About Tea

About Tea  |  Storage  |  Black Teas  |  Flavored Black Teas  |  Green Teas  |  Herbal Infusions and Rooibos

What is Tea:

Tea is the world's second most popular beverage, after water. More and more people are drinking tea in the United States, joining a booming worldwide trend. Increased understanding of the role antioxidants play in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease has positioned tea as the ideal health beverage. It is a 100% natural, fat-free, calorie-free drink, untainted by additives, and low in caffeine content - tea is the healthy alternative to coffee and alcohol.

We tend to call many things that we infuse in hot water a tea. But technically speaking, it's only tea if it's made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, an evergreen plant that is indigenous to China and India. The plant was later introduced to Japan and many parts of Southeast Asia. Today tea is grown in over one hundred countries to meet the worldwide demand.

Many people are surprised to learn that all teas are made from the leaves of the same species. While the variety of the particular Camellia sinensis plant as well as the weather conditions and soil contribute to the final taste of the tea, the significant differences of tea type develop in the processing of the leaves.

The distinguishing factor that determines whether a tea plant will become white, green, oolong, or black tea is oxidation. Oxidation begins after the leaf has been plucked from the plant, and begins a process of being dried, withered, rolled, and heat treated. A black tea is fully oxidized, causing it to turn black, while a white tea is barely oxidized at all, thus retaining its soft, silvery down.

Storage

Light, temperature, moisture and odors can compromise the quality of tea. To maintain freshness tea must be stored properly. Use an airtight, opaque container and store tea in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. As excessive heat and strong odors can compromise the tea's flavor, keep away from stoves or other strong smelling foods.

If stored properly, teas retain their quality for many months. The higher quality green teas will loose their freshness within a year, so it is best to drink them more quickly.

At Talbott Teas, we maintain and ensure maximum freshness by storing packaging our teas in airtight and light proof tins.

About Black Teas

Black teas are fully oxidized teas. Black teas brew a liquor from dark brown to reddish brown. They are the most popular type of tea in the Western world. Black teas range from 40 - 60 milligrams of caffeine per 8 oz cup. Preparation of black teas requires pure water at boiling point (212 degrees).

About Flavored Black Teas

Chinese black tea leaves have been flavored since around the time the Ming Dynasty was founded in 1368, and have become wildly popular in America and Europe in recent decades. The addition of natural essences and flavors create an exciting sensual and gastronomic experience, as both the tea and the scent are often enhanced in the marriage of the two. Tea can be flavored by adding fruits, floral essences, and/or flavorings to the finished black tea leaves. All tea leaves are very absorbent of fragrances (and all odors, which is another reason why air-tight containers are important for storage.)

About Green Teas

Green tea leaves plucked in the morning are ready to be brewed in a pot the same night. The bypass of oxidation allows green tea to retain most of its natural dark green color, tannins, vitamin C, chlorophyll and minerals. The taste of green tea is therefore more astringent and subtler than oolong or black tea. The lack of oxidation is also responsible for the very low caffeine content of green tea (only 1%). Its caffeine effect produces a nearly steady, mild high with no big peaks or plunges. Green tea is therefore the perfect meditative aid: it acts as a mild stimulant, without causing insomnia or nervousness. It refreshes and quiets.

The names of Chinese green teas denote leaf styles and often make reference to the region where the tea is from. The names of Japanese green teas generally end in "cha" (meaning tea). Preparation of green teas requires pure water at 160 - 190 F. Chinese green teas contain about 30 - 35 milligrams of caffeine per 8 oz cup, and Japanese green teas contain 25 - 30 milligrams of caffeine per 8 oz cup.

About Herbal Infusions and Rooibos

The history of herbs and spices is far more ancient than that of tea. Herbal Infusions are not tea, per se, as they do not come from the Camellia sinensis plant. They are popular after dinner beverages and naturally 100% caffeine - free. Many host a variety of health benefits, and all the ones we offer deliver a sensational experience in aromatherapy and taste.

Herbal Infusions include many well-known herbs such as mint; flowers such as hibiscus and chamomile; roots like licorice and ginger; and other botanicals including Rooibos, lemongrass and lavender. Some blends combine many herbs and even add seeds, berries, nuts and even cocoa.

Herbal infusions have a wide variety of purported health benefits and cures, from indigestion to allergies to insomnia. There are infinite combinations and possibilities for creating herbal infusions, and all of them are free of caffeine.

Herbal infusions should be steeped for 6 - 7 minutes using freshly boiled water and are caffeine free.