Black tea

(, Jap kocha红茶, Chinese Hongcha ) refers to black tea or black tea, in East Asia as red tea, is a variant to make tea. The tea leaves of the tea plant to be sure, in contrast to the green tea is oxidized (previously fermented). Black tea differs from green tea also in the preparation, the taste, the ingredients and effects of the infusion. In general, these points are also on the length of pull and letting the properties of water that is used.

Production

After picking the fresh tea leaves are well ventilated wilting in wicker baskets or Welktrögen. Then they are rolled to liberate essential oil and to break the cell walls. In the following fermentation with warm, moist air to unfold the oils, and the typical aroma arises. The temperature should be constant at 30 ° C, otherwise take the tea leaves either a burnt taste or the fermentation is stopped. Once the leaves have taken on a copper-red color and a typical smell the fermentation can be stopped. Thereafter, the leaves are dried for about 20 minutes at 85 ° C in order to preserve the ingredients and flavor. Last sorts a machine finished, dark tea leaves according to their size and separates it into leaf teas, teas Broken, Fannings and Dust. The total duration of wilting to drying can take over a day to ten hours, depending on the type of tea and the machinery used. In this procedure, the leaves lose a large part of catechins contained, which react in the course of the fermentation to theaflavins. The health benefits of green tea is attributed to just these catechins, recent studies show similar ( and complementary ) effects but also with the theaflavins present in black tea.

History

For a long time only drank green tea in Europe, which was mainly imported by the Dutch from China. The British were quickly embraced the new drink and also went into the trade, which ran across the British East India Company (British East India Company). They tried to be independent from China because of the Opium War in 1840. After successful test plantations in India, the British established many colonies like India, Sri Lanka and Africa tea plantations. In contrast to China here mainly black tea was produced, on the one hand to distinguish from China, on the other hand because of European taste. After Germany black tea then came the end of the 19th century. Today is drunk in the Western world, mainly black tea, with different drinking habits from country to country.

Growing regions and varieties

Black tea is produced in most of the known Teeanbauländern. Depending on the culture and history outweighs the cultivation of either black or green tea. India, Ceylon, African and South American countries are mainly produces black tea, whereas China and Japan mainly produce exclusively green tea.

China

In China, predominantly green tea is harvested today, but there are also centers that have specialized in the processing of black tea. The Yunnan province in southwest China is known for both black tea as well as for the regional specialty Pu -erh tea. The tea from Yunnan is of reddish- golden color, which already reveals his Chinese name: " Hongcha ", literally " red tea ". Keemun is considered the best Chinese black tea. It is produced in east China's Anhui Province. Good pickings are sold under the name Imperial Keemun Keemun Finest or, simpler qualities often called Keemun Congou. The southern Chinese province of Fujian is the center of Chinese tea production. The harvested here black tea is called " Lapsang Souchong " is reddish and has a smoky flavor.

India

Assam is a state in northeastern India and the largest tea-growing region located in the world. The tropical, humid climate is well suited for the cultivation of tea. Here was found in 1823 indigenous tea culture, the camellia assamica. Assam tea is made solely from this plant today. He is strong in flavor and is therefore preferred for East Frisian tea blends.

Some teas from Darjeeling are among the best teas in the world. The town in the northeastern Indian state of West Bengal is located at the foothills of the Himalayas and has a mild, subtropical climate. The plants grow to a height of 800-2000 meters, where the best teas mostly come from the high altitude tea gardens. The total area under cultivation is very difficult because of the slope; also are needed for one kilogram of Darjeeling First Flush 12,000 sheets. One kilo of Assam only about 4,000 sheets are needed.

See also: Darjeeling (tea )

Sikkim is a state directly north of Darjeeling. There is only one tea garden named Temi. The tea is similar to Darjeeling, but tastes a little stronger.

In the south of India can be harvested over by the tropical climate all year round. Is grown in the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu at an altitude 800-2000 meters. The most famous South Indian tea comes from the Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil Nadu. This tea is similar in taste to the Ceylon tea.

Nepal

The tea gardens of Nepal located in the easternmost district of the country, Ilam, bordering Darjeeling. The first tea garden was opened in 1863, still a lot of private farmers is harvested.

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, the tea is still sold under the name of Ceylon, there are three regions. The plants grow to heights of 1500-2200 meters, with the higher layers are preferably as described in Darjeeling. 90 % of the harvest is Broken Tea, a total of Sri Lanka is the fourth largest tea producer with about 310,000 tons, the bulk of which is exported. James Taylor brought the tea to Sri Lanka after the existing coffee plantations were destroyed. Black tea from Sri Lanka tastes very strong, as the tea from the Camellia assamica or their hybrids is obtained.

Africa

The African market is becoming increasingly important. The overwhelming heat and drought in many parts of Africa hamper the growth of plants. In climatically favored areas such as some highlands of Kenya but there is sufficient rain Humidity times. In African -growing countries such as Kenya, Malawi, Cameroon, South Africa, Ethiopia and Tanzania mainly black tea is harvested after the CTC process and mainly used for tea bag and mixtures. Is cultivated only since the beginning of the 20th century, making the factories are modern equipped. Kenya is the third largest producer in the world with a production of about 370,000 tonnes, of which 95 % are exported.

South America

The countries of Brazil, Argentina and Ecuador produce mainly for the North American market. The mainly black tea has a slightly earthy flavor.

Turkey

Cultivation of Rize -Tees in the north east of the country on the Black Sea and in the Kaçkar Mountains. Growing areas are in Rize, Trabzon, Giresun and Ordu and Artvin.

Europe

In Europe there are tea plantations in Portugal and England.

In the northeast of Portugal associated Azores island of São Miguel there was during the heyday of the local tea cultivation more than 60 tea factories, up to the present time, however, only two factories have survived: the Tea Factory Cha Gorreana and the Fábrica de Chá do Porto Formoso.

In English, Cornwall, near the city of Truro grown on the Tregothnan estate in the early 19th century, the first tea ornamental England. Since 2006, there teas are sold, the tea leaves from our own garden on an area of ​​10 acres included (25 acres). About one ton of tea leaves harvested per year.

Iran

In the province of Gilan, in the moist northern Iran, near the Caspian Sea also much tea is grown next to bamboo and rice. Capital of the tea cultivation is Lāhījān.