What a strong tea. Black tea: advice to consumers

You don’t have to order a rare and expensive drink far away to enjoy tea. You can find good tea in every price segment if you focus on the manufacturer.

What is the best tea? Depends on the situation. In the bustle of work, bagged tea is indispensable; for a family dinner, aromatic leaf tea is more suitable, and for a traditional tea ceremony, only elite varieties are used.

White Collar Drink: Tea Bags

Office employees cannot spend a lot of time drinking tea, so they need tea bags of fairly high quality. Popular varieties boast a strong taste, quick brewing, and high caffeine content (70-72 mg per bag).

  • Greenfield. The pride of the European company "Orimi Trade", which specializes in the production of high quality tea and coffee.
  • Ahmad Tea. Typically English tea with a strong infusion and moderately tart taste. Known throughout the world for its classic recipes “Earl Grey” and “English Breakfast”.
  • Brooke Bond. The brainchild of the English company Unilever, it delights with its rich taste and strong infusion. Black leaf tea helps you quickly cheer up and work productively.
  • Dilmah. Ceylon loose leaf tea with a reddish infusion and mild taste. It brews quickly and is very invigorating.
  • Maitre de The. A French manufacturer of premium tea, which has absorbed the best traditions of French tea drinking, dating back to the distant 19th century. This brand symbolizes the sophisticated French approach to the art of selecting and preparing tea, which has captivated the whole world.

Instantly brew and promote rapid restoration of performance. Not a single business meeting, conference or meeting is complete without tea. Delicious tea is the key to a good mood for the whole day, so you should buy only products of decent quality.

Tea leaves from all over the world - strong brew, refined taste

True connoisseurs know that the most delicious drink is the leaf one. By brewing black or green varieties in a ceramic teapot, you can extract a wealth of flavor shades from the drink.

High-quality products are released onto the world market by well-known global manufacturers:

  • "Orimi-trade". Aristocratic "Greenfield" and creative "Tess", tea princesses - "Nuri" and "Kandi".
  • Unilever. Legendary brands “Brooke Bond” and positive “Lipton”, strong “Conversation”.
  • May Company. Soft leaf “Curtis”, rich “Lisma” and budget “May tea”.

The presented teas are the most delicious in the medium and budget categories. Connoisseurs of elite tastes prefer to buy loose leaf tea by weight in small tea shops. Do you drink tea by the liter? Then there is no need for frills - buy delicious products at reasonable prices.

Five best leaf varieties:

  • Ahmad Ceylon Tea - delicious Ceylon tea collected in the highlands. Excellent quality, deep taste, intense brewing.
  • Greenfield Flying Dragon is an amazing premium green tea, popular all over the world. Soft and slightly tart taste, light infusion, delicate aroma.
  • Dilmah Ceylon is a strong black infusion that energizes you.
  • Ahmad Green Tea is a high quality pure green drink.
  • Brooke Bond is just a no-frills black tea – strong, invigorating, tart.

The presented drinks are top sellers all over the world, which serves as the best proof of their quality. Black and green drinks are made from the best varieties of tea grown in ecologically clean areas. The reputation of the manufacturers guarantees the correct collection and processing of leaves. Have tea with pleasure - treat yourself to the best teas!

For connoisseurs - a high ceremony

Experienced tea drinkers prefer elite varieties. Plain green or black from store shelves cannot be used for a traditional ceremony - special drinks are needed.

  • Chinese varieties: green and white, yellow and red, oolongs and puerhs from different provinces.
  • Japanese green varieties: pearl “Gyokuro”, floral Sencha Honyama.
  • African varieties: and herbal honey honeybush.
  • Rare species: Indian "Darjeeling", alpine narcissus "Wuyi Oolong", medicinal.

They are distinguished by their original taste - among them it is impossible to describe “the most delicious”. Each variety is “worth its weight in gold” thanks to its palette of unique taste characteristics.

Home collection - how to find your favorite variety?

A carefully selected home collection of everyday and expensive varieties allows you to drink tea with pleasure.

  • Black – drives away drowsiness, puts you in a working mood. Pairs perfectly with honey and lemon, milk and any jam.
  • Green – promotes creativity and helps solve complex problems. Delicious combined with cinnamon, cranberry, ginger and honey.
  • Red – increases immunity, blood pressure. It is preferable to drink it without “flavoring additives” in the form of sugar or honey.
  • White is a healing drink that restores the nervous system and saves from chronic fatigue.
  • – an ideal coffee substitute. Instantly restores vitality and accelerates brain activity.

It is advisable to store at home several teas of the highest (whole leaf: pekoe, orange and tip), medium (crushed leaf: brocken pekoe and brocken orange, medium leaf) and lower (granulated, bagged) varieties.

Whole-leaf varieties contain many stimulating substances, so it is preferable to drink them in the first half of the day. Medium-leafed ones have a less invigorating effect, so they are brewed after the end of the working day. Bagged ones are ideal for people who often face deadlines - they allow you to enjoy the taste of tea even with a severe lack of free time.

It is enough to keep 5-7 types of drinks at home so that every tea party will delight you with a special taste. Finding your favorite tea is not easy - after all, there are thousands of delicious varieties in the world. However, searching for the best will bring many pleasant moments.

photo: depositphotos.com/Valentyn_Volkov

Black tea is one of the oldest drinks on earth and is very popular among completely different nations, from the USA to Japan. It is not inferior in position, and in some countries it surpasses grain and instant coffee in prevalence, being considered less harmful. Given such demand, it is not surprising that the choice on the market is simply huge. This rating of the best black teas, compiled according to customer reviews, will help you not to get lost in it.

It so happens that the main collection of tea leaves is carried out in China, India and Africa, from where they are regularly imported to Europe and other continents and sold by weight. If you don’t want to buy products from an unknown manufacturer, you can choose already packaged tea leaves from the following companies:

  • Tazo Teas is a well-known company in the USA and actively promotes its products in European markets. As the name suggests, it specializes in the production of teas. Among them there are green, black, herbal species, all of which are of organic origin.
  • Twinings– this tea brand is remembered primarily when it comes to real English tea. It appeared in Great Britain back in 1706 and is one of the oldest in the world in its business. She became famous, in particular, for her close cooperation with the Royal Court, to which she regularly supplies her products.
  • Harney & Sons is another American tea manufacturing company, very popular among hotel owners, coffee shops and book chains, to which it actively supplies its products. It has its own tasting rooms in the US, but the company mainly produces goods for mass sales, including in Europe.
  • Rishi Tea- This is one of the few companies offering a huge variety of drinks. She has white, black, green, and herbal products. It produces them both in loose form and in packaged form. Its line even includes caffeine-free options, and the price for most of the manufacturer’s offerings is quite reasonable.

Naturally, tea bushes are not grown in England and the USA; in the latter there are only a few plantations that have not become widespread. Therefore, the manufacturers mentioned in the rating most often purchase raw materials from Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Rating of the best black teas

As always, the foundation for building this TOP was the reviews of real consumers, from which we relied when selecting applicants. The guideline for this was also the compliance of the stated characteristics with what buyers write. The following parameters were taken as a basis:

  • Package;
  • Volume or number of bags;
  • Release form (packaged or loose);
  • Smell;
  • Taste properties;
  • Brewing duration;
  • Saturation and proportions in relation to water;
  • Economical consumption.

The best black tea bags

This option is most often chosen for preparing a quick drink. It is convenient and has a lower price compared to its loose counterpart.

Tazo Teas, organic, 20 filter bags, 54 g

The word “organic” is chosen very correctly for this drink, because it is created from completely natural ingredients. In addition to the main component, it contains cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Unlike store-bought analogues, it does not acidify the body as much and does not leave a yellow coating on tooth enamel. Since this product is very strong, it can be filled with more water than usual. At the same time, you can safely drink it either in pure form or in combination with milk, and take it with you to work and on the road in a good thermos.

Advantages:

  • One sachet is enough for several cups;
  • Pleasant pungency of taste;
  • Fast brewing;
  • Convenient packaging form;
  • Invigorating aroma.

Flaws:

  • Difficult to find in supermarkets;
  • The price is above average.

Twinings, premium, blackcurrant 20 tea bags, 40 g

This option is universal, since the drink turns out equally tasty both cold and warm. It has a pleasant, not pungent aroma, does not give off bitterness, brews quickly enough and is also used sparingly. So, to prepare 950 ml you will need only 4 sachets. The manufacturer suggests serving it with ice, which only enhances the extravagant taste. The best varieties of high quality black tea are used to make this product.

Advantages:

  • Natural composition;
  • Safety;
  • No side effects;
  • Convenient packaging;
  • Balanced berry taste.

Flaws:

  • The price is above average.

Teas from Twinings are among the TOP best in the world; the products of this company are quite popular in the USA.

Harney & Sons, Parisian, 20 bags, 40 g

Large leaf Ceylon and African species are successfully combined here, and this gives the drink an unusual, delicate taste. It has an invigorating effect on the body, so it will be just right for breakfast in the morning. True, the caffeine content here is relatively low, making the product safer for health than store-bought alternatives. By the way, the leaves of the tea bush for its preparation are collected, selected and mixed exclusively by hand, which eliminates defects.

Advantages:

  • Convenient metal packaging;
  • Practical release form;
  • Available in other flavours;
  • A mixture of several types of leaves;
  • Ecological cleanliness.

Flaws:

  • You need to insist for at least 5 minutes.

Good Harney & Sons black loose leaf tea is sold in the same packaging with many other flavors - “hot cinnamon sunset”, “English breakfast”, “African autumn”, etc.

The best loose black teas

It can be granular and leafy, among the latter there are small-, medium- and large-leafed ones. Naturally, these are the options that are of the highest quality, healthy and tasty.

Twinings, Lady Gray loose, 100 g

First of all, this good quality black tea attracts attention with its metal packaging, which reliably protects it from moisture and thereby prevents it from deteriorating. Traditionally, this company has several flavors available - Lady Gray, English Breakfast, Darjeeling and a number of others. The only thing that’s not very convenient here is that their prices are different. But this particular drink has a pleasant and rich citrus taste and smell, which allows the leaves to be used in small quantities.

Advantages:

  • Goes well with both sugar and honey;
  • The leaves are small;
  • Practical packaging;
  • Large volume;
  • No "dust".

Flaws:

  • After infusion, the aroma weakens somewhat.

According to reviews, to fully develop the taste, the Lady Gray drink must be infused under the lid for 2 to 4 minutes.

Rishi Tea, Organic Loose Leaf, Earl Grey, Classic + Citrus, 65 g

This drink is made with the addition of bergamot essential oil, which makes its taste piquant, but not for everyone. Since the product is very strong, the manufacturer allows brewing the same leaves for a second round. True, you should not count on the same strength of aroma and the same taste properties. To get a cool brew, you need to keep it covered in water for about 4 minutes, which, in principle, is not so much. This, one of the best black teas, may not be suitable except for those with hypertension due to the high caffeine content, and in the morning it will come in handy.

Advantages:

  • Good packing;
  • Organic composition;
  • Extraordinary aroma;
  • Possibility of reusing tea leaves;
  • Leaves are medium sized.

Flaws:

  • High caffeine content;
  • Small volume, as for the established price.

Which black tea is better to buy

If you don’t like to wait a long time for your drink to brew, then you should choose a packaged product. But real gourmets are advised to take a closer look at the best loose black teas, the taste of which is not muted in any way. For those who prefer to drink it in the morning, in the absence of contraindications, you can choose the option with a high caffeine content, which gives strength for the whole day.

Here's what to consider when choosing the best black tea from this ranking:

  • If you don’t like the taste of the classic product, it’s best to buy a good product with the addition of various spices, for example, filter bags from Tazo Teas.
  • Fans of a subtle berry aroma and truly strong tea should pay special attention to Twinings products with the scent of black currant.
  • If you are a connoisseur of mixtures of different varieties, then you will be pleasantly surprised by Parisian tea from Harney & Sons.
  • For those who don't like either granules or large leaves, Twinings Lady Gray loose product is ideal.
  • Adherents of the classics can be advised to buy Rishi Tea.

Naturally, it is very difficult to choose one particular best black tea, because they can have completely different tastes and aromas. In this case, you can always purchase several different types and enjoy them in order. This is even welcome, because in our rating every option is worthy of trying!

The variety of tea varieties is not due to the large variety of the plant itself. It's all about processing the sheet itself. After harvesting, the leaves are usually dried. This is so that they soften and lose some of the moisture. They are then rolled, fermented and dried. The two final stages primarily determine whether the tea will be black, green, yellow or red.
The process of assembling tea is still done mainly by hand in order to keep the leaves intact and, thus, make the drink the most delicious and rich.

Loose leaf tea contains only whole, undamaged leaves, which means it will be better from them. Of course, it will take more time to brew such tea. But the aroma and taste will be more subtle and refined than from tea crumbs or cut leaves. That is why preference is often given to large-leaf tea.

The main suppliers of tea to the world market are China, India and Sri Lanka. Moreover, if in India and Sri Lanka teas are produced mainly cut or in granules, then China is famous for its varieties made from whole leaves.

Each leaf has its own letter

The younger the tea leaf, the closer it is to the flower or to the bud, the quality of the drink itself it ensures. For the convenience of labeling tea varieties and designating the leaves in its composition, Latin ones were chosen. For those who enjoy good loose-leaf teas, look for the letters FP (leaves growing near the bud), OP (young whole rolled leaves), or P (shorter, coarser leaves) on the packaging. If cut leaves were used, then B is added to the above letters. When you see the BOP packaging, you can understand that it contains cut young rolled tea leaves.

The labeling of more refined varieties of tea may also contain the letters T, S and G. T means that they contain unopened buds. G represents a mixture of the best varieties, and S indicates that the tea is exclusive.

Tea is perhaps the most popular drink. Surely many have wondered which tea is the best. They say that there is no dispute about tastes, so only one thing can be said: the best tea is not the one that is brewed using tea bags. After all, when choosing tea, you should think not only about its taste, but also about the benefits that this drink can bring to the body.

The assortment of tea is so diverse that, perhaps, no one can definitely answer the question of what kind of tea it is. Of course, everything depends on the personal preferences of the consumer, but it still seems necessary to talk about those varieties of tea that are considered the most refined and healthy. The most popular of them are green tea, oolong tea, pu-erh and, of course, herbal tea.
These teas have become the best for many connoisseurs, and perhaps you will like them too. Of course, black tea is also an excellent option, but one can talk and argue about it endlessly; in addition, it is, perhaps, a traditional drink for many Russians. Everyone is already so accustomed to it that when choosing the “best” tea, they practically do not pay any attention to black tea, taking this drink for granted.

Turquoise tea is a real gift for a gourmet

Today there are more than 250 varieties of turquoise tea, of course, among them everyone can find the best one for themselves.
This tea is called oolong tea or, more simply, turquoise tea. This is perhaps one of the most delicious types of tea. It is a cross between green and black tea. Turquoise tea has a medium fermentation and an incredibly fresh green tea aroma. At the same time, you can feel a pronounced floral taste with a long, pleasant, slightly honeyed aftertaste. Depending on the variety you choose, the color of the tea can vary from emerald to reddish or orange.
If you are already familiar with oolong tea and you liked it, then you shouldn’t stop there, because there is a special variety of this tea that most consumers are simply delighted with - this is Milk Oolong. Perhaps this is the most variety of this type of tea, because it is not for nothing that Milk Oolong has received such positive reviews around the world. This variety is otherwise called Golden, and its cultivation is capable of winning the heart of even the most picky consumer: the tea bush is pollinated with a special solution of sugar cane, watered and mulched with rice husks. It is believed that this is why the tea leaf has such a magical sweet-milky aroma. Impressive? So don’t deny yourself the pleasure, treat yourself to Milk Oolong.

Green tea with jasmine - great taste and aroma

The birthplace of green tea is China. It is in this country that it is believed that the combination of green tea and jasmine is one of the best possible flavor variations. Indeed, this tea has an unusually fresh, clean aroma. In addition, jasmine green restores strength to the body, allows you to normalize metabolic processes and simply gives you a good mood. Of course, jasmine green tea deserves to be included in the best varieties of tea.

Puer tea - the choice of true connoisseurs

Particularly popular among pu-erh lovers is the variety grown in Yunnan province. It has a particularly deep aroma and has a rich dark red color.
Pu-erh is a special tea. The fact is that fermentation processes in its leaves occur constantly, which is why it is called “living” tea. Every year it changes its taste and aroma. Some pu-erh lovers compare this tea to good wine, which only gets better with time. Pu-erh has a tart woody aroma and a persistent, long-lasting taste. Having tried pu-erh of different aging periods, you will discover the wonderful world of tea flavors and aromas.

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  • Which tea is better

There is a myth that green and black tea are made from different plants, which explains the difference in their appearance and taste. However, in fact, the difference lies only in the technology of processing tea leaves.

Features of tea production

The technology for making green tea is relatively simple. The collected leaves are placed in special devices, with the help of which moisture is removed from them. After going through this procedure, parts of the plants are distributed into boxes and sent for sale. This is why green tea is more natural than black tea: it even tastes like freshly brewed leaves.

To make black tea, special roller machines are used. First, moisture is removed from the leaves, leaving them to dry for several hours, after which each leaf is rolled in rollers. In this case, the plant tissue is artificially destroyed, and enzymes enter into the reaction. Once rolled, the dried leaves undergo oxidation, which converts the plant's main component, catechin, into thearubin, theaflavin, and other complex combinations of flavonols. It is thanks to this process that black tea acquires its characteristic shade, smell and taste, for which it is appreciated by both amateurs and professionals.

The benefits of green and black tea

Since no fermentation is used in the production process of green tea, this drink contains enzymes, i.e. molecules that speed up chemical reactions in the body. It is for this reason that this drink is often drunk by those who want to normalize metabolism and speed up weight loss. Please note: not all types of green tea have this benefit. In particular, during the production of Oolong, fermentation is carried out, but it only takes a very short period of time, unlike the oxidation process of black tea.

For a long time, it has been a common belief that only green tea is a powerful antioxidant and can have a rejuvenating effect on the body. However, in reality this is not the case. Of course, the percentage of catechins that act as antioxidants is higher in green tea. However, scientists were able to establish that thearubin and theaflavin are in no way inferior in benefits to catechin, so black tea rich in them can also be called a wonderful antioxidant drink.

In general, both the healing and anti-aging properties of green and black tea are comparable, so it is difficult to say which of these drinks is healthier. This means that the option for the buyer is to choose the one that he likes best.

The causative agent of fungal sore throat is a yeast-like fungus. It begins to actively multiply when the immune system is weakened and uncontrolled use of antibacterial drugs. Without treatment, the acute form of tonsillitis can become chronic, so it is important to diagnose the disease in a timely manner and take action.

You will need

  • - antifungal drugs;
  • - antimycotic solutions.

Instructions

If plaque and pain appear, consult a doctor. Only after laboratory testing can an accurate diagnosis be made. Treatment depends on which microorganism caused the disease. Antibacterial drugs, which are prescribed for follicular or lacunar tonsillitis, will only do harm for fungal infections of the tonsils.

Since one of the causes of fungal tonsillitis is immunodeficiency, start taking medications that increase your defenses. Multivitamin complexes and medications based on interferon will be useful.

Wash your tonsils with antifungal solutions. Treatment with nystatin diluted in water is very effective. Grind one tablet of the drug to a powder and dissolve in 100 ml of warm water. Rinse with the resulting liquid or soak a cotton swab in the solution and treat the tonsils.

During illness, watch your diet. The diet should contain protein foods in large quantities, but limit foods high in carbohydrates. Also, the menu should not contain spicy or salty dishes. Food and drinks should not be too hot or cold - this will not have the best effect on the condition of inflamed tonsils.

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note

At the end of treatment it is necessary to take repeated tests. The absence of plaque in the throat does not always indicate complete recovery.

Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder. For a long time, this disease was the lot of older people, but now it is increasingly occurring in young people and even children. How to get rid of this disease?

Instructions

To alleviate the condition, follow a strict diet. It is necessary to exclude fried and smoked foods, semi-finished products, “fast” food such as hamburgers, shawarma, pasties, pies, etc. from the diet. Coffee, unnatural juices, store-bought sweets, and hot seasonings are also contraindicated.

As prescribed by your doctor, before meals, drink herbal teas that have a choleretic effect. For example, from dill seeds, peppermint leaves or rose hips. Take about half a glass, half an hour before meals. The course of treatment is usually from 3 to 4 weeks.

In cases where stones have formed in the gall bladder, perform surgery to remove them. If this is not done, the stones may become so large that they block the bile ducts. And then things can come to a head. Therefore, if you are offered surgery to remove stones, do not refuse. Remember: these stones will not disappear on their own.

Of course, do not forget about the measures cholecystitis. Try to eat more or less regularly, while either completely refusing or minimizing the consumption of “fast” food and all kinds of semi-finished products. Do not overindulge in heavy fatty foods, even if you love them very much. If possible, avoid stress and physical inactivity.

Helpful advice

The cause of cholecystitis is stagnation of bile in the gallbladder. This happens for various reasons, including hereditary ones, as well as due to infectious diseases and stress. Irregular, unhealthy eating can also play a huge role. The fact is that bile is released only when eating food to facilitate its digestion. When a person eats correctly (that is, often and not too much), bile is released from the gallbladder without stagnating. Otherwise, bile may stagnate and stones will begin to form.

You have to communicate with relatives at a close psychological distance. For this reason, the slightest carelessness can cause pain and ruin relationships.

Black tea, unlike green tea, has a more complex preparation technology, consisting of several stages:

Stage 1. Collection and sorting of tea leaves. Depending on the place and time of collection, more or less valuable teas are distinguished. The best are considered to be those collected in April-May. Tea from summer and autumn harvests is coarser, with parts of branches included, and is used to produce budget varieties.

Stage 2. Withering. This process allows you to reduce the turgor of the leaf for further curling. Natural withering is a more painstaking and lengthy process, which is why it is used to make elite varieties of tea. During this process, bitter tannins are partially destroyed, essential oils accumulate and the tea acquires a characteristic taste and aroma.

Stage 3. Twisting. This step is necessary to begin fermentation of the tea. The process is automated and takes place in a roller. After rolling 3-4 times, the tea leaves are sorted.

Stage 4. Fermentation. Biochemical changes in the leaf, leading to the appearance of certain properties of the drink: strength, astringency, aroma.

Varieties

On the open market you can buy a great variety of black tea, which are combined into the following types:

  • Black long leaf. Consists of large and medium leaves collected from the bush. Low quality tea may contain foreign fractions (branches, broken leaves). Elite black tea will consist of homogeneous raw materials, have the correct color and a minimum of broken leaves.
  • Granulated. Tea pressed and rolled into granules, with high astringency but no aroma.
  • Bagged. Most often, this type is made from inferior quality leaves and tea dust. Can be flavored with additional additives.
  • Pressed. Sold in the form of briquettes or tablets. Convenient to store and transport. Requires a long brewing process.


How to choose a good drink?

A varied assortment of black tea varieties causes certain difficulties in choosing it. What should you pay attention to when purchasing?

Country of origin. The best tea grows in the highlands. Therefore, by purchasing leaves grown and collected in the regions of Assam, Indian Darjeeling, Nilgiri, Kaziranga, Sri Lanka and the mountainous Japanese Uja, you can make the right choice.

Compound. The properties of tea are directly related to the content of buds (tips), chopped and whole leaves in the leaf mixture. Therefore, tea containing tips will be the most expensive and delicious. What is the best tea that does not contain tips? When choosing a variety, pay attention to its labeling.

"O" - high level; made from whole rolled leaves.

"OR" - young curled leaves without adding tips.

“VR” - low level; cut or broken leaves.

“P” - from a poorly twisted, rough sheet.

"STS" - granular; It has good strength, but not a pronounced aroma.

“D” and “F” are screenings from which packaged mixtures are prepared.

The price of the variety depends on the country of origin, method of collection and its composition. Large-leaf tea with the addition of tips will cost more than its bagged or granulated counterparts. When choosing a drink, you should pay attention to its packaging - ceramic containers will contain good quality tea.

The best varieties

Among the Indian ones, the best are Assam, which produces a terracotta-colored drink with a characteristic malt aroma, and Darjeeling, which has a floral flavor and a delicate, transparent color.

Black Ceylon tea Orange Peko gives a rather dark, tart infusion. Chinese teas include Keemun with a slight floral flavor, Lapang Souchong with a unique smoky aroma, and Yunnan with oolong.


How to brew correctly

This is a traditional drink served at the end of a meal or as a separate dish. The properties of black tea allow it to be considered healing: due to its caffeine content, it increases performance, tones and stimulates the nervous system; has bacterial properties, disinfecting the oral cavity. Due to the theophylline contained, it stimulates metabolism and reduces cholesterol levels in the blood.

The tendency to compile ratings did not appear in our time. For example, a list of the best sources in China was compiled back in the 8th century for the first tea encyclopedia “Cha Jing” (“Canon of Tea”). For this three-volume opus, its author, master Lu Yu, was recognized as the patron god of the tea business.

The creators of modern top lists have not yet received such a title. Perhaps due to the fact that they cannot come to a consensus and say unequivocally which Chinese tea is more famous than others. While experts argue, we can only focus on those varieties that are included in tea ratings more often than others.

1. Green tea Xi-Hu Long-Jing (“Dragon Well from Lake Xi-Hu”)

It is considered the most famous variety and consistently finds its way into all the “tea dozens”, as well as to the tables of all kinds of diplomatic missions and representative offices. For some reason, The Dragon's Well is especially popular among political figures, regardless of their ideological affiliation. It was the favorite tea of ​​several emperors and Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong, and gained the favor of Queen Elizabeth II and President Nixon. In a word, Xi-Hu Long-Ching is a real statesman; it is not without reason that control over its quality is one of the official responsibilities of the Chinese government.

Beneficial properties: a tonic and restorative drink that refreshes not only the receptors, but also the attitude towards life.

Place of production: Zhejiang Province.

2. Green tea Bi-Lo Chun (“Emerald spirals of spring”)

If there were a beauty contest among tea varieties, Bi-Lo Chun would undoubtedly emerge as the winner. Connoisseurs believe that it combines all four tea virtues: amazing color, graceful shape of tea leaves, bright aroma and rich taste.

Probably the secret to the perfection of this variety is in the right proximity. Tea plantations are deliberately located near orchards, so that the fresh leaves of Bi-Lo Chun absorb the honey breath of flowering fruit trees.

Beneficial properties: promotes weight loss, normalizes blood pressure and emotional state.

Place of production: Jiangsu Province.

3. Ulun Te Gaun-Yin (“Iron Bodhisattva Guan-Yin”)

It is famous for two characteristic features: a pronounced floral aroma and the same pronounced strengthening effect on the body. Both properties are explained by the origin of this tea, which, according to legend, is a gift from the deity Guan Yin, the protector of people from all diseases and sorrows.

The epithet “iron” in the name of the variety characterizes the peculiarity of the tea leaves. When processed, they are rolled so tightly that they appear heavier than other tea granules.

Grown in the mountains, Tie Guan Yin contains a large number of beneficial elements and minerals, so its regular use has a beneficial effect on human health and emotional balance.

Beneficial properties: improves mood and the body’s resistance to various diseases, strengthens blood vessels and self-confidence.

4. Green tea Huang Shan Mao Feng (“Fleecy Peaks from the Yellow Mountains”)

The tea leaf is extremely sensitive to the environment. Moreover, it absorbs not only smells and tastes, but also the aesthetic component, for example, the beauty of landscapes. Don't believe me? Then try Mao Feng, the fourth position in the top list of famous teas. Just lean over the cup, take a breath first, and then take a sip - and you will imagine the Yellow Mountains, breathing rain and the aroma of orchids, proudly flying up to the clouds, pierced by solar arrows and colored ribbons of rainbows.

Beneficial properties: improves performance, has a beneficial effect on vision, including increasing the acuity of perception of beauty.

5. Ulun Da-Hong Pao (“Big Red Robe”)

It's not the place that colors the variety!

However, one can argue with this if we remember that Da Hong Pao grows in the Wuyi Mountains. This ridge is famous for its picturesque landscapes, special soil composition and the fact that it is the cradle of Neo-Confucianism. It is likely this combination of physical and metaphysical factors that explains the unique character of cliff tea.

Beneficial properties: relieves headaches, strengthens the immune system, promotes concentration, especially on the positive aspects of life.

Place of production: Fujian Province.


6. Yellow tea Jun Shan Yin-Zhen (“Silver needles from the Mountain of the Immortals”)

The variety entered the top ten known only recently, although it has been produced since the 8th century. The fact is that Yin-Zhen has long been considered a privilege for members of the imperial family. Others were forbidden to drink this tea, and selling it to foreigners was even punishable by death.

As soon as the restriction was lifted, the world instantly gave Silver Needles the highest rating for taste and aroma. They are truly exceptional in tea, because the sprouts for its production are selected more than biasedly: the slightest flaw - and the bud is rejected. It is clear that such quality cannot exist in quantity, so Jun Shan Yin-Zhen continues to be tea for the elite, albeit in an aesthetic rather than a class sense.

Beneficial properties: contains a large amount of vitamins, microelements and catechins, due to which it activates the body’s strength, both physical and mental.

Place of production: Hunan Province.

7. Red tea Qimen Hong Cha Gongfuhong (“Red tea of ​​the highest skill from Qimen County”)

By the standards of Chinese history, this is a young variety - it appeared only in the 19th century. However, despite his youth, Qimen Hong Cha quickly became famous, primarily due to its special aroma. Oh, what is there in it: fruity notes, floral tints, velvety spice and ringing refreshing sourness - what a miracle it is!

This exquisite bouquet won first the jury of the World Exhibition in 1915, and then the hearts of tea connoisseurs from various countries.

Beneficial properties: helps get rid of excess weight, excess stress and unnecessary distraction, promotes concentration and strengthens the cardiovascular system.

Place of production: Anhui Province.

8. Green tea Luan Guapian (“Pumpkin seeds”)

The only variety for the preparation of which only the pulp of the tea leaf is used. No petioles, much less buds: Luan Guapian is a solid tea and, by the way, completely different from pumpkin seeds. It doesn’t resemble anything at all, especially in taste: sweet, but fresh; light but bright; strong, but delicate... In a word, a real collectible tea, rare, exquisite and, of course, expensive.

Beneficial properties: improves mood, helps cope with insomnia, normalizes blood pressure and self-esteem.

Place of production: Anhui Province.

9. Yunnan Pu'er ("Pu'er from Yunnan Province")

Legend says that this tea appeared thanks to Zhuge Liang, who served as the prime minister of the state of Shu during the era of the Three Kingdoms, that is, at the beginning of the 3rd century. China was then divided into three warring states and engulfed in turmoil. It was at this difficult moment that the statesman gave the people an invaluable gift - the seeds of a plant, from the leaves of which they began to make fragrant Pu-erh tea.

By the way, Liang was also the author of the recipe. Along the way, he invented a mine, a wheelbarrow, a high-speed crossbow, something like an unmanned balloon, and a dish called “mantou,” similar to dumplings. He was a great man! It is not surprising that his tea quickly became one of the most popular, first in the Middle Kingdom and then in the world.

Beneficial properties: Pu-erh perfectly invigorates and tones, improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, helps to lose weight and heavy thoughts.

Place of production: Yunnan Province.


10. White tea Bai-Hao Yin-Zhen (“Silver needles with white hair”)

Very thin, very delicate and very expensive - this is how gourmets characterize this tea. Some put it less precisely, but more poetically, by saying that he is “white as a cloud, green as a dream, pure as snow and fragrant as an orchid.”

Perhaps, of all the famous Bai-Hao varieties, Yin-Zhen is the most demanding and sensitive. It is made only from leaves collected according to the strictest canons and only from certain bushes, and brewing it correctly is a whole art.

Why such difficulties? The answer is obvious: for the sake of the unique taste and incomparable aroma.

Beneficial properties: helps prevent many diseases, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of internal organs and the condition of the skin, for which it is valued by both tea connoisseurs and specialists in the perfumery and cosmetics industry.

Place of production: Fujian Province.

Here are all ten of the most famous varieties of Chinese tea. We hope this list will help you one day create your own top list and make this wonderful drink even more popular. After all, as Cicero said, “glory is the unanimous praise of good people... who correctly judge outstanding virtue.”

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