Tea Q & A
Top 10
As tea tasters we get lots of questions about tea - here are a few of our favourites.
How do you make a proper cup of tea?
We all make tea the way we like it but there are a few fundamentals that help to get the best out of your cuppa - always use fresh water and bring it to the boil (re-boiled water has less oxygen in it and does not brew so well). If you do use a pot, take the bags out when the tea is brewed so the second cup is just as good as the first. Oh, and always use a Tetley tea.
Where does the tea we drink come from?
Most of us know that tea comes from China, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and India but less well known are countries like Kenya, Malawi, Argentina, Indonesia and Turkey. The tea we drink in the UK comes mainly from Kenya, India, Indonesia, Malawi, Tanzania, Sri Lanka and China.
Who drinks the most tea?
On a per head basis the most tea is drunk in the Irish Republic where annual consumption is 2.79 kgs/head. The UK drink a bit less at 2.12 kgs/head.
Do tea tasters have to watch what they eat?
More out of etiquette than anything else - breathing garlic and curry over your fellow tasters can be off putting. But remember, some of the best tasters in the world are from India and they have spicy food on a regular basis!
What is the tea tasters favourite tea?
Tetley! So many fantastic teas go into Tetley's blends there is a tea for all of us. Quite popular in the office at the moment is a seasonal Dimbulla tea from Sri Lanka or a peachy Oolong.
How did you become a tea taster?
We are all passionate about travel and food and were curious about the tea tasting role when we saw job ads. Since then we have never looked back!
Isn't tea bag tea just sweepings from the factory floor?
No, the tea used in tea bags is usually of a 'fannings' grade. The tea is simply cut to a smaller size. Its greater surface area infuses a stronger brew and even fetches a premium over leafier teas in auction.
Is green tea better for you than regular black tea?
Green and black tea are from the same plant and so have simliar levels of antioxidants just slightly different ones. Green tea has a greater amount of flavonoids called Catechins, and black teas have greater concentrations of Theaflavins and Thearubigins.
Aren't the 'tannins' in tea bad for you?
What are commonly referred to as 'tannins' are the flavanoids that play an important part in tea's colour and taste. Scientific research is starting to indicate that these are the compounds that have positive health benefits.
I bet you tasters must get sick of tea?
Sadly (or happily!) no. It's a great drink - uplifting but also relaxing; warming in winter, cooling in summer; refreshing, delicious and varied. What more could we want?!
We want your questions!
Send your questions about tea to us at help@tetley.co.uk.
