Insanely healthy and tasty drink. It has a beneficial effect on the work of the heart and blood vessels, has anti-inflammatory properties, and serves as an antioxidant. There are many varieties of green tea, each has its own admirers, all differ in taste, aroma, saturation. In stores, you can buy high-mountainous Chinese tea of \u200b\u200bvarious varieties, but there are many low-quality products on the shelves. So choose not to be disappointed? Let's try to answer this question.

Green tea composition

Green tea contains various beneficial substances:

• Vitamin B1. With its lack, a person feels fatigue, edema appears. Vitamin is responsible for sugar metabolism. Matcha green tea contains the most of it.
• Catechin. This natural antioxidant is found in the upper young leaves. It is catechin that gives the drink its characteristic tea taste. The substance lowers cholesterol levels, prevents the development of cancer, and inhibits the aging process. Catechin is used to reduce blood pressure and prevent diabetes.
• Vitamin B2. Sencha and Buncha varieties are rich in this vitamin. It participates in the process of providing cells with oxygen, helps the formation of antibodies in the body. The condition of the skin, hair and nails depends on its amount in the body.
• Vitamin E. It is a strong antioxidant, it reduces the risk of heart attack, and is involved in reproductive processes. Sencha tea contains this vitamin in excess.

Green tea varieties

There are several hundred. To, you need to learn more about each variety. You can list them for a very long time, we will try to describe only the most popular varieties.

Tuo Cha, also called Deer Tea, can be considered the most healing tea. It is indicated for stress, it is used for losing weight, raising the tone in case of exhaustion and fatigue.

Chun Mi tea has a rich tart taste. It is brought from China to Europe. They say that this is real tea. It does not contain any additives, flavors. Its cost is very affordable.

It is made from the very tops of tea bushes, consisting of several leaves. Tea leaves are fried in cauldrons to stop the oxidation process. This tea belongs to the category of elite varieties, it has a delicate floral taste, rich in amino acids and vitamin C. It is sold in vacuum packages.

Oolong. The most famous and popular variety of green tea. It has an unusual aroma, the leaves have a curled appearance and smell like cream. The tea has a pleasant taste with hints of ice cream and condensed milk. The drink improves mood, invigorates and tones.

Translated as gunpowder. It got this name because of its form, which resembles a fraction. During heat treatment, small balls of leaves begin to crack. A very popular variety all over the world. Strong, tart, with a pleasant aroma.

Mao Fen tea. Lovers of sweet taste will like it. It helps to distract from the hustle and bustle and relieve stress.

Tea should only be purchased from specialized stores. There you can get detailed advice about each type of tea from the store managers or consultants. There are some important aspects to consider when talking about green tea and how to choose it.

Appearance

Green tea can be of any shape: pressed, bundled, spiral, flat, etc. It is better to pay attention to the color of the leaves, they should be natural green without brown and dark spots. If the tea contains a large amount of garbage (more than 10%), you should not buy such tea, it is stale. Large-leaved varieties should be preferred, the leaves should be whole, not broken, without a large number of cuttings. Loosely twisted tea leaves give a soft, delicate and aromatic drink. Strongly curled leaves produce a strong tea.

Humidity

With an external examination, you can determine the moisture content of raw materials. Rub a few tea leaves between your fingers. If they break easily, then the tea is dry. If they turn into dust, the tea is old, it has already expired or the storage conditions have been violated. When storing tea in a place with high humidity, the tea will become covered with mold, it will be dangerous to health. When you press your fingers on the tea, too wet raw materials are compressed. The tea has a shelf life of two years.

Quality

You should only buy tea that is sold by weight. You need to smell the raw material. If you smell a strong smell of fruit or hay, this indicates poor quality raw materials. Most often it comes from Ceylon or India. It is not worth using tea bags at all, the bags contain low-grade raw materials, dust, tea residues, it has no useful properties.

You can check the quality at home. Hot water is poured over the tea and the result is evaluated after three minutes. The drink should foam slightly, have a pleasant aroma, and be transparent. The color should be light green to dark with a yellow tint. Green tea has a pleasant sweetish taste. You can drink it without sweetener. If the tea is of poor quality, you will want to add sugar to it.

Price

It should be understood that the cost of real quality tea cannot be low. Even in China, in the country of origin, the cost of a kilogram of high mountain green tea can range from $ 200. And the rarest varieties can cost $ 1,500 for just 50 g. Of course, not everyone can afford such prices, but you can buy good tea at a price of 300 to 1,000 rubles for 50 g.

Summing up the above, we can conclude that it is not difficult to choose by examining the appearance and quality of raw materials. The variety of green tea is selected according to your own preferences. Someone likes the delicate taste of Mao Feng tea, someone prefers the strong Gunpowder. It should be remembered that some types of green tea are medicinal. It is necessary to take into account the possible harm and contraindications, then the selected tea will give true pleasure.

First, it is preferable to take loose, large-leaf tea. It is he who is natural and does not contain various additives. Secondly, good, fresh tea can be identified by its color. A natural product should have a pistachio color, but if it is darker, then this indicates that the tea is last year. Green tea is considered fresh if it is harvested this year in spring or autumn.

Secondly, natural green tea must be whole and not crumble. It is important to know that the lighter the leaves, the higher the grade. In addition, there should be small fibers on its surface that do not disappear when brewing.

You can choose natural green tea using the smell. Fresh leaves smell like hay. Unlike tea of \u200b\u200ba lower quality, in this case the proportion of waste, including cuttings, should not exceed 5%. The taste of fresh goods should have a slightly sweetish taste, but if this is last year's harvest, then there is a bitterness.

How to determine the quality of green tea after brewing

It also needs to be transparent. If after infusion the infusion is dark, then the tea is stale. It should be remembered that good green tea can be used several times, and for the first time its aroma and taste characteristics should normally be worse than during subsequent brewing.

The time during which the tea is brewed should not be long. Green tea is quickly brewed only in hot water, if the same happened in cold water, then this indicates that food additives (dyes and flavors) are present. You can choose green tea based on its cost per 100 grams.

Tea costs from about 400 rubles. As for green tea in, then most often it is of lower quality and contains many auxiliary substances. Thus, we can conclude that it is impossible to choose a good tea only based on its external data. It is advisable to pay attention to the price, the name of the manufacturer and the characteristics when brewing directly.

So which green tea is best?

How to choose quality tea

• Firstly, if you want to try not a fake, then immediately exclude tea bags. After such processing, all the useful qualities of the drink are lost. Everything that is sold in filter bags is beautifully prepackaged tea waste. People who know a lot about this drink will not buy it in cardboard or iron packages produced in a factory. It is better to buy green tea only in proven places and by weight.
• Secondly, the taste directly depends on the area where the tea bushes are grown. The Chinese province of Fujian, which is located opposite Taiwan, is known for the fact that it is in it that a whole production plant for processing expensive varieties of this plant operates. Green tea really does not cost little money, but it is worth considering that the air there is very clean, as well as the nature is beautiful and the mountains and much more, which only speaks about the ecologically clean area.

The best tea is produced by harvesting from five trees planted in the area at least 500 years ago. These tea trees grow at the heights of the mountains and therefore, in order to collect the leaves from them, it takes a lot of time and effort.

• Thirdly, a product is considered to be of the highest quality if its shelf life is just over one month. There is one "but" - it can be stored longer, but it will lose its properties. Tea that has already been brewed cannot be stored for more than one day.

Therefore, all Chinese drink only fresh brewed tea, because it has not yet accumulated foreign smells and tastes, and it is very beautiful in color.

In fact, the brands of green tea in Japan and China do not differ much. The only difference is in the processing method. The most common is the Chinese brand.

Leaves are the main quality indicator. The leaves should be bright in color (maybe both pistachio-colored and bright green) and beautifully shaped. The leaves should be soft and lively.

In an old drink, they are a little hard and of various shapes, dry and easily crumble. Most often dark or brown shades. It is worth paying attention to the expiration date. Real green leaves are stored for no more than 1-2 years, it is advisable to keep them in parchment or foil packaging.

Four of the best teas by weight

1. Gyokuro. One of the most expensive types of Japanese green tea, it is unusually sweet and invigorates better than coffee (high content of titanin and caffeine). Gyokuro is grown according to special technologies, i.e. it grows in the shade. Its leaves are usually dark emerald in color and have a special oblong shape (like spruce needles). The average price for 100 g is 800 rubles, but it's worth it.
2. Bilochun "Emerald spirals of spring". It is grown in the Chinese province of Jiangsu. Due to the fact that fruits are grown near the tea plantations, the leaves of the tea bush naturally absorb the fruity aroma. After drying, it is not further processed. Leaves are strictly curved. Price from 500 rubles per 100 g.
3. Xinyang Maojian - grown high in the mountains. The drink, in addition to a pleasant and delicate aroma, contains a large amount of vitamin C. Because of this, tea infusion is recommended to drink in the morning, as it has a very invigorating effect. Its cost is from 340 rubles.
4. Yuquanili "Pearl with a milky scent." This variety is grown in China. This product does not contain any foreign additives, has a delicate taste and pleasant aroma, and its milky-vanilla smell is achieved through special processing.

Of the classic varieties of Chinese tea, Mao Feng should be distinguished - it has a soft and sweetish-floral taste. It is recommended for people prone to frequent stress. A variety such as Tuocha is considered one of the most medicinal.

Ideal for those who regularly diet. Chun Mee is also brought here from China. This drink is strong and tart, inexpensive and, most importantly, does not contain any additives.

Fans of fruity aromas should pay attention to Lung Ching (Longjing). This variety with a delicate floral taste and smell belongs to the elite varieties, it is also called imperial.

The best inexpensive varieties for tea bag aficionados

Not everyone wants to spend a lot of money on a daily drink, so let's also consider ordinary (packaged) tea. There are a lot of it on the shelves now, of very different companies and variations.

But judging by the above signs of high-quality tea, as well as customer reviews, the following types can be distinguished:

• MaitredeThe "Napoleon". This is the so-called milk oolong. It is sold in a tin can, which allows it to retain its freshness and aroma longer than in cardboard boxes. The leaves are pistachio-colored, have a twisted shape (when brewed, they bloom almost into a whole leaf). The infusion itself is pleasant to the taste, pale straw color. Manufactured in China.
• Next on the list is Hilltop Gunpowder Green Tea. The material for such a drink is selected very carefully. Those who have been to China's tea plantations claim that these are just a few of the topmost petals from each bush. Tea is packed in a sealed tin can (with a beautiful design, perfect for a gift). Its leaves are rolled into balls. At tea ceremonies, they are surprised by its rich taste and amazing aroma.

Tea drinking traditions by season

Depending on the time of year, the Chinese love different types of tea. For example, in the springtime they drink tea collected from various plant inflorescences, but in the summer they prefer only green teas. Autumn for the Chinese is the time to consume oolong tea, and in winter they prefer red tea.

According to the tradition of tea drinking, the Chinese drink the divine infusion, slowly, talking with each other, or thinking about their own. The people of China believe that in this way they will become rich. As for the utensils in which tea is brewed, teapots made of purple and red clay are considered the best.

Any brand is useful in its own way. Even if you have just started to join it, it is worth remembering - it is not important where the tea plant grew, it is important to brew it correctly.

Tips for making such a drink can be reduced to a basic rule - never brew a tea leaf with boiling water.

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There is an opinion that you cannot buy good tea in a regular store. However, connoisseurs of the tea market are convinced of the opposite: you can find a quality drink on the shelves of the hypermarket. But how to choose it so as not to be disappointed later? Do you need special secret knowledge to buy really delicious tea? Svetlana Veremetsko, the winner of the third tea championship of Belarus in 2017 in the category “Mastery of making tea” and a practicing coffee trainer, helps us to understand this. Together with her, we walked through the hypermarket, examined the assortment and opened several packages we liked.

The higher the better

- You often hear the opinion that there is no good tea in hypermarkets, - Svetlana says. - And people are inventing some incredible schemes, trying to bring super tea from abroad. Or they are looking for specialty shops where the tea, in their opinion, is some kind of magical.

But the expert believes that loose "witch" tea is not much different from the packaged store.

- There are gourmets who prefer to use only exclusives like Da Hong Pao. But such amateurs are at most two percent of the total number of consumers. And mega-Gurman varieties cost very different money. The rest of the buyers just want a quality product at an affordable price.

In a good hypermarket, the eyes run up from abundance. How not to get lost in this sea of \u200b\u200btea and choose a quality product? Do not open every package. But the expert says that a lot can be learned by external signs.

- The quality of tea primarily depends on the height at which the bush itself grows. The best tea is alpine. Due to the specific conditions, its leaf grows slowly. And the smaller the leaf, the higher the concentration of nutrients in it, which means that the drink is ultimately more saturated. In low mountains, tea grows faster, so it is of lower quality and, accordingly, cheaper, but the concentration of substances in such raw materials is low. But this is what the manufacturers of the budget product buy.

Size matters?

- We believe that the best tea is large-leaf tea. But I will tell you a terrible secret: they think so only in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. This has happened since the end of the 80s, when it was a large sheet that began to be imported into the USSR.

Another common stereotype is that the worst tea is tea bags. And the expert strongly disagrees with this. Such misconceptions arise from ignorance of the peculiarities of tea production.

- During drying and fermentation, the leaf inevitably crumbles into particles of different sizes. And before packing, it is divided into fractions so that the tea leaves in the pack are approximately the same: the speed of brewing depends on their size. A large sheet needs more time, a small one less. Tea "dust" in bags is brewed almost instantly. But the size does not affect the quality, because it is one and the same tea.

Tea bags from the highlands may be more expensive and tastier than large-leaf tea made from plain "burdocks". And despite the prejudiced attitude of Belarusians towards the drink in bags, it accounts for 70% of sales in our market. Whatever one may say, but brewing it is much more convenient. For comparison, we buy two packs of tea bags of different brands. Both contain 25 bags, but one costs 4.32 rubles, and the second only 1.73.

I wonder what is the difference between tea bags and pyramids?

- There was a very interesting story with the pyramids. Manufacturers began to pack large leaf tea in bags, but faced consumer distrust: they say, it is not known what was actually put there. Then they came up with transparent nylon pyramids so that the buyer can see the contents. The taste of this tea also depends solely on the raw materials.

Tea packaging itself can be different. The same product is packed in cardboard boxes and in iron jars. What's the difference? What's better?

- It is more convenient to store tea in an iron jar, and there it is better protected from moisture and foreign odors. And the difference in price arises from the cost of the tin itself. It is rather a gift option.

But how to determine the quality of the sheet itself? Is price an indicator?

- It is, but only when we buy plain black or green tea without additives. There is a relatively fair value for money here.

The taste depends not only on the raw materials: it is important to comply with the storage and transportation conditions. Now the bulk of the tea on the shelves of our stores is purchased in India and Ceylon, but is packaged in Russia. Is this good or bad?

- It all depends on the manufacturer. A reputable company that values \u200b\u200bits reputation respects all conditions. The question is mostly economic: it is cheaper to pack in Russia.

But Svetlana herself prefers tea packaged directly in Ceylon. In her opinion, taste and aroma are better preserved in it. Indeed, in Sri Lanka, many factories work "on wheels": in the morning they buy tea at an auction, and by evening it is already in packs. And there is a lion with a sword on the product packed on the island. Permission to use this mark is granted by the Sri Lanka Tea Board. By the way, there are only four brands with this emblem left on the Belarusian market.

Smell odor strife

Note how many flavored and fruity teas are on sale. Some with very specific scents, like champagne or chocolate truffle.

- Flavors in tea have a right to exist: if the customer likes it, then why not? The main thing is that the manufacturer uses a high-quality leaf, and does not try to cover up the lack of smell and taste of the tea itself with additives. Therefore, when choosing flavored tea, be sure to read the composition: according to GOST, the components are listed in descending order of their quantity. And if the tea is followed by a flavoring agent on the list, and only then - apple pieces, then the drink will contain more chemistry than fruit.

We randomly take green tea with a mango scent from the shelf: a vigorous smell hits the nose even through the packaging, temporarily disabling the sense of smell. It seems that the manufacturer has relied more on chemistry than quality. A 100-gram pack of such a drink costs 4.59 rubles, which is not so little. For comparison: for that kind of money, you can buy non-pathos, but good tea, packaged in Ceylon.

- Chemistry is too fruity. Well, two pieces of dried strawberry cannot give a stunning aroma. Therefore, the natural smell is reinforced with flavors. This is partly done due to the peculiarities of consumer psychology. People believe that if the tea is fruit, then it should smell like fruit. The same goes for jasmine tea. The real drink is obtained by impregnating the tea leaf with natural jasmine oil. And very little flowers are added to it - for beauty.

What the autopsy showed

First, let's compare tea bags. The first difference: a more expensive product is placed in a bag. The cheap one lies right in the box.

In budget tea, the string is attached to the bag with an iron clip, which, according to the expert, is not good. "Why do we need extra iron in the cup?" But in more expensive tea, a rope is tied with an eco-friendly knot: this is done by a special machine. But the paper clip is easier and cheaper to deliver.

Now we open the bags and examine their contents.

- Please note: more expensive tea looks darker and more uniform. These are signs of a quality product.

The cheap one looks like a brown mass with filaments that come across in it and does not impress the expert. And the difference in taste will be noticeable.

Left - cheap tea bag, right - more expensive

Now a product with a mango flavor is next. After opening the package, the smell instantly fills the entire room. The examiner goes through the contents, separating the tea from the petals and cubes, declared as pineapple pieces. The diagnosis is disappointing: the tea is of low quality. Tea leaves are noticeably different in color and size, and this should not be in a good product.

Tea leaves vary in color and size

The second fragrant "patient" does not smell through the pack, but after opening the truffle spirit is felt very clearly. We disassemble the contents: cocoa beans and pieces of coconut are added to the tea mass. The expert examines the leaf: radically black color and increased fragility. Conclusion: the product is stale and initially of low quality. Recall that it cost 4.59 rubles.

For comparison, we pour Ceylon tea with a lion on paper at 4 rubles per 100 g. The picture is completely different: the leaves are the same size, and the color is black with a bluish tint. And it smells like tea, not flavoring.

Left - black tea with "truffle", right - black Ceylon without additives

- Although the product is not the most expensive, it is still quite good.

What does the best black tea we bought in the store look like? We open a 100-gram package, which cost us 9 rubles. The color and smell are good, but what are the light streaks on the leaves? These are tipsy - leaf buds. The more there are, the better the tea is.

Expensive black tea with tips

Compare the appearance: top left - black flavored (4.69 rubles), right - Ceylon (3.82 rubles), bottom - Ceylon with tips (9 rubles)

- Let me reveal another terrible secret: pure black or green tea is not the most profitable product, because it leaves no marketing loopholes. But with flavored, you can work "miracles". For example, cocoa beans and coconut chips do nothing but increase mass. And we pay not only for tea, but also for cheaper decorative additives. And such a “soup set” is more expensive than a non-pathos, but “honest” Ceylon product.

Someone chooses cheap tea because quality is not so important to him. And there is a layer of buyers who are forced to put up with low quality for reasons of economy. But is this savings so big?

- At first glance, there is a difference: buy 100 g of tea for 3 rubles or for 9. But bad tea is consumed faster. You can check it yourself: measure by weight equal amounts of both teas and brew in equal amounts of water. And you will immediately see the difference: the cheap one has a paler color and a weaker taste. Therefore, the benefit can be very insignificant.

Let's sum up the results of our trip to the hypermarket:

• price ratio - quality» most clearly seen in tea without additives;
• tea bags can be either very good or very average in quality;
• flavored tea should not smell like a perfume factory;
• petals, pieces of fruit and other inclusions do not add flavor and aroma, but add weight to the package;
• the tea leaf in the pack should be uniform in color and size;
• the quality of tea does not depend on the size of the leaf in the pack, but on the growing conditions.

The Relax.by portal thanks the Korona hypermarket for a wide assortment of tea and assistance in taking pictures.

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Here we will talk about, and how to choose his. As you already know, tea originated from China, and there to this day, the tea ceremony is a whole ritual with its own subtleties of this matter. The Chinese also call green tea - "the wisest of all plants" and "the fire of life", which is so, I myself have been drinking it for 13 years almost every day, and it really develops such qualities as: wisdom, fortitude, the concept of the meaning of life , and very much more ... I will even say this: "Green tea is the philosophy and psychology of life!" It changes the consciousness of a person and his soul for the better side of being, you become closer to God and to the higher powers of reason, you will know the hidden possibilities of this world, you will eventually understand this when you love this tea with all your soul!

How to choose green tea

There are a lot of green tea varieties. But Chinese large-leaved plants are considered the best. Tea is produced by various companies, and they always write their name on the packaging, always look at the quality of the packaging, there should be indicated: weight, expiration date, name of the manufacturer, type of tea, and so on ... where there is no complete information about the tea and the packaging itself looks "crooked", it is better not to buy such tea. And also, it is better and more reliable to buy tea in tea shops (stores), where it is sold by weight and you can study it and even try it, they give comprehensive information there. I buy myself in such a store, my beloved Bi Lo Chun (Emerald spirals of spring), this is one of the most elite teas in the world.

Qualitative green tea, according to my own experience and many tea growers, the lighter, the better (accordingly, still dry), it should be light green, even white-green, but the type of variety also plays a role here, look carefully here. The best is tea with young leaves (flushes), and with tips (these are the buds of a tea bush, not fully blossomed), but such tea is usually expensive, this is the elite.

Always make sure that there is no debris in the tea, it is: a lot of stems, tea dust, broken leaves of different sizes. The shelf life of tea is usually 2 years, but if it is already 1 year old, then it is better to find it fresh. You can also check the expiration date in this way: take a tea leaf and rub it with your fingers, it should not grind into dust, it should almost retain its shape, and if it is rubbed into dust, this is already expired tea.

Real green tea , if it is already brewed, it should have an infusion from yellow-green to light green and be transparent, the leaves in the infusion are completely blossoming.

Taste is usually slightly bitter and astringent.

How to brew green tea properly

So, usually the best brewing utensil is, of course, a clay teapot, it retains all the taste of tea and gives it, so to speak, breathe with might and main, but sometimes it is difficult to get such a teapot, and then I recommend porcelain or other ceramics. At this moment I have a porcelain strainer, I also need a small strainer (I have a metal one), this is to strain tea from tea dust and other particles.

What temperature should the water be? I believe that just boiled (100 degrees), any Chinese who drinks tea on a daily basis will also tell you. Here, of course, it also depends on the type of tea, some need boiling water, and others need a "white key" (this is almost boiling water, but bubbles rise up from the bottom of the dish, somewhere around 80-90 grams).

As the water boils, we pour it into an empty kettle to warm up the walls of the kettle, prepare a place for tea, and immediately pour it back into the dish. Then we pour tea, at the rate of: 1 teaspoon per 100-150 ml of water, but here at will, I like very strong tea and pour 3-4 times more. As the tea was poured, fill it with boiled water so that the water slightly covers the tea, wait a minute and drain all the water. By this action, we have prepared the tea leaf for the disclosure and full return of taste and aroma, and this is also called tea rinsing, purification. Now you can pour the tea with boiling water, or with just cooled boiling water, but if it gets too cold, it may not brew well and the tea leaf will not open to its fullest.

When you pour it, it is a little not to the edge of the teapot, this needs to leave room for foam, and good foam is an indicator of quality tea. The tea infusion time is usually 10 minutes, it also sometimes depends on the variety, you can even 5 minutes. After it is infused, it is better to pour into a cup through a strainer, with this we will strain it. I strongly recommend drinking green tea without sugar and without various additives, only in its pure form, like our ancient ancestors. I hope I helped you explain how to brew green tea correctly ... Enjoy your tea !!!

You can brew several times, but 2 and 3 brews are considered the best. We finished the tea, poured it again, brewed it and drink it ... and so on repeatedly.

Interestingly, have you tried green tea at least once?

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