It is ultimately the quality of tea that makes your experience of the beverage better and special. Tea of poor grade can never have the taste and health benefits of premium ranges. However, with endless options in the market, it can be confusing to find out which is the best choice for you. Often, we end up drinking that probably does not add value to our drinking experience, and is neither enriching for the mind nor the body.
Hence, it is vital to know what sets a good quality tea apart from the basic grades. Here’s more on how to find out and look for signs you are drinking low-quality tea. Don’t forget to check out the tips on what replacement you can find!
5 Signs You Are Drinking Low-Quality Tea: What to Look Out For
Sipping on a cup of warm and refreshing beverage is an integral part of the day for most tea lovers. For some, it is even a boost of sudden energy and encouragement to carry on. Make sure you pick a product that aligns with your thoughts and elevates your tea-drinking experience.
Here are some parameters that will help you decide whether the quality of the tea that you are having is good or not. Let’s find out!
1 Appearance of the Leaves
Appearance is not deceptive, not in the case of tea. The best tea leaf is ideally the one that gives a premium look. You can easily distinguish between the good quality long leaves and the basic grade leaves with broken edges and more dusty particles. A good quality tea will have a consistent shape and size of the leaves, as they are handpicked to offer perfection. Powdered tea, on the other hand, will have a dark brown appearance and dusty texture. So, look into your tea container and observe the shape, size, and uniformity of the leaves. If it is dusty, it is not the premium range of tea in your kitchen.
2. The Feel of It
We have often heard that feelings never lie, and it holds true in the case of tea testing. To find out whether the tea you are having is good or bad, you just need to trust your feelings. Touch with your hands and see if the consistency of the tea is smooth and uniform. The texture of premium-grade tea is light when rubbed between your fingers. If you feel a sense of roughness when you rub the tea leaves, then it is probably not a great quality tea that you are about to sip.
3. Smell the Aroma
Half of the experience of drinking tea lies in its aroma. If you are having a beverage devoid of any earthy natural smell, it’s time to rethink your choice. Artificial fragrances are often added to the specially processed tea, and that can mislead you into thinking that the beverage is of good quality. However, it is the indisputable aroma of authentic leaves and the organic essence that sets them apart. Basic to low-quality tea has a faint aroma or artificial essence.
4. Different Flavours of Tea
Sometimes it boils down to the distinct flavour of tea while you sip on your beverage. From Earl Grey to Assam Tea, the flavour of tea is unique. The flavours become even more evident when you conduct tea-tasting techniques the right way. Moreover, when tea leaves are handpicked and organically processed, the taste becomes evident and easier to distinguish between. The aroma and taste of your brew are what distinguish a basic beverage from a classic tea drinking experience.
5. Understanding the Tea Grade
During the process of tea manufacturing, the tea leaves are passed through different types of sieves to mark their gradation and quality. While most of the basic, store-bought tea bags are of low grade, premium tea ranges are of a better grade.
Ordinary beverages are dusty, coarse, and consist of fine tea leaf shavings. They easily pass through the sieve and are deemed of low grade. On the other hand, the refined tea leaves and organic ones comprise the whole long leaves and do not pass through the sieves. As a result, they maintain a full-bodied flavour tempting true tea enthusiasts.
Factors That Make Premium Tea Leaves Unique
Now that you are aware of the basic difference between good quality tea and basic range, it will get easier for you to find out which one is present in your kitchen.
Here are different parameters that make a premium quality tea appear so.
1. Shape of the Tea Leaves
Plucked tea leaves should be whole to qualify as good-grade tea. Handpicking tea leaves is a common practice. It eliminates the rigorous plucking process that causes wear and tear due to the machine’s intervention. Torn leaves are discarded from the batch of whole leaves. A true tea connoisseur will be able to tell the difference between the two.
2. Time of Harvesting
A premium quality tea leaf, like we already mentioned, does not have inconsistency in shape and size for a particular batch. Hand picking ensures that the process is thorough without any scope for mixing premium grade with the broken leaves. Plucking standards must be maintained in the tea plantation so that whole leaves are pulled in bulk. Young tea leaves and buds are separated and added to the premium section, which we commonly call the first flush. Low-grade tea is not so well-monitored. As a result, there are leaves of different shapes and sizes in the particular batch.
3. Location of Cultivation
It is also the site of tea plantations, the height of elevation, soil, and climate that determine whether a tea leaf is going to be enriched in taste and aroma or have a simple, unadorned essence. High mountain tea is usually of better quality, according to experts. The geographical area has a major impact on the taste of tea. For instance, Assam Tea is the common variant that is enjoyed all the time with English breakfast, evening indulgence, and more. Darjeeling tea and first flush come out when the occasion is special, and you want to make your beverage session a pleasant one.
Examples of Good Quality Tea That You Should Drink
There is a wide range of choices when you are looking for a premium tea drinking experience. It requires some experimenting with different variants to find out which one appeals to your taste buds the most. For instance, Darjeeling tea is known for its pleasant floral note, while Assam tea gives an earthy hint to your drink. Nevertheless, you can pick your kind after you have tried a couple of them.
Black Tea
Most opt for Darjeeling tea to enjoy black tea. Often served with a typical English breakfast, you can prepare it in the Earl Grey style or as the desi Chai. The bold floral essence of black tea is simply so gorgeous and satisfying for the taste buds.
Herbal Tea
These are refreshing and healthy variants of tea, like Chamomile tea, peppermint, Hibiscus, and ginger. Herbal Tea is consumed for several health benefits and a soothing effect on the mind and the soul. Such tea is effective in calming down your nerves and aiding in better digestive health.
Oolong Tea
It is partially oxidised to get the distinct taste and aroma inherent to black and green tea of this variant. Due to the oxidation process, the colour of the beverage is slightly brownish, while the taste is soft and earthy.
Matcha Tea
Green tea or matcha is a fine powder with a major concentrated source of antioxidants that clears toxins from the body. Matcha Tea is also beneficial to the body for weight management and several other aspects.
White tea
This kind of tea is the least processed, which permits it to hold onto its original taste and earthy notes. The light and delicate flavour is preferred by many tea lovers.
Rooibos Tea
Here is a healthy and caffeine-free tea option that qualifies as a good quality tea. The slightly sweet flavour makes it even more popular among dieters.
Final Thoughts
There are several ways to find out whether the tea you are investing in is good or bad. After all, you don’t want your tea drinking experience to be nothing. By having tea every day, you give a boost of energy to your body. Other benefits include better digestive health, mental clarity, and calmness of the mind.
Hence, it is indispensable to choose a good grade that is not only of pleasant taste but of great value.