Black tea has helped to revolutionize the beverage market. Over the years, the exotic drink had become the worlds most popular tea. In fact, 80 percent of the tea consumed in the U.S. is actually of the black tea variety.
Perhaps black tea is so popular because of its boldnessit is darker and stronger than green tea is.
The Preparation Process
After plucking, black tea leaves are spread out so that they can dry. Then, the leaves are rolled and fermented. As little as two hours later, the leaves are heated so that the moisture can be removed. The quality of black tea varies according to a number of different factors.
These include the origin of the black tea, the conditions in which its grown, and the competence of the manager of the tea estate. Therefore, a quality black tea garden is dependent as much on the skill of the grower as the soil conditions of the actual plot of land.
In general, black tea grows best in areas that are warm and are of altitudes of anywhere from 3,000 to 7,000 feet. Because teas at high altitudes tend to grow more slowly, they produce a tea of greater flavor. The tea gardens of Indias Darjeeling...