More than one division
It would seem that there is no more popular beverage than tea, and since this is the case - each of us can feel like an expert. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Tea classification
Do you think that tea is divided only into those in sachets and leaf tea? Well, no - its classification is much more complicated and depends on the following factors:
- Harvest seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter);
- country of origin (China, India, Japan);
- the method of processing after harvesting (black, green, red, yellow, white, oolong tea);
- leaf size.
Black tea classification - what do the abbreviations mean?
You will encounter designations such as:
- Orange Pekoe (OP) - a long leaf that has been left whole. The highest quality tea.
- Broken (B) - leaf broken.
- Fannings - had made from the leaves. They are ground in order to enhance the flavor of the drink, as well as to shorten the time sufficient for its proper brewing. Most often available in the form of sachets dedicated to express use.
- Dust - the lowest quality of tea, often treated as production waste. It is found in the cheapest teas, available in sachet form.
- Flowery Pekoe (FP) - is a form of leaves rolled into balls.
- Pekoe (P) - is a tea consisting of a bud and the first two leaves from the top. However, the leaves are less delicate and shorter than those of OP.
- Souchong (S) - large leaves, rolled into oblong pieces, uneven in size.
- T(Tip) - tea made from undeveloped buds from the very top of the bush
- PS (Pekoe Souchong) means third leaf after bud - contains leaves shorter and tougher than Pekoe
- OP (Orange Pekoe)- the meaning of ordinary tea of basic quality, long, full leaves, obtained from the first and second leaves without a tea bud
- FOP (Flowery Orange Pekoe) - tea with full leaves, with a small amount of tea buds, contains young, tender leaves, the taste is characterized by floral notes
- GFOP (Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe) - FOP tea, containing additional golden buds, to improve its quality
- TGFOP (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe) - a high quality tea containing whole leaves and a lot of golden tips.
- FTGFOP (Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe) - FOP tea of very high quality, containing a large amount of buds
- SFTGFOP (Special Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe) - the highest quality, specially selected tea, containing buds with floral notes.
If a "1" appears behind the letters indicating the degree of gradation, it means the highest quality tea.
Classification of green tea
In the case of green teas, systematization largely depends on the manufacturer. However, you may encounter quite distinctive terms for this category:
- Imperial - for older leaves, rolled loosely into characteristic balls.
- Young Hyson - for curling young, thin and long leaves.
- Gunpowder - young buds and leaves are rolled very tightly into balls. They develop under the influence of heat already in the cup, during the brewing process.
In the case of green teas, a division can be adopted according to where the tea is grown. Most varieties come from China and Japan. Smaller crops are also found in India, Korea or Vietnam.
Popular green tea varieties from China:
- Green Yunnan
- White Monkey
- Lung Ching
- Bi Luo Chun
Popular green tea varieties from Japan:
- Gyokuro
- Sencha
- Bancha
- Matcha
Classification of oolong tea
Oolong, also known as uulung - is a tea with a distinctive flavor, originally from China, although nowadays you can also find oolong coming from India, Vietnam or Nepal. It is also known as turquoise, green-blue or emerald tea. It is semi-oxidized. Again, its quality largely depends on the classification of the leaves. It is generally considered that the larger and finer they are, the better. The harvesting of the tea is also important - hand harvesting is the most appreciated. Another factor taken into account in determining the quality of tea is the altitude of the area where the harvested leaves grow and also the time of harvesting - the most valued is that carried out in spring and autumn.
FAQ
How many ways are teas classified?
On a lot. It all depends on the species of tea and the method adopted by the producer in question.
Does tea classification matter?
Yes, it determines the quality and therefore the taste we can expect.
What types of teas are classified?
All teas are subject to classification, but there is no one-size-fits-all classification for all types of teas.
Does the method of collection matter?
Yes, the most delicate, young leaves and buds, which are harvested by hand, are considered the most valuable.
Zobacz również
Matcha - your green moment of relaxation and true energy
What is matcha? Matcha is a powdered green tea native to Japan and China. It is created by grinding specially grown tea leaves into a fine green powder. Unlike other teas - in the case of matcha, we consume the whole leaf, not just the infusion, which translates into much more nutritional value.
Does tea have caffeine?
Does tea have caffeine? This question often arises among lovers of this aromatic beverage. Many people think that caffeine is an ingredient only in coffee, and that tea contains only mild stimulants. However, the truth is a bit more complicated.
How to choose a good tea?
Are you looking for the right tea for you that will delight you with its unique taste and aroma? However, choosing that perfect and additionally good quality tea is not as easy as you might think. There are so many varieties of tea in the world that choosing the best one can be a challenge. However, we come to help. We suggest how to identify good tea, what are the best varieties of tea, and what are the best and healthiest teas in the world.
