Tea Flashcards
When was the first documented use of tea as a beverage?
The first documented use of tea as a beverage dates back to around 350-600 A.D.
What is the name of the tea plant and where is it native from?
Camellia Sinensis, native to Asia
what are the two main varieties of tea plants?
Camellia Sinensis, better suited for colder climates, and Camellia Assamica, lesser used tea from India.
what does terroir refer to?
mainly the climate, soil, and weather (within 7-10 days of harvest) of the leaves place of growth
what are the five basic tea types?
white, green, oolong, black, pu’erh, and yellow (rare)
how is white tea processed?
full withered dried, unprocessed with extemely light oxidation
how is green tea processed?
chinese green is pan-fried while japanese green is steamed. Non oxidized
how is yellow tea processed?
steamed, non oxidized, and “poached” to remove “green” flavour before drying
how is oolong processed?
partially oxidized, usually pan fried to stop oxidation
how is black tea processed?
almost fully oxidized (90%-95%)
how is pu’erh processed?
non oxidized, then fermented for 20 years or more!
What is herbal tea/tisane?
it is not a tea, but instead a beverage made of a variety of botanicals including flowers, bark, fruit, leaves, etc.
what are the 5 significant components found in tea?
Essential oils (aroma), polyphenols (antioxidants), nutrients (vitamins), enzymes (promote oxidation), and methylxanthines (caffeine)
what 6 counties are the largest producers of tea?
China
India
Kenya
Sri Lanka
Vietnam
Turkey
how many pounds of tea leaves does it take to make 1 pound of tea?
4.5lbs of tea leaves
what is the process (steps) for making tea?
Picking/Plucking, Sorting, Withering, Rolling/Distruption, Oxidation, Drying, Shaping (the leaves), and Second Drying/Firing
how many grams of tea/tisane are used in 1 cup of tea?
3g of tea, 5g of tisane
What is the temperature and brewing times of White, Chinese Green, and Japanese Green?
White: 1-5 min, 175-185*F
Chinese Green: 3 min, 170-185*F
Japanese Green: 1-3 min, 160-180*F
What is the temperature and brewing times of Darjeeling, Oolong, and Pu’erh?
Darjeeling: 3 min, 185-195*F
Oolong: 3-5 min, 175-205*F
Pu’erh: soak 30 sec, then 3-5 min, 195-205*F
What are the temperatures and brewing times of Black and Tisane?
Black: 3-5 min, 205-210*F
Tisane: 5-7 min, 195-205*F
How do you identify White Tea, Green Tea (steamed), and Green Tea (panfried) tea leaves?
White: irregular size leaf, never rolled or shaped, regular straight leaf.
Green (steamed) : leaves are rolled, pressed, or dried. Straight, narrow, flat leaf, irregularly sized.
Green (pan fried): leaves are rolled and shaped.
How do you identify Oolong, Black, and Pu’erh leaves?
Oolong: very large leaves, can appear as tightly curled balls, or long twisting leaves.
Black: range from short, broken flat pieces, to long, wiry, twisted full leaves.
Pu’erh: pressed into dense cakes of all shapes and sizes. Can be sold as loose leaf as well.
