General, Health Benefits
Tea Story In A Nutshell
All teas’ detailing with green, oolong, white , yellow, black originates from the leaves of the peculiar plant known as the Camellia Sinensis . The first step in the tea-making process is the plucking of the tea leaves . So the leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant is plucked and then the oxidation begins.
Now oxidation means that the polyphenols like the flavonoids, theaflavins , tannins as well as the enzymes in the leaf reacts with oxygen . This process can also be termed as enzymatic browning.Some also substitute the term oxidation with fermentation.
Now oxidation means that the polyphenols like the flavonoids, theaflavins , tannins as well as the enzymes in the leaf reacts with oxygen . This process can also be termed as enzymatic browning.Some also substitute the term oxidation with fermentation.
Lets take a glance into details into some of the following teas:
- Black Tea: Also known as the Regular tea. Here oxidation can be given as much as desired. First the leaf is left to wilt, lose moisture, acquire stiffness and weigh. Then rolled, which leads to oxidation by breaking the cell walls. After a couple of hours, it is fired. English Breakfast falls in this category, though this is usually comprised of commercial black teas: grown in many countries, harvested and processed mechanically and then blended perfectly for consistency.
- Green Tea: After the leaf is picked and heated immediately by steaming, pan-firing ,oxidation is prevented. This changes the leaf’s color. The leaf gets formed into a variety of shapes. This type of tea was traditionally made in Japan, China as well as Korea.
- Oolong Tea: After plucking, the tea leaves are partially oxidized before undergoing the shaping and heating process. The shaping depends upon numerous rolling, twisting. This type of tea requires great tactics to make, and results in a wide range of flavors and fragrances. Oolongs have the added advantage of steeping multiple number of times with consistent flavors and aromas every time it gets steeped.
Therefore, various tea making procedures matter for preparing the perfect tea leaves.
