About tastes, as they say, do not argue. As well as the quality of tea. You need to drink only high-quality, regardless of what types of tea you prefer. And under the mark of "high" quality we sell everything that at least somehow resembles tea. And even that does not resemble ...
Tea, like all products, has its own shelf life. By the way, the shelf life of most herbs (and tea is also a plant) is only a year. And then they lose their properties and are no longer recommended for use, since they can not bring benefits, but harm. All types of tea are stored even less. The maximum shelf life at minimum humidity is only ... 9 months! Read what is written on the packaging and draw conclusions, gentlemen ...
After such a brief introduction, consider what types of tea do exist.
White tea is the most expensive and most elite (Chinese white tea). It is collected only once a year, in early spring, only two days. The most tender young leaves and buds (not yet bloomed) are selected: two leaves and a kidney. Place of collection - Anhui, Fujian. Instead of drying, aging takes place (2 days). Twisting and fermentation are not applied. It dries after aging for 30 minutes (temperature 70 C). The taste is soft-tart, herbal aroma. The color after brewing is pale yellow. High content of vitamins, amino acids, essential oils, pectins. Rejuvenates the body.
Green tea. Unfermented. It contains nutrients, vitamins, a delicate aroma, a delicate aftertaste, as no heat treatment is carried out. Place of collection - Ceylon, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Vietnam. It is going all year round. The best varieties are harvested in the spring. The process of drying and technological fermentation are not applied. Dries immediately after twisting. Maximum humidity - 4%. The color of the infused tea ranges from light green to deep green. Tones without increasing pressure.
Tea is yellow. Close in properties to green. Fermentation is light, which affects the color after brewing. Elite. Place of collection - Hunan Province (China). Only spring gathering. Only the kidneys are collected. A short drying takes place. The color after brewing is amber. Tonic, stimulating.
Red tea. In China, it is called the "Black Dragon" ("oolong"). Intermediate tea between green and black fermented. Excellent taste characteristics. The maximum content (in comparison with other types) of essential oils. Place of collection - China, Taiwan. Drying - 30 minutes under the sun. Twisting and fermentation are combined. It is dried by calcining on an open fire immediately before packaging. The aroma is spicy, floral. The color after brewing is dark red. Vitaminized, antioxidant, immunostimulating, antitumor (warns), ideal for those who want to lose weight.
Black tea. The most common. The aroma is malt. The taste is saturated. Some types of tea from this category change their aroma, depending on the time of harvesting, from tart and floral to muscat-fruity. Ceylon - usually golden (the taste is soft), Chinese black tea is more diverse. Place of collection - Ceylon, Kenya, China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia (familiar to all "Krasnodar"), Georgia. The collection lasts all year. It goes through the processes of drying (18 hours), twisting, fermentation (combined), drying. The balsamic aroma is inferior in taste to the listed varieties. The color of the infused tea varies from golden to reddish brown. It removes toxins, increases pressure, tones, stimulates.
Karkade. Place of collection - Asia, Crimea, North Africa. Taste characteristics: fruit-lemon flavor, berry aroma. The color is bright red. Strengthens blood vessels of the heart, stabilizes blood pressure (cold increases, hot lowers), improves appetite, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory.
Flavored tea. As you can see, this species is put in last place. Since its quality is usually the lowest. And even lower than the low (sorry for the tautology). Quality tea does not need flavorings. What is the point of destroying the ideal? Quality tea has a delicate aroma and a light aftertaste. It is pleasant to drink without sugar. What is sold under our label "flavored" (and, alas, not only), it is impossible to drink without sugar. And for true connoisseurs of elite tea, flavored tea is akin to torture. In this case, sugar interrupts the taste, flavorings (essence) - an unpleasant "aroma".
The listed types of tea are the most popular and common.
Finally - a reason to think: the purchase price of tea imported into Russia is 1960 r / kg, and the cost of the cheapest low-grade tea in China is 100 cu Have a nice tea party!