If asked to depict black tea, the mind will first picture a beverage, which is deep amber to reddish in color and which, of course, brings refreshment. In fact, there are many noticeable and non noticeable factors that would make this simple beverage a wonderful creation. We ensure that all our teas offered at Mittal Teas represent the incredible range of smells that is truly in every perfect tasting. Hence, we will be focusing on various aspects of tea, its aroma and how it affects the taste and reputation of tea across the globe.
What is Black Tea?
Black tea, with a fuller and darker flavor than the green tea has, is thought to be consumed more than any other tea type around the world. It is different from green or white tea - in that the latter goes through the full oxidation process. It is this oxidation that gives tea its fully rounded flavor and a ‘depth of color’. All the teas produced today whether these are single origin, blended or flavored for one reason or another are products of this process and the terroir.
The Role of Aroma in Taste
If you are a tea drinker, then just imagine it happens before you have even put the tea to your lips to sip it. The fragrance is one of the most important characteristics of black tea - it is used to decide on the further product’s taste. The mouth and the nose actually play the two complementary roles in tasting since olfactory senses (or the sense of smell) and the palate (taste buds) combine to present the whole tasting picture. Before taking the tea, the smells that you get to sniff are classified generally in several groups of scents namely fruity, flower like, malty, smoky as well as spicy. They can introduce ourselves to the subtle notes and help navigate our palate, as well as the perception of the described tastes of tea.
Key Aromas in Black Tea
- Fruity Aromas: Tea can also have fabulous fruity flavors that depend on the region the tea comes from and how it has been prepared. There are a number of non-milk additions on tea base which are associated with fruity aroma: raisins or figs and dates or some tangy fresh notes as zests or berries. The muscatel Darjeeling teas give fruity notes, a reason why the Indian tea is referred to as the Champagne of teas.
Such fruit accords are sometimes used to create a tea that is fresh and easy to drink. Teas that have a fruit-like scent should be consumed before meals, in the form of fine biscuits or sweets, because of their sweet and somewhat sour taste.
- Floral Aromas: In tea floral notes are observable but clear and are mostly associated with luxury and tenderness. Floral notes can be delicate and almost indiscernible like a rose or jasmine or rather robust like the magnolia or very close to the orchids. All of these scents enhance the tea drinking process by contributing another dimension of sophistication.
- Malty Aromas: The most widely known flavors linked to black tea are malt, and honey. Flavour Malty teas like Assam tea have flavors described as biscuit like, deep, full bodied, resonant and rich. These malty notes give tea its more ‘chalky’ mouthfeel and solid full body which makes it palatable for those who like their tea strong.
- Smoky Aromas: Lapsang Souchong and other ‘smoky’ teas may not be to everyone’s liking but once you have sampled a cup with that signature smoky aroma, then you will recognize it at once. These teas are subjected to a process after drying through smoke produced from burning pine wood to produce sweet smoky flavor.
- Spicy Aromas: Certain teas have the scents of spices such as cinnamon, pepper or cloves lurking in their background. It has these spicy notes from chemicals existing in the tea leaves or added by blending with real spices. This leads to a tea that is warming, vibrant and one that would suit the colder months perfectly.
The strength of smoke found in these teas provides a more balanced earthy flavor, which complements strongly flavored and powerful foods such as meats and cheeses. Smoky teas will suit anyone who wants to switch from the popular traditional green and yellow teas to something less conventional.
Conclusion
Now you have found a global overview of black tea and its rich smelling experience, one of the factors that made it stay for the long haul. Depending on your preference, you may like fruity, floral, malty, smoky or spicy types of tea. In Mittal Teas, we have an attractive display of black teas which reflect these aromatic profiles so that every sip of tea is a perfect blend. Visit our store today and touch, see, smell, and taste your way to a new understanding of the finer things of tea.
