What are the varieties of black teas?
Unblended black teas are found almost anywhere in the world and had produced a wide array for varieties of black teas to choose from. Usually, they got their names from the region where they are cultivated and produced. And so, different teas from different regions offer different and unique flavors.
Here are some of those varieties:
1. From China
a. Fujian Province:
• Tanyang Gongfu - it is one of the three popular Fujian Artisan Red teas; considered as the The king of the Fujian Artisan Red Teas.
• Zhenghe Gongfu - the second of the popular Fujian Artisan red teas; it has a hint of honey in its flavor
• Bailan gongfu - the third of the popular Fujian Arisan red teas
• Zhengshan xiaozhong - it is described as having a string flavor. Others described it as being smokey; it is dried using a burning pine
• Yin Junmei or silver steed eyebrow - this is the higher class and version of Zhengshan xiaozhong
• Jin Junmei or golden steed eyebrow - considered as one of the highest among the red teas in China
b. Anhui Province
• Keemun - one of China's popular teas. Its mell is somewhat fruity and flowery.
c. Yunnan Province
• Dian Hong - it produces the best black and malty teas; also produces golden bud teas.
d. Guandong Province
• Ying De Hong - it has a sweet after taste; described as resembling the taste of cocoa
Others include:
• Assam black teas - described as strong, full-bodied and malty
• Darjeeling black teas from West Bengal - floral, fruity and thin bodied; also processed with black, green or oolong teas but still classified as black.
• Tibeti - also known as the Tibetan Tea and brick tea
• Munnar
• Langra
• Nilgiri - aromatic, fragtand and strong black tea
• Ceylon from Sri lanka - it is decribed as having strong yet light taste as well.; it has a hint of citrus
How are black teas graded?
Of course, black teas are graded base on its quality. Generally, whole leaf black teas have the highest quality. Next are the broken tea leaves and then fannings and lastly, dusts. The reason whole black leaf teas are on top is because they are manufactured with little (if not no) changes to the tea leaf's natural properties. Thus, the coarser texture of the tea bags. Therefore, these type of black teas are the rarest and most sought after, and therefore quite expensive. Broken leaves are of medium grade. Fannings, on the other hand are commonly described as leftovers of teas that were used for manufacturing larger varieties of teas. Dusts have the tiniest and finest particles of tea. These are also leftovers. Therefore, fannings and dusts are darker in appearance and stronger in taste when brewed. But it does not have the sweetness higher grades of black tea have.
What gives black teas its health beneficial properties?
The secret to black teas lies in its anti-oxidant properties. Black teas contain quite a number of anti oxidants. One of these anti-oxidants include quercetin, a very potent compound for fighting inflammation and also promoting good immune functions. This, along with other compounds, is mainly responsible for aiding the body in combating and eliminating those unwanted free-radicals which are known to destroy and cause damage to our DNA. These free-radicals are also responsible for making us feel and look old and tired all the time.
What are the health benefits of black tea?
Some of the health benefits of black teas include:
• Improves cardiovascular health - it reduces risk of stroke, heart attacks. It also aids by expanding the arteries thus, improving blood circulation to the heart
• It helps in diabetes - is slows the absorption of sugar in the blood, therefore decreasing glucose levels in the body. It is also associated from preventing diabetes-induced diseases like cataracts.
• Cancer preventing - it may reduce risk of cancer; it slows down the growth of these unwanted cancer cells, without compromising the healthy ones
• Anti-aging - or for a more appropriate term, it slows down aging. It eliminates free radicals that are mainly responsible from making us age faster than normal.
• Weight loss properties - it burns down fat in the body and it also speeds up our metabolism
• It prevents tooth decay and bad breath - this is due to fluoride present in black teas
• Lowers down cholesterol - the LDL cholesterol a.k.a. bad cholesterol
• It also helps in headaches and mental awareness
• Possibly reduce risk of Parkinson's disease
How much should I take black teas?
According to research, here are the recommended dosage of black teas for a specific purpose:
• For minimizing risks of cardiovascular problems - one cup per day will do.
• For avoiding atherosclerosis (or hardening of the arteries) - one to four cups (or about 125-500 ml) daily.
• For headaches and improving mental awareness - about 250 mg of caffeine will do.
• Preventing pakinson's disease - men : 221-716 m of total caffeine (whichis about5-33 cups) will decrease the risk. Women: moderate caffeine intake of 1-4 cups of black tea will do.
So in the end we should not subject ourselves to the stereotypes and stigma that black has on society. Just like, everything else, when choosing and selecting products to buy and drink, we should not only be cautious of its good qualities but also keep an open mind to new things. Black tea is good for the body. It is not only a very good alternative to coffees but is also very beneficial to us, health-wise that is. If you have not tried it, try it. What else would you lose? With just a few bucks, you can gain more instead. For those who are drinking it, then continue doing so. Now you have all the more reason to not only enjoy drinking black tea but relish and take advantage of its health benefits too. Now you have a whole new reason why to love black and say "black is beautiful!". Beautiful indeed.
Huang Jiung,
Chinese Weight Loss Tea for BEGINNERS