Black tea has remained popular among drinkers for many decades. Tea is quite hearty to taste, energizing, and has a lengthy history - and that makes the tea to be perfect for any occasion. Starting from Assam and Darjeeling which belong to India and are marked by entirely different tastes and characteristics, we instantly get to Keemun and Lapsang Souchong which represent China and taste also dramatically different. But which brew is the best one out there? Mittal Tea is here to uncover basic black tea types and explore their origin, taste profiles, and how to prepare them to your preference.
Factors Influencing Flavor
The flavor of black tea depends on several key factors:
- Growing Region: Climate, soil, and altitude take their toll on the flavor. Those brewed from plants cultivated at high elevations such as the Darjeeling, have finer liquor with favorable tones of flowers while the lowland brewed from tea such as Assam, have stronger flavors of malt.
- Harvest Season: The first flush of teas, which are usually made within the first two weeks of May, are light and succulent, and the second flush of teas plucked a little later, are stronger and fuller.
- Processing Method: Oxidation level drying methods and processing of the tea leaves influence the shade of color and flavor of the tea. For instance, according to the method of preparation, Keemun tea has its special taste due to oxidation and drying procedures.
How to Select the Proper Black Tea
The search for how to make black tea perfectly can be carried out depending on the taste of the kind of tea you like. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:
- For a Strong Morning Brew: Try Assam or Ceylon. These teas are medium to strong and surprisingly suitable for the addition of milk and/or sugar as is common with morning tea.
- For a Delicate Afternoon Cup: Opt for Darjeeling. Light and floral, it is perfect with that quintessential English afternoon tea or an exotic beverage!
- For a Smooth, Complex Flavor: Keemun tea delivers a harmonized cup of tea that may be consumed at any time of the day due to the fruity and nonbitter note.
- For Something Bold and Unique: Lapsang Souchong is meant for those who like their tea powerful and with the scent of woodsmoke. This is because the product has a unique taste, which makes people talk when it is on their table.
The Perfect Brew for Each Tea Type
In a way, the preparation specifically for every kind of tea requires time for you to feel or discern it deeply. Here’s how you can get the most flavor from some popular types:
- Assam Tea: Prepare it by pouring hot water over 1-2 teaspoons of loose leaves and steep for 4-5 minutes. Because of its pure and softly caramel-like taste with pronounced malt character, Assam tea is great for drinking in the morning and goes well with milk.
- Darjeeling Tea: If you do not want to sacrifice flavor, you should brew this type of tea at a slightly lower temperature that is, around 85-90 °C or 185-194 °F. Steep for 3-4 minutes. Darjeeling should be preferably drunk without milk added because it accentuates the subtlety of the floral and muscatel flavors.
- Ceylon Tea: The prepared tea can be boiled water and steeped for 3-5 minutes. Ceylon has a bright taste that does not interfere with adding milk and sugar but also tastes good without additions.
- Keemun Tea: To even balance the taste of Keemun tea, steep it in 90-95°C (194-203°F) water, for 3-4 minutes. Because of its multiple, unique layers of flavor, it is best brewed without additives, such as milk or sugar.
- Lapsang Souchong: Infuse at 95-100°C (203-212°F) for approximately the last 5 chronological minutes of steeping. The Lapsang Souchong tea mainly has a smoky taste.
Conclusion
Depending on where you purchase it, tea will be minutely different, but in the final analysis, the best black tea is determined by your preferences. If you are more into strong coffee like feeling tea go for Assam or Ceylon. In case you are looking for a finer class, your favorites might be Darjeeling or Keemun tea. And if you are an adventurist Lisang Souchong will not leave you indifferent - it will take you on a rather extraordinary taste trip.
Tasting different black teas can be a discovery every time one takes different cups of these types of teas, so rich in flavor and fragrance. At Mittal Teas, we recommend you try a maximum number of types and find which one you like the most. For both, the habitual consumer of tea, and someone who only thinks in terms of trying tea for the first time, there are delightful and interesting things in this world - get yours today!
