Protection with Organic Loose Leaf Tea
Posted by Guest Author on December 27th, 2009 filed in Reader Articles
More and more people are now becoming health conscious and they are turning to organic loose leaf tea for its natural properties that are said to promote better health. Organic loose leaf tea or any other tea products is preferred by many because it contains less caffeine and the slightly astringent taste of the hot drink is appealing to them. There are four basic types including black tea, oolong, green and white so named due to the process with which they are individually processed and their maturity at the time they are picked.
Most tea is comes from bushes that would otherwise grow into trees if left unattended. Most growers keep them trimmed to between three and four feet to allow for ease in picking the top leaves. The growing season varies by region, the top leaves of the tea bush are harvested and the bush will get new leaves in another two or three weeks. The leaves are picked during various stages of their growth. For example, white tea is made from only the youngest leaves that have not yet started their natural fermentation process.
Many growers defend the tea bushes from the sun to minimize the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves, providing a more pure taste. Black tea, the most popular type sold around the world, are made from leaves that are left on the bush until the fermentation process is well underway.
One tea distributor started selling leaves in cloth bags and users quickly learned they could place the entire bag in boiling water and infuse the flavor into their drink. This practice quickly became popular but there was a temporary stoppage in the making of tea bags during the war. At the end of World War II however, Tetley started selling paper tea bags, which made it a top selling drink in the world.
Organic loose leaf tea is a natural source of amino acid theanine and polyphenolic antioxidant catechins, which are highly valued for their health benefits. Many believe that drinking organic loose leaf tea such as green tea or white tea offers more health benefits as they contain a whole lot more of these natural products than black or even oolong.
Brewing times and temperatures will differ depending on the type of tea being brewed as well as depending on individual tastes. Green, white and those organic loose leaf tea that are considered more delicate can be brewed at temperatures under 200 degrees, while black and oolong are typically steeped in water just below the 212 degree boiling point.
Mail this post
Leave a Comment