Spices in packet tea give a kick start

From a long period of time tea has been used as a beverage and medicinal product in all over South Asia. The British introduced the tea into their  colonies and the inhabitants started loving it. The tea can be said as the most commonly found and the oldest beverages in the world.

In South Asia especially India and China the spice tea or chai tea has become very popular. The masala tea or the masala chai  varies in the taste from place to place. It has been universally accepted and the usage and popularity is increasing day by day. The tea companies are promoting spice tea to people all over the world. They are getting to know the real taste of the masala tea because of awareness.

Best quality and taste

The Spices in packet tea can provide the latest and the best in the longer tradition of the brilliance in the quality and the taste. The Spice Chai and the masala Tea has reached to a lot of people living in the subcontinent and the whole of Asian countries. Slowly and slowly the Spices in the packet tea is developing into a huge hit among all of the countries and it is being spreading fast. The tea shops and the coffee bar centers are also adopting the spices tea and are offering the wonderful experience of the tea beverage to the potential customers who can consume it at homes or any other places.

Flavorful tea

Various spices such as the elaichi, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon are being mixed in tea. Many companies producing the spicy tea are blending the best mix of traditional flavors with the new flavors. The spic tea has a powerful punch and rich flavor as compared to coffee.

The flavorful tea must be kept in packaging using flexible materials. The plastic packing as well as laminated cartons are perfect for storage with increased self life. These are also water proof, grease proof and vapor proof materials. Therefore these are  used in various industrial sectors like the pharmacy industry, tea  and the spice industry.  The  and herbs also make popular tea flavors along with traditional cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves.

Tea Consumption a changing paradigm

Globally tea consumption is a recent phenomenon. Well the brew was quite popular since ages in countries like China, some parts of India and rest of Asia. The habit started with consumption for health as a medicine in China.With the rising popularity it entered the domain of Chinese culture. Following greater consumption the beverage became a consumer product. 

This happened in India as well whence the British popularized it and spread its consumption all over their territory. In most of the Asian countries tea has become part of daily lifestyle. For masses it has become a daily habit and addiction. The beverage has become a ritualistic aspect of daily living an inseparable part of life.   

In spite of its popularity the brew faces tough competition from coffee as well as fancy cocktails that have recently flooded the market. Coffee rules the roost globally but tea consumption is rising as well. It is  making in roads into the adversaries domain. 

With maddening varieties reaching the average drinker thanks to trendy packaging, tea is slowly making in roads as a lifestyle product. The trendy packaging with infusion of technology and modern blending methods has changed the paradigm. From a regular house hold product to lifestyle product the change has been brought about by innovative approach of tea houses. The gastronomic intervention introduced new recipes on lines of fancy coffee being sold in the shops. 

The advent of tea lounge in the footstep of coffee houses has brought in instant popularity amongst the younger generation.Tea drinking has suddenly become an "In Thing". The modern lounges have revolutionized rest and recreation concept amongst the younger lot and office goers as well as the business class. The one stop joint for business meets, social gatherings, for hot tea beverages and yummy snacks with offerings of jet set ambiance...what more does one wish for. The drink that cheers now offers much more, not ignoring the health benefits that far surpass coffee. 

Major tea companies in India.

In India every household is a consumer of tea. Not only on daily basis, it is a part of everyone’s life because it is actually consumed more than one time during a day. Tea more than choice is a necessity for hundreds of people in India now. Even though we Indians as daily consumers of this hot beverage hardly have any idea about the way it came out of its shell and started playing a major role in our lives. Not only that, we hardly have any idea about its origin or its current processing methods in our country. Despite of all this one thing we have to be sure of is that since India is one of the largest consumers of tea in the world. The country has major tea processing industries located in the North East and South.


Tea was introduced to the Indian consumers during the advent of the British. It was then that our country men started converting the lands for tea cultivation and most probably it was in the 1950s that the plant was introduced and accepted as a recreational drink. Today India is one of the largest producers and processor of tea and more than 70% is consumed by the country itself. With these rates of production and consumption the country is bound to have the major tea processing companies and gardens.


Breaking the monopoly of the Chinese the first step in was taken by the British East India Company when they used Chinese seeds and started cultivating tea in India. With time and advancement of technology the leaf production increased and modern methods of production and processing came into being.
This is what makes India a proud country of major tea processing companies.


India is not only the largest consuming nation in the world but is also as mentioned earlier the largest tea producing nation too. There is even an expectation that the major producing companies will grow in the coming year. Most of the companies are located in the following state - Orissa, Bihar, Mizoram, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Karnataka, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Manipur. Some of the big concerns in India are Wagh Bakri House based in Ahmadabad, Tata, Lipton, Duncan and Brook Bond.


As the expectation is high that the production will increase in the coming year and so will the consumption.  Forming a major part of India’s GNP the tea companies are the largest employers of semi skilled and skilled work force. They contribute towards the income that is generated via export as well.

English Teas and Ceremonies; History of origin of tea

English Teas and Ceremonies originated early at the time of British. They consumed unprocessed green tea processed in boiling water. This was very beneficial for the human body to keep fit and healthy. English tea is a hot drink which is enjoyed at home as well at the working place. It keeps people fresh and energetic as it changes the body temperature. Tea is used as a medicine as well and as a manner to celebrate an occasion.

Tea enhances learning capacity and helps in sharpening the memory. It also becomes one of the reasons to keep the people in touch with each other. This is one of the essential drinks taken along with the breakfast. Some people are just crazy about it they love to have it and enjoy it with great joy and happiness. One of the essential items to celebrate any occasion is tea. The beverage was introduced by the British in India and from that time it has become part of lifestyle.

At that time the British used to have unprocessed tea. This possessed many antiseptic qualities and cured people from many diseases. This hot beverage is liked in cold days as it gives warmth and helps in controlling body temperature. People even drink about 2-3 cups in a day to keep themselves energetic and active in order to perform their tasks nicely.

Top 7 brands of tea

•    Wagh Bakri is one of the famous brands. The company blends the finest leaves and sells them under many brands which are worldwide famous and well liked.
•    Society brand is mostly liked among the people during functions.
•    Duncan’s double diamond tea is one of the famous brands among the leading one.
•    Brooke Bond red label tea is one of the high revenue products of Hindustan Unilever and a popular brand name.
•    Taj Mahal is also of the high segment revenue product of Hindustan Unilever and gives a satisfactory taste to the people.
•    Tata tea is one of the in demand products from the House of Tatas.
•    Lipton’s famous product is Lipton tea but as compared to the above mentioned product it’s not that popular.

Different types of tea

Tea Ceremony is one of the reasons to invite someone home or to go out with friends and relatives. Different brands of tea are available in the market which can be consumed according to one’s taste. Different age groups of people like different types of teas with different brand names. There are various types of this beverage like chai, ice tea, green tea, bubble tea etc. These are available and made in home as well as in market.
Tea has become the drink during celebrations and gives happiness to number of people.

Tea Additives

Every cup you sip appears to be the same but is that so?. The World of this wonderful hot beverage appear restricted in terms of flavor and taste. But this is not the truth the tea consumed on various Eastern Countries is diverse in taste and flavor.

The additives play a major role in the flavoring in tea leaf. The leaf is highly receptive to flavors and additives in many forms. Hence many aromatic elements are used as additives. 

Some of the popular ones are mentioned below:

Flowers

Kewda

Rose

Jasmine

Chrysanthemum  

Herbs

Lemon Grass

Kewda

Mint

Pandan

Spices

Nutmeg

Cinnamon

Cardamom

Ginger

Cassia

Black Pepper

Clove

Anise

Fennel

Bay leaf 

Vanilla

Mace

Special spice mixtures are also sold in India which contain many healthy spices.

Some citrus peels are also added like in the Earl Gray Tea popular in UK. Some essential oils are also added to the brew for flavor. In India jaggery is also used in place of sugar which accords it a distinct taste.

Goat's Milk and Camel's Milk are also used instead of cow and buffalo milk in many places.  On many instances rum and scotch whiskey are also added to tea. 

Tea Flavors

Most talked about beverage in the World tea comes along in thousands of flavors. The diversity in flavor and aroma arises out of many factors. This in spite of the plant being the same with little species variation. The major factors that determine the two aspects are the soil, climate, altitude and cultivation method adopted. 

The other factors that influence the flavor and aroma are the processing and blending with minor role being played by the storage or packing. Since a large variety of teas are grown and processed in tea gardens blending becomes important. The other reasons for blending are to obtain a said flavor or to manage the costs. Expensive teas like the premium Darjeeling tea are often mixed with regular black tea in order to reduce the cost.    

The brewing method also influences the flavor and aroma. In many countries brewing is a ceremonial ritual that is on vogue since many centuries. Masalas or spices also play a great role in the way the tea tastes. Nevertheless black tea finds the greatest popularity among the masses. Darjeeling tea is most popular as a premium beverage along with some varieties of green teas. Some of the leaf cultivated in China, Japan and India are popular as premium blends. The flavors are usually defined as strong, mild and light. Black tea is usually consumed a strong with strong flavor of tannins and other aromatic chemicals. High quality Darjeeling tea  has a slight bitter astringent flavor with very strong aroma.   

The hot tea beverage is not to be confused with herbal teas. These are a concoction of many herbs and usually do not contain the tea leaf.

Chai Wallahs

India is a unique and diverse country with amazing characteristic styles that lean on brink of being bizarre. The ubiquitous road side scene is large number of people on road, shanty shacks, and tea shops. The roadside in case of Indian baazars are dotted with pan shops, kirana stores, chaat wallahs and the chai wallah. 

The chai wallah may be nothing but a rickety hand cart or a small shop tucked away in a row. The latter may also be selling a wide variety of Indian fried snacks.  Thee hand carts selling tea in India are most numerous. In Southern India they may  also be selling coffee.   

The daily draws have a well set rapport with the chai wallah. Local business persons, office workers and visitors frequent these stalls and spend reasonable time listening to the chai wallahs banter or just gape at the World go past. 

The brewing style is as mesmerizing as the ensuing aroma is. The boiling liqueur is literally tossed in the air and collected back in the pan with acrobatic ease. In between sugar, spices and leaf are added algorithmically.  Each chai wallah has a unique way of brewing and serving the final concoction. 

The usual medium is small cheap glasses that do not cause any concern if broken or lost. These are briskly washed with murky water and steaming stream of tea poured into them. The liqueur is a thick extract of all the aromatic as well as non aromatic constituents of the tea leaf and the masalas. Nevertheless you get a flavor that does not distill during the brewing at home. The flavor and aroma is addicted and hence tea makers in the offices rust within a short period of disuse.  

The chai wallah and his masala tea are irreplaceable for the masses in India. Everywhere you go there is one serving the magic brew...hot and steaming. Be careful or you will end up with scalded oral cavity.  

Green Tea The Okinawa Observations

Okinawa is a Japanese Island renowned world over for healthiest older people on Earth.  The older generation in this Island has a life span of eighty years and above. They are known for their agility and active lifestyle in spite of their age.  

After many conjectures it was discovered that this attribute was due to a type of tea consumption known as Jasmine Green Tea.  This is also known as San Pin Tea in local lingo and the elderly consume large amounts. The health benefits accrue from this consumption and decrease if the consumption is reduced. This has been noted amongst the Okinawa population that has moved away from this island.   

The clue to this amazing fact is quality green tea as in the case of San Pin. The tea contains the youngest leaves picked from the plant. The plant is cultivated seasonally at moderate heights and has limited fluoride contents.

For those not in habit of consuming the wonderful brew green tea extract is the answer. The extract accords all the benefits that arise out of the green tea. The antioxidants, poly phenols and ECGC are all present in the magic leaf.  This leaf is known to benefit in cardiac ailments, diabetes, cancer and help reduce weight. 

News Source

Popular Chinese Varities of Green Tea

All teas come from one single species of plant scientifically referred as Camillia Sinensis. The types arise from the way the processing takes place and in some cases the way cultivation is done.  The other factors that fetch a change into the leaf are the region, climate and soil type. 

Some of the popular Chinese variants are: 

Gun Powder

Rated as one of the most popular in China. The tea leaf  is pellet shaped and is cultivated in the Province of Zhejian.

Dragon Well Greet Tea or Long Jing

The characteristic Jade color is a feature of this flat leaf tea. This is also very popular in China. This is also cultivated in Zhejian Province.

Snowy Mountain Jian

Grown at high altitude in the Province of Yunnan the tea is more like black tea. The processing brings about a change that makes this green tea full bodied and aromatic more like black tea.

Monkey Tea or Hoi Kui 

Cultivated in Anhui Province of China this green tea is grown in the vicinity of orchids. The leaves during growth absorb the flavor of orchids and deliver the flavor to processed leave.


Kai Hua Long Ding 

This green tea variant is grown in Tiantai County of Zhejian Province of China. The leaves are thick and short which is a unique feature of this tea. 

Green Snail Spring - Pi Lo Chun

This is a rare product of Camillia Sinensis grown in Zhejian Province of China. It is cultivated amongst the fruits which accord it a characteristic fruity flavor. The rolled leaf has a snake like appearance hence the name. 

Other popular varities are:

Hyson Lucky Dragon
Xin Yang Mao Jian
Tian Mu Qing Ding

About Tea Bags

When you travel on a long journey you need tea bags if you are a regular drinker. This is most visible on a railway journey whence the vendor does a quick job dipping the paper bags containing tea leaves. The bag is made of a porous paper from which the brew enters the boiling water.  The material used is mostly tissue paper or food grade plastic.Vegetable matter is also used.

Once the infusion has leaked out of the pores the bag is pulled out using a string which is attached to it. The technological improvements are leading to more hygienic and safe bags. The bags are used mostly for convenience especially during travel. 

A wide variety of blends of finest teas are available in tea bags all over the World. In India Waghbakri tea Company is one of the leading manufacturers of these bags. These can be bought from many stores in malls and retail shops in the neighborhood. The filling and heat sealing is done using a machine made in many countries. The invention credit goes to William Hermanson but the rectangular shaped tea bag was first used in Year 1944. The tea bag was first made out of silk and patented in 1903. It was commercially marketed by Thomas Sullivan in New York State.

The bags are packed in a carton usually containing about twenty five. The product has a long expiry period but quick consumption will accord the taste of freshness and aroma. The products can be bought online as well at Waghbakri Website.