Tea Insights - Breville AquaStation LWA200BSS Instruction Book

Tea Insights

TEA TYPES
There are four main types of tea from the
tea plant camellia sinensis. The picking and
processing methods determine the type of tea
finally produced.
Black Tea
Black tea is the most common type of tea
worldwide. It is made by fermenting the
harvested leaves for a couple of hours before
heating or drying. This oxidation darkens the
leaves and increases the amount of caffeine. Of
all the teas, black tea has the strongest colour
and flavour.
White Tea
White tea is the rarest and the most exclusive
tea. White tea consists of the whitish buds of
the tea plant which are steamed then left to dry
naturally. This tea is low in caffeine and has a
slightly sweet flavour.
Green Tea
Green tea makes up approximately ten percent
of the world's tea. The leaves are picked, rolled
and dried before they can go brown. Green
tea has a distinctive aroma and has a slight
astringent taste.
Oolong Tea
Oolong Tea is semi fermented, which means
leaves are processed immediately after picking.
They only have a short period of oxidation
which turns the leaves from green to red/
brown. Its leaves have a floral, fruity quality
and hence have a delicate fruity taste. It is
recommended not to drink Oolong tea with
milk, sugar or lemon.
Herbal Infusions or Tisanes
Herbal infused teas are not produced from
the tea plant, but from flowers, leaves, roots
or seeds. Common herbal beverages are
chamomile, peppermint, fennel, rose hip, and
lemon verbena.
Herbal infusions that do not contain tea will
generally not become bitter with extended
brews. These can often be brewed with boiling
water 3 times without jeopardising the taste.
Blends
Tea producers make blends by combining
different types of teas, often in order to achieve
flavour consistency from one season to the
next. Common black tea blends include
English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Irish Breakfast,
and Russian Caravan.
Brewed tea leaves make an ideal garden
fertilizer and help condition the soil.
TEA STORAGE
• Teas stored inside a vacuum sealed bag can
be stored for up to two years, depending on
the quality and grade of tea. Once opened, tea
should be stored in an airtight container and
kept in a dry and dark place.
• Once opened, black teas will last longer than
green and oolong teas, but all tea needs to be
stored in ideal conditions.
• You can tell when tea is past its best if it has
lost its aroma and will create either a bitter or
dull tasting cup.
TIPS FOR OPTIMAL TEA BREWING
• Water quality affects taste. For best results
use filtered water.
• Finer tea particles and leaves will infuse more
quickly than whole leaves. As a result, finer
tea particles often release too much tannin
too quickly, creating a harsher taste. Adjust
the brewing time until desired strength is
achieved.
Suggested Water to Tea Ratio
CUPS / mL
Approx. 2 Cups/500mL
Approx. 3 Cups/750mL
Approx. 4 Cups/1000mL
Approx. 5 Cups/1200mL
Tea (Teaspoons)
2 tsp
3 tsp
4 tsp
5 tsp
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