Black tea
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Black tea or black tea , known in East Asia as red tea (紅茶, Chinese hóngchá , Japanese kōcha ), is a way of making tea . In contrast to green tea, the tea leaves of the tea plant are fermented .
Manufacturing
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After picking, the fresh tea leaves are well ventilated as they wilt in wicker baskets or withered troughs. They are then rolled to release essential oils and break open the cell walls . The rolling is traditionally done with machines in which the withered tea leaves are placed between rotating disks, which break up the cell walls without completely destroying the tea leaves. This process can be compared to rubbing the leaves between your hands. During the subsequent fermentation in warm, humid air, the oils unfold and the typical aroma is created. The temperature should be constant at 30 ° C, otherwise the tea leaves either take on a burnt taste or the fermentation is interrupted. As soon as the leaves have taken on a copper-red color and a typical odor, fermentation can be stopped. The leaves are then dried for around 20 minutes at 85 ° C to preserve the ingredients and taste. Finally, a machine sorts the finished dark tea leaves according to their size and separates it into leaf teas, Broken -Teas, Fannings and Dust. The entire time from withering to drying can take ten hours to over a day, depending on the type of tea and the machines used. During this procedure the leaves lose a large part of the catechins they contain , which react to theaflavins in the course of oxidation . The health-promoting effects of green tea are attributed to these catechins, but recent studies show similar (and complementary) effects also with the theaflavins contained in black tea.
history
For a long time only green tea was drunk in Europe, which was mainly imported from China by the Dutch. The British were quickly embraced the new drink and also went into the trade, which through the East India Company ran (British East India Company). Attempts were made to gain independence from China because of the opium war around 1840. After successful test plantings in India, the British established tea plantations in many colonies such as India , Sri Lanka and Africa . In contrast to China, mainly black tea was produced here, on the one hand to differentiate itself from China, on the other hand because of the European taste. Black tea came to Germany at the end of the 19th century. Today, black tea is mainly drunk in the western world , although drinking habits differ from country to country.
Cultivation regions and varieties
Black tea is produced in most of the known tea-growing countries. Depending on the culture and history, either black or green tea is predominantly grown. India, Sri Lanka, African and South American countries mainly produce black tea, whereas China mainly and Japan only produce green tea.
China
In China today, green tea is mainly harvested, but there are also centers that specialize in processing black tea. Some teas are dried over an open fire and thus acquire smoke aromas. The Yunnan Province in southwest China is known for both black tea and the regional specialty Pu-Erh tea . The tea from Yunnan has its own aroma, is hardly bitter and has a reddish-gold color, which its Chinese name already suggests: “hongcha”, literally “red tea”. Keemun is considered to be the best Chinese black tea. It is produced in the east Chinese province of Anhui . Good pickings are sold under the name Keemun Imperial or Keemun Finest, while simpler grades are often called Keemun Congou. The southern Chinese province of Fujian is the center of Chinese tea production. The black tea harvested here is called " Lapsang Souchong ", is reddish and has a smoky aroma.
India
India is one of the most important producing countries for tea. The different growing areas have different altitudes and climates. The plants also have different genetics, there are both Assam seeds and China seeds, as well as hybrid plants of different varieties in different proportions. The teas produced in the various regions accordingly have very different characteristics. In India, a strong tea is served as masala chai together with various spices, sugar and milk . In India, it is widely believed that you have to drink at least one glass a day to stay healthy.
- Assam
Assam is a state in northeast India and the largest tea-growing area in the world. The tropical, humid climate is ideal for growing tea. Indigenous tea plants, the camellia assamica , were found here in 1823 . Assam tea is still made exclusively from this plant today. Assam is mostly harvested with machines and is therefore usually comparatively inexpensive. It has a strong taste, is rich and is therefore preferred for English and East Frisian tea blends . Assam tea reacts more than other varieties with the lime in the water and forms brown precipitates. It develops its quality best in water with little lime.
- Darjeeling
The city in the north-east Indian state of West Bengal is located at the foothills of the Himalayas and has a mild, subtropical climate. The plants grow at an altitude of 800 to 2,000 meters, with the best teas mostly coming from the tea gardens at a high altitude. The entire cultivation is very difficult due to the slope; in addition, 12,000 sheets are required for one kilogram of Darjeeling First Flush. Only about 4,000 leaves are needed for one kilogram of Assam. Darjeeling teas are for the most part fine, light teas of light color with a characteristic aroma and are relatively expensive. Cheap Darjeelings without specifying the tea garden are often combined with neutral teas from other regions.
- Sikkim
Sikkim is a state directly north of Darjeeling. There is only one tea garden called Temi. The tea is similar to Darjeeling, but tastes a little stronger.
- South india
In the south of India, the tropical climate means that you can harvest all year round. It is grown in the states of Karnataka , Kerala and Tamil Nadu at an altitude of 800 to 2,000 meters. The most famous South Indian tea is the Nilgiri and comes from the Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil Nadu. This tea is similar in taste to Ceylon .
Nepal
The tea gardens of Nepal are located in the easternmost district of the country, Ilam , which borders on Darjeeling. The first tea garden opened in 1863, today a lot is still harvested by private farmers.
Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka , whose tea is still sold under the name Ceylon , there are three growing areas. The plants grow at altitudes between 1500 and 2200 meters, with the higher elevations being preferred, such as in Darjeeling . 90% of the harvest is broken tea ; Overall, Sri Lanka is the fourth largest tea producer with around 310,000 tons, the majority of which is exported. The Scottish tea planter James Taylor (1835-1892) brought tea to Sri Lanka after the existing coffee plantations had been destroyed. Black tea from Sri Lanka tastes very strong, as the tea is made from Camellia assamica or its hybrids .
Bangladesh
The tea gardens in Bangladesh are located in the lowlands under a hot climate. The teas produced there are of low to medium quality and the vast majority of them are consumed in the country itself. Despite a significant harvest, Bangladesh only plays an insignificant role in the international tea trade.
Taiwan
The Landes teas are marketed under the name of the island of Formosa . Most of the teas are oolong teas , which the island is famous for.
South East Asia
In many countries in Southeast Asia such as Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, South Korea, Papua New Guinea etc. tea is produced, often for the local market. On the European market, these teas almost only come in blends and in tea bags, without the origin being specified.
Turkey
Turkey is a major tea producer and at the same time one of the most important buyer countries for tea. There are tea plantations in the north-east of the country on the Black Sea and in the Kaçkar Mountains . Growing areas are near Rize , Trabzon and Artvin . About half of the production is consumed in Turkey, some of the Turkish imports e.g. B. from Sri Lanka and India are being exported again under Turkish trade names.
Georgia
Georgian tea production dates back to the mid-19th century. In Georgia, a number of hybrids of Camellia sinensis and Camellia sinensis var. Assamica with new properties were bred for the first time. The tea found favor with the Russian public during this period and in the last quarter of the 19th century Georgian tea was sold in large quantities in Russia and Europe. Georgia produced teas for use in samovars . Western Georgia was one of the most important cultivation areas for the entire Soviet Union in Soviet times. In the 1980s, Georgia was the fifth largest tea producer after India, China, Japan and Sri-Lanka with around 130,000 tons annually. With the end of the Soviet Union and the Caucasus War between Russia and Georgia in 2008 , this market collapsed almost completely. A large part of the plantations was given up. Since then there is again a significant Georgian tea producer Gurieli at Zugdidi , who produces for the Georgian market. There are also buyers in the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Georgian tea is a niche product in Europe and is only offered by specialized dealers.
Russian Federation
There is a small production facility on the Black Sea coast near Sochi . This is also the largest tea-growing area furthest north.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan produces simple to medium tea qualities in the lower price segment for the domestic market and for the neighboring countries and Russia. Azerbaijani tea is also available on the European market in small quantities. Sometimes the tea is offered in the style of Earl Gray mixed with bergamot or combined with thyme .
Iran
In the province of Gilan , in the humid north of Iran , near the Caspian Sea , black and green tea are grown in addition to bamboo and rice . The main place of tea cultivation is Lāhidschān . Abroad, this tea is marketed as "Persian tea".
Kenya and the rest of Africa
African production is becoming increasingly important, but it is hardly seen by the consumer. The predominant drought and heat in large parts of Africa make it difficult for the plants to grow. In some climatically favorable areas such as some highlands in Kenya , however, there is sufficient humidity due to the rainy seasons . In African growing countries such as Kenya, Malawi , Cameroon , Congo , Rwanda , Burundi , South Africa , Ethiopia , Zambia , Zimbabwe and Tanzania , black tea is mainly harvested using the CTC method. Cultivation has only been taking place since the beginning of the 20th century, which means that the factories are more modern. Most of the tea produced in this way is used in the mass market for tea bags and blends without any indication of origin and sold to the end consumer under various trademarks. Kenya is the third largest producer in the world with a production of around 370,000 tons, of which 95% is exported. Occasionally, African teas are offered as specialties or under labels for fair trade.
South America
The countries Brazil , Argentina , Peru , Bolivia and Ecuador mainly produce for the North American market. The mainly black tea has a slightly earthy taste.
Europe
In the northeast of the Azores island of São Miguel , which belongs to Portugal , there were more than 60 tea factories during the heyday of tea cultivation there, but only two factories have survived to this day: the tea factory Chá Gorreana and the Fábrica de Chá do Porto Formoso .
In England there is insignificant amounts of amateur cultivation. In Cornwall , England , near the city of Truro , England's first ornamental tea plants grew on the Tregothnan estate at the beginning of the 19th century. Since 2006, tea blends have been sold there that contain tea leaves from their own cultivation on an area of 10 hectares (25 acres ). Around a ton of tea leaves are harvested each year.
New Zealand
Oolong tea is produced in New Zealand and marketed as Zealong.
Health effects
Black tea is said to have many positive effects on the human body.
Allegedly, it is supposed to reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. However, this could not be fully confirmed. It was also assumed that the risk of stroke would be reduced by consuming the tea, which was also not found in meta-analyzes.
However, black tea is said to actually have an impact on blood pressure and increase cerebral blood flow .
The extent to which the steeping time in hot water influences whether the tea has a stronger or less stimulating effect is controversial. With longer steeping times, more tannins get into the tea, which at least have a calming effect on the gastrointestinal tract. However, it is not certain whether the tannins reduce or slow down the absorption of caffeine in the intestine.
literature
- Cornelia Haller-Zingerling, Die Welt des Tees , Neuer Umschau Buchverlag GmbH, Neustadt an der Weinstrasse 2007, 2nd edition, ISBN 3-86528-277-6 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Çay Bitkisi ( Memento from October 17, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ PART 1: Tea Plants ( Memento from October 1, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ History - Gurieli. Accessed July 8, 2018 .
- ^ Site Oficial da Fábrica de Chá Gorreana. (No longer available online.) In: gorreana.org. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014 ; accessed on December 30, 2014 .
- ↑ chaportoformoso.com ( Memento from July 4, 2010 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Tea at Tregothnan - Tregothnan. In: co.uk. June 14, 2020, accessed December 30, 2014 .
- ^ Adam Lindgreen: The New Cultures of Food. Gower Publishing, Ltd., 2009, ISBN 9780566088131 , p. 69. Limited preview in Google Book Search
- ↑ The Cornwall plantation that's doing a roaring trade ... selling tea to China. In: dailymail.co.uk. August 21, 2008, accessed December 30, 2014 .
- ↑ Yi-wei Lin, Zheng-hui Hu, Xiao Wang, Qi-qi Mao, Jie Qin: Tea consumption and prostate cancer: an updated meta-analysis . In: World Journal of Surgical Oncology . tape 12 , February 14, 2014, ISSN 1477-7819 , p. 38 , doi : 10.1186 / 1477-7819-12-38 , PMID 24528523 , PMC 3925323 (free full text).
- ↑ Li Shen, Liu-guang Song, Hong Ma, Chun-na Jin, Jian-an Wang: Tea consumption and risk of stroke: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies . In: Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B . tape 13 , no. 8 , May 6, 2017, ISSN 1673-1581 , p. 652–662 , doi : 10.1631 / jzus.B1201001 , PMID 22843186 , PMC 3411099 (free full text).
- ↑ Chi-Wei Changa, Sheng-Hung Wangb, Ming-Yie Janb, Wei-Kung Wang: Effect of black tea consumption on radial blood pulse spectrum and cognitive health. April 2017, accessed on May 6, 2017 .
- ↑ Oliver Germershaus, Peter Imming: Coffee and Tea - Everyday Drugs or Panacea . In: Pharmazeutische Zeitung , issue 50/2001.