The significance of flavor additives in tea blends

Tea is said to be the world’s oldest among the popular beverages since a long period of time. People have been drinking tea since many centuries in Asian countries. Recently they have also realized the fact that the tea can also be made better by adding various kinds of flavors and spices to it. This imagination been made to come true by the regular drinkers. Nowadays tea is available in every possible flavor from far and wide.

The best way of adding the fragrance to make tea more delicious is by adding various herbs and essential oils which are edible aromatic compounds. The Masala Chai or Spiced tea  is getting popular among the customers all over the world thanks to unique aroma and taste. .

Deep knowledge of flavors

Understanding flavoring materials, spices and herbs is essential for creating spicy blends. Though this is the task of the experts amateurs can also create magical blends.  For gaining information on flavored tea people must first get to know the information about the processing of the leaf at estates and plants. As the matter of the fact the processing plays a very important role in the production of the various kinds of leaves. This kind of the processing consists of various steps. The tea companies do not make any kind of the compromise with the quality. In the gardens they only choose the topmost buds and the leaves from the plants. All of the plucked leaves are taken to wither and then crushed for twenty four hours. The withered leaves are crushed in between the metal rollers. The additives are added to the blend for increasing the flavor, taste and aroma.

Different flavored tea

The idea of the flavored tea started in China. This place has been the birthplace of the flavored tea drinking. Since ages different types of flavors are in use creating a wide varieties of blends. Some of the notable varieties are masala chai, herb flavored blends and those containing essential oils.  The leaf is fermented during the process and is exposed to various degree of sunshine.

After the plucking of the leaves they are fermented in order to accord a strong flavor and bigger size. The black tea itself possesses the strong and heavy flavor this is quite evident whence we consume strong teas available in the market. Hence flavoring black teas is a greater challenge than the lighter versions like green and Oolong leaf. Some plants are cultivated in the vicinity of plums and cinnamon trees. This accords a distinct flavor to the leaves which is preferred by the connoisseurs.

Niligiri

Nilgiri tea from Tamil Nadu in Southern India is highly aromatic and flavor filled black leaf. The liquor is dark and rich in fragrance. It is grown in hilly portions of the Western Ghats mountain ranges down South. The tea estates that are famous for producing Nilgiri leaves in the district of Niligiri hence the name. Other tea cultivating districts are Munnar and Central Travancore in the Indian state of Kerala.

Popular Nilgiri variety comes in various shapes and size. The price range differs as per the grade and cultivation method used. Orange Pekoe is expensive hand graded version of full leaf teas. The major production of this black leaf is in CTC type. Some masala chai manufacturers also use this leaf in their spiced tea blends.

Niligiri competes with popular Darjeeling leaf and Assam leaf. But due to a distinct characteristic of its own and unique taste it has a vast following among tea lovers in India and abroad.

Green tea types

One unique characteristic of green tea leaf is that since it undergoes less oxidation and are steamed the leaves retain their herbal freshness, mellow taste and aroma.

Green teas which have gained a lot of popularity all over the World are:

Gun powder

Sencha - Japan

Macha - Japan

Jasmine

Anji

Genmaicha

Darjeeling Green Tea - India

Though green teas have their own characteristic flavor there is a commonality which is basic of all the green tea leaves. While brewing green tea loose leaf is preferred since one has to constantly work to immerse the green tea bags to extract poly phenols rather then let it afloat.

The poly phenol amount increases in the brew if the leaves are steeped for a longer time and the brew does not reach the boiling point during the tea making.

All about Darjeeling Tea

The British prefer Darjeeling tea in their tea parties. This comes as no surprise since it was a British gentleman who brought the seeds from China and cultivated them in Darjeeling. This small step gave rise to one of the World's best leaf.

Not only in UK the popularity of Darjeeling leaf spread all over the British empire. The sweet muscatel elegant taste and subtle floral aroma which engulfs the whole room when the tea is brewed is what makes this leaf so famous. The liquor is thin bodied and light in color. This leaf is a connoisseur's delight thanks to its special characteristics.

The most popular Darjeeling teas are the black leaf but green and Oolong leaf from these estate are slowly gaining ground. Darjeeling leaf is cultivated only in tea estates of the West Bengal district of India. The tea from this region is certified by the tea board of India. To the original Darjeeling leaf a certificate and a logo is assigned by the board of India.

Inferior tea leaves are often sold as Darjeeling leaf. There are blends made by mixing Darjeeling leaf and inferior leaves from other regions.This leaf is sold in packets, cartons and tea bags. Recently jars containing this wonderful brew have entered the market. 

Tea: How to enjoy best

If tea tasting and blending are an art so is the way it is prepared. Tea preparation and serving is something perhaps a regular party giver or tea ceremony holder would hold expertise in. It is a hosts delight to serve this hot brew to his or her esteemed guests.

Tea preparation begins with choosing the leaf. In informal circumstances exquisite tea varieties are not a must since cost matters. Taking the weather into consideration strong, dark tea with astringent flavor suits the best, where as in hot weather brew with subtle aroma and sweet taste is more befitting. In the case of former black leaf should be used where as in the case of latter green leaf is apt.

When serving tea in informal occasions, porcelain cups and saucers should be used. The cups brimming with hot beverage should be served on a plain tray along with biscuits and other light snacks.

In case of formal occasions as tea parties and ceremonies, the finest variety of leaf with strong aroma and subtle muscatel taste should be used. A fine example is Darjeeling black and green tea leaf. Premium variety of Assam black leaf also befits the occasion.

The recipe should always be plain and simple with or without milk. Spices and condiments should never be added as they spoil the original flavor of the tea leaf. The connoisseurs would prefer the drink this way.

Special care should be taken whence preparing the brew. The water should be boiled and then allowed to simmer. The leaves should be added during this phase and should be allowed to soak in for some time. As soon as the strong aroma of the leaves starts to emanate from the steaming brew the mixture should be strained.

This recipe gives fine tasting black tea brew. If milk has to be added then it should be done whence serving.

Whence serving exquisitely designed bone china or silver cups and saucers should be used along with kettles of same quality that hold the black leaf and milk. Specially designed containers should be used to hold sugar cubes. The black tea should be gently poured into the cups. Milk should be poured too for those who wish to have it that way. Along with tea, light sandwiches, snacks and biscuits find good accompaniments.

Indian chai tea

Although tea is not unique to India since it is drunk all over the world now..well almost. Indian chai comes in mind boggling flavors and is sold at roadside dhaba to five star tea rooms. But the ubiquitous chai wala justifies this name of the hot beverage. The recipe and method of making the tea beverage differs from person to person and place to place.

Tea makers have devised their on concoction of masalas or spices to add as flavoring. Such teas are known as masala chai in India and spice tea all over the world.

The masala chai is added to the black tea leaf mostly and rarely to the green tea beverage. But aromatic herbs as spearmint, mint and also lime is added to both black and green tea beverages. Even chocolate and vanilla flavors are added to the hot beverage but very rarely in India.

It is the simple recipe that finds popularity with the chai walas though the tea leaf may be often of different variety and brands.

Enjoying Green Tea

Best way green tea can be had is plain dark with little sugar and a dash of lime. The secret of enjoying green tea is to buy the right kind of leaf. I like Darjeeling green leaf the best though Darjeeling black leaf is no less aromatic and flavorful.

Darjeeling leaves carry a unique aroma and flavor though the aroma is strong and fills the whole room the flavor is subtle and tends to be on the sweeter side unlike that of the black teas from Assam which are a bit bitter in taste.

Another way to enjoy green tea is with milk and sugar and add some spices like ginger and cardamom. For more exotic taste add cinnamon powder. I find lemon grass tea yuck! But it has immense health benefits especially when you are down with cold and a bad throat.

Some people add garam masala or a mixture of spices to green tea in India but I believe this concoction suits the black variety more than it suits the green tea beverage. Never the less spice tea is common in India and who like to add what is his or her business after it is your cup of tea or Chai as they call it in India.

Making out good tea from spoiled Tea

The state of tea can be made out by the aroma. A tea connoisseur will easily make out whether the brew is spoiled or fresh from the characteristic aroma of dry leaf but it will be difficult for an amateur to make out the rancidity in leaf in the early stages.

The other way is to pour tea infusion in the pot and inhale over it immediately if the rising aroma is pleasant sweet fruity or flowery...in short it smells nice the leaf is fresh and good. On the other hand a smoky burned aroma like that of everything stale means the tea is spoiled.

Sometimes stale leaves will exude no aroma at all this is a sure shot sign that you have purchased stale leaves which have been lying in store well past its storage period.

Different teas have different store life as green tea and white tea can withstand low period of storage where as black leaf can be stored for a considerable longer period. Therefore in early history black leaf was a preferred export to regions that where far off and where tea was not cultivated at all.

The aroma changes in every stage from freshly prepared drink to when it has slightly cooled and much after that. With practice one should be able to discern all the characteristic of tea leaf…the one which he regularly consumes.

Green Tea Recipe

If you add milk and sugar to a green tea recipe you are making tea the India way. Indians almost always drink organic green tea with milk and sugar. Some add cinnamon, cardamom and often ginger shreds. These are the three most popular extracts that tea lovers in India add to tea recipe.

Tea is an inseparable part of food consumption in Indian families and the above recipe is standard household way of consuming chai tea. But there are families who are specialist tea drinkers and they have evolved tea recipes of their own of which you come know only when you visit their homes. I have had experience of drinking tea in one home the taste of which I admired like anything. Only secret that I could extract of them was that they had added cinnamon powder in the tea brew. But I knew there were much more masalas in the tea that I was relishing sip after sip.

Black tea without milk may be consumed in some remote inaccessible cold regions of Indian sub continent. In spite of the basic habit of tea drinking in India. There are subtle nuances in the tea flavor depending upon tea blend and variations in taste of milk and even sugar. Hence tea in India is as diverse as India itself is. And for each family that comes up with its own unique recipe one should respect and regard their ingenuity and asking for their recipe is inappropriate, until unless they reveal it to you.

Just learn to sip that wonderful liqueur man!

Masala Chai Tea

Masal chai

Masala tea or spice tea is a wonderful mix with green tea or the finest organic black teas. Masala or ground spices are added beforehand while blending as Waghbakri Tea House does. Or you can add spices unto the tea recipe when making tea.

Darjeeing green tea needs less spicing as the flavor is over powering but adding spices to the tea leaf while blending benefit the health of the tea lover. Masala chai is very popular in India and is becoming well known all over the world.

Spices like cardamom seeds, ginger, ginseng and cinnamon add strength to the flavor and aroma of the teas and generate a wonderful taste. Floral spices as rose, chamomile and mint and peppermint also enhance the taste with their own added health benefits.


Tea is a hot beverage hence tea consumptions rises in the winters. Tea lovers fight of cold with a hot cup of tea..or is it an excuse to drink more tea...for me it is both..he!he!

Assam tea is more of the popular black tea with fine taste that the tea estate are so well known about. Buy online and relish the wonderful beverage hot or iced. Contact this tea lover for more details on tea.

You can buy tea online from anywhere now thanks to Internet and eshopping. I have bought masala chai tea bags and loose leaf cartons regularly and choose to buy online as often as possible from among many varieties of teas available.

Green Tea

The finest green tea come from Assam State and Darjeeling district of West Bengal. The healthy organic green tea grown without using chemicals is best preferred for health. It contains beneficial anti oxidants that curb and cure many disease.

Organic and green tea are available in tea bags and loose leaf cartons. You canbuy online the finest teas for your consumption of the taste ful brew. No wonder it is referred to as the cup that cheers. The Assam tea is very popular both the green and black teas and their organice form.

The certified Darjeelin tea is king of teas with sweet fruity flavour with a touch of herbal green. It is more popular among premium tea lovers and in English tea rooms. They are priced higher then black and green teas from other states of India.

They can be consumed with spices these recipe are called masala chai and much preferred by tea lovers all over the world. These spice teas help one for health benefit as well as impart strong pleasant flavors. Masala tea or spice tea are available online as well and you can buy in tea bag or cartons as you please.