Black tea has been around for hundreds of years now. It was discovered in China during the 17th century. So what exactly is it, how is it made and why should you drink it?
How its made
Black tea is primarily grown in countries like India, China and Sri Lanka. It is grown from the Camellia Sinensis bush. Once the leaves of this plant are harvested, they are laid out to dry in the sun. Here, a process called oxidation takes place that causes the green leaves to turn brownish-black in color. This variant of tea is also the most thoroughly oxidized. For comparison, green tea is not completely oxidized thus it is able to retain its “greenish” color.
The oxidation process also changes the taste of the tea, giving it a very strong aroma and flavor. The process also results in black tea being able to retain its flavor for years on end, making it a much more valuable tea than other types such as green tea. This is why since its discovery and introduction to the European world, it was considered an item of luxury and consumed only by the elite until its increased predominance meant that price came down and it became affordable for the common individual to consume as well.
Benefits of black tea
Among the host of benefits that drinking black tea can bring you, some prominent ones include its ability to increase your alertness and energy levels. This is primarily because of the relatively higher amounts of caffeine that are found in this type of tea.
Additionally, black tea can also enhance your metabolism and make you burn more energy thereby causing you to lose weight. Not bad is it?
Also, the presence of antioxidants in black tea means that it is able to fight off the free radicals in your body and protect you from their harmful effects. Now that is something that you definitely should get in on.
So there you go. Now that you know about its origins and benefits, why not order your next batch of loose leaf Black tea from us at Tea Leaf? We promise not to disappoint!