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English Teas: Earl Grey, Black Tea And Breakfast Tea
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Published: September 28, 2007
English teas are among the most popular teas in the world, though not native to England or even Europe. Tea first came into existence supposedly as an accident in imperial China some 5,000 years before it was popularized in the British Isles; nevertheless, English teas have become permanently associated with the country, largely for the old traditions of afternoon tea, as well as the country's general preference for tea over coffee.
Even today, a typical British grocery store will carry far more varieties and brands of English teas than coffee.
Anything that falls under than category of English teas is assuredly some kind of black tea. Black tea is differentiated from other types, such as white or green tea, by the amount of oxidation. Green tea leaves are cooked and dried immediately after being harvested, skipping the process of oxidation and resulting in a fairly light flavor. The full oxidation of black tea gives it hearty flavor and amber color, as well as preserving its qualities for several years longer than green tea.
Two of the most popular English teas are not actually types of tea, but are blends of different black teas. The English breakfast tea is such a blend, most commonly consisting of Assam, Ceylon and Keemun, and with a caffeine content a little over half that of coffee. The name was popularized by a Scottish merchant in the 19th century; soon it had spread to neighboring England, with the name being adopted by the local tea houses. Described primarily as robust and eye-opening, English breakfast tea goes quite well with milk and sugar, and makes an ideal accompaniment to a traditional, hearty English breakfast. The Keemun is said to give it its distinct bouquet, resembling hot toast.
Another one of the most popular English teas is Earl Grey. Named after the second Earl Charles Grey, it was, according to legend, given to the Earl by a Chinese Mandarin as a gift. Just like the breakfast tea, it is a blend of simple black tea and the oil of the bergamot orange. Thus resulting in the heartiest of English teas, and one with a potent citrus tart. Interestingly, Earl Grey is not considered one of the "fine" English teas; the strong flavor of bergamot means lesser-quality teas can be used, though not all Earl Grey tea is of low standards. Nonetheless, it remains the tea of choice for Buckingham palace, as well as for fictional starship commander Jean-Luc Picard.
The terms organic tea and herbal tea are sometimes confused with one other, though they actually refer to completely separate things. "Organic tea" simply refers to the farming methods used and the absence of chemical fertilizers. Herbal tea can refer to any kind of tea not derived from the plant camellia sinensis; yerba mate and rooibos, also known as red tea, are two of the most common. Both black and green teas are rich in antioxidants, which detoxify damaging free radicals within the body, and have been shown to aid in the prevention of heart disease and various kinds of cancer. The abundance of antioxidants, as well as the lack of calories, also provides a benefit to the body's metabolism. The health benefits of English teas has helped to popularize it as a substitute for coffee, and various English teas have become staples of coffee shops everywhere.
Sources:
Davis, Jeanie. "Antioxidants in Green and Black Tea." WebMD. 2005. 10 Sept. 2007. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/antioxi dants-in-green-and-black-tea?page=1.
Paajanen, Sean. "Earl Grey Tea." About.com. 2007. 10 Sept. 2007. http://coffeetea.about.com/cs/typesoftea/a/earlgre y.htm.
Stash Tea. 2007. 09 Sept. 2007. http://www.stashtea.com/teatypes.htm.
Anything that falls under than category of English teas is assuredly some kind of black tea. Black tea is differentiated from other types, such as white or green tea, by the amount of oxidation. Green tea leaves are cooked and dried immediately after being harvested, skipping the process of oxidation and resulting in a fairly light flavor. The full oxidation of black tea gives it hearty flavor and amber color, as well as preserving its qualities for several years longer than green tea.
Two of the most popular English teas are not actually types of tea, but are blends of different black teas. The English breakfast tea is such a blend, most commonly consisting of Assam, Ceylon and Keemun, and with a caffeine content a little over half that of coffee. The name was popularized by a Scottish merchant in the 19th century; soon it had spread to neighboring England, with the name being adopted by the local tea houses. Described primarily as robust and eye-opening, English breakfast tea goes quite well with milk and sugar, and makes an ideal accompaniment to a traditional, hearty English breakfast. The Keemun is said to give it its distinct bouquet, resembling hot toast.
Another one of the most popular English teas is Earl Grey. Named after the second Earl Charles Grey, it was, according to legend, given to the Earl by a Chinese Mandarin as a gift. Just like the breakfast tea, it is a blend of simple black tea and the oil of the bergamot orange. Thus resulting in the heartiest of English teas, and one with a potent citrus tart. Interestingly, Earl Grey is not considered one of the "fine" English teas; the strong flavor of bergamot means lesser-quality teas can be used, though not all Earl Grey tea is of low standards. Nonetheless, it remains the tea of choice for Buckingham palace, as well as for fictional starship commander Jean-Luc Picard.
The terms organic tea and herbal tea are sometimes confused with one other, though they actually refer to completely separate things. "Organic tea" simply refers to the farming methods used and the absence of chemical fertilizers. Herbal tea can refer to any kind of tea not derived from the plant camellia sinensis; yerba mate and rooibos, also known as red tea, are two of the most common. Both black and green teas are rich in antioxidants, which detoxify damaging free radicals within the body, and have been shown to aid in the prevention of heart disease and various kinds of cancer. The abundance of antioxidants, as well as the lack of calories, also provides a benefit to the body's metabolism. The health benefits of English teas has helped to popularize it as a substitute for coffee, and various English teas have become staples of coffee shops everywhere.
Sources:
Davis, Jeanie. "Antioxidants in Green and Black Tea." WebMD. 2005. 10 Sept. 2007. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/antioxi dants-in-green-and-black-tea?page=1.
Paajanen, Sean. "Earl Grey Tea." About.com. 2007. 10 Sept. 2007. http://coffeetea.about.com/cs/typesoftea/a/earlgre y.htm.
Stash Tea. 2007. 09 Sept. 2007. http://www.stashtea.com/teatypes.htm.
