A good look out of the window and you can witness a shadow over the sun. How lovely is it to be surrounded and embraced by a comforting dark layer of monsoon? It’s literally as if the heavens are out there to give you a hug. What is the only thing missing in this perfect weather? A nice piping cup of tea. Now the question pops up. With a plethora of teas to choose from, which one do you pick? Whether you are a chai person or a green tea person, we assure you that by the end of this piece, you’ll be eager to brew a cup of black tea! How? Let’s delve into that!
Let’s see where it all began, shall we? Black tea came into the spotlight in the tea-drinking scene in the 17th century, and it came from the world’s teadrinking capital, China. How? It was created by accident when a few people left a bunch of tea leaves out in the sun for too long. The leaves turned a dark red from absorbing too much sun and oxygen. Rather than wasting the leaves, a local farmer decided to save them by drying them over pine, and thus the beautiful smoky brew was born. How cool is that!
It was then discovered that this dark and delicious tea could be stored for longer periods of time and traders went crazy for Lapsang Souchong’s black tea leaves.
It was later when the Dutch won, that the British were forced to look elsewhere for the Camellia Sinensis plant that produced this exciting new tea. They discovered it in India, but it was stronger and yielded more. Because of its exorbitant price, black tea was once reserved for the aristocracy and was adopted as the drink of choice by British royalty.
Black tea today is one of the most popular types of tea consumed worldwide. India, China, and Sri Lanka continue to be the largest producers of one of the world’s favourite teas.
Now, are you up for some interesting facts about this Black beauty?
1. Caffeine in black tea is good for health: Black tea contains polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants may help lower your risk of chronic disease and improve your overall health.
2. Black Tea = Chai ki Patti? According to popular belief, black tea is the same as Chai Ki Patti, which can be found in various Indian households. That is not correct! Most tea is powdered, and the healthiest way to consume Black Tea is in the form of whole loose leaves.
3. The World’s Healthiest Drink: You’d be mistaken if you thought Black Tea was just another caffeinated beverage. Today, Black Tea has the reputation of being a tasty energizer. However, Black Tea has numerous health benefits! See the list of health benefits:
- Alertness and energy
- Antioxidants, including polyphenols and catechins
- Possible anti-cancer effects
- Better Heart Health
- Improved metabolism
- Gut health
4. Black Tea has many flavours and tastes: You’ll be surprised to know that there are many types of black tea. Listed below are the types
- Assam
- Darjeeling
- Ceylon
- Keemun
- Golden Monkey
- Earl Grey
- Chai
- English Breakfast
5. Black Tea isn’t always black in colour: When authentic black tea leaves from Ceylon, China, and Japan are brewed, they produce a light, golden colour. Also, when brewed, a special black tea called Gongfu from China turns red. As a result, it is also known as Gongfu Red Tea. Another marvel in the Black Tea universe is the Golden Needle Black Tea from China, which not only produces a golden brew but also has golden leaves! How cool!
After reading all this, aren’t you just dying to ravish the black beauty? Give it a go and know that once you go black (tea) there is no turning back!