 2. Fights Ultraviolet Radiation. Tea polyphenols are water-soluble substances. Washing your face with tea water can remove facial grease, tighten pores, and have disinfecting, sterilizing, and anti-aging effects on the skin. It also helps reduce damage from ultraviolet rays in sunlight, acting as a natural "sunscreen." 3. Maintains Body Shape. The caffeine in tea can promote the secretion of gastric juice, aid digestion, and enhance the body’s ability to break down fat. Regular tea consumption can reduce waist circumference, lower body mass index (BMI), and thus help prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. 4. Protects Against Radiation. Tea polyphenols…...

Bohetang is located in the Yiwu Mansa tea region, hidden deep within the mountains at an altitude of around 1,400 to 1,620 meters, with coordinates at 101°32' East and 22°5' North. It is a small mountain hollow nestled deep within the primeval forest. The vegetation here is very well preserved. This mysterious tea garden was discovered when planting "herbal spices" in the depths of the forest. It was named Bohetang because of a naturally occurring patch of mint leaves found there. What types of tea trees are there in Bohetang? The tea area is not large, with very old trees that vary in height, scattered here and there, most of which are 5 to 8-meter-old trees. Bohetang is divided into two tea plots: Upper Tea Plot and Lower Tea Plot. All the famous ancient tea trees are in the Lower Tea Plot, while the Upper Tea Plot was planted by local farmers after 1982. Bohetang Categories One, Two, and Three Category One: Primarily refers to the tall ancient trees in Bohetang, with about 50 trees marked, one has died, leaving 49 remaining. Category Two: Estimated to be over a hundred years old, some have been pruned. Category Three: These are…...

When storing tea, attention should be paid to avoiding light exposure, moisture, odors, and high temperatures. Exposure to sunlight can cause chlorophyll in the leaves to fade, darkening the color of the tea, so care should be taken to avoid light; in damp places, tea is prone to mold, so attention should be given to moisture control; tea has a strong adsorption capacity and can easily absorb odors from other objects, altering its aroma, so care should be taken to avoid odors; additionally, high temperatures can accelerate the degradation of tea, so it's important to avoid high temperatures. What Influences Should Be Noted During the Storage of Tea? I. Green Tea Storage Method: Refrigerate. If you need to store for a short period and want to drink it at any time, place green tea in the refrigerator and set the temperature to around 5°C. If the tea is unopened and you want to preserve it for over a year, then store it in the freezer. Best Time to Drink: Within 1-2 months after opening, or within one year if unopened. Points to Note: 1. You can use quicklime to absorb moisture from the tea, package it in an aluminum composite…...

Master the Art of Brewing with the Right Temperature and You'll Be a Tea Connoisseur Too There are many types of tea, each with its unique flavor profile, and the water temperature used for brewing directly affects the taste and aroma of the tea. Understanding the appropriate water temperatures for different teas is key to making a great cup of tea. Whether it's green tea, black tea, oolong tea, white tea, yellow tea, or Pu'er tea, each has its ideal brewing temperature. Let's explore the optimal brewing temperatures for various teas so that every cup you make can be a moment of pure enjoyment. Green Tea: Fresh and Natural, Tender Leaves Need Gentleness Green tea is unfermented, retaining the natural green color and fresh taste of the leaves. Due to the high content of polyphenols and vitamins in green tea, a lower water temperature is required for brewing. The Optimal Brewing Temperature for Green Tea Brewing Temperature: 75-80°C Brewing Time: 1-2 minutes Using water at 75-80°C helps avoid releasing too much bitterness from the tea while preserving its refreshing and crisp taste. The brewing time should not exceed 1-2 minutes, allowing the delicate aroma and fresh flavor of the young…...