What quality tea is on sale. How to choose a good black tea

How nice after a busy day to allow yourself to relax while watching your favorite movie with a cup of hot aromatic tea in your hands, or interrupt your working hours for a few minutes to enjoy a delicious, invigorating drink. Unfortunately, our frantic pace of life does not always allow us to enjoy a wonderful drink that needs to be infused in a teapot. In order not to drag out the “tea ceremony”, which we can have several times a day, it is a good idea to use tea bags. The problem is that good tea bags can be very difficult to find, and even the high price of a package is not a guarantee of a quality drink. Tea dust, in which there is practically the entire periodic table, but there is no tea leaf itself, can be bought at any price. To help you understand which tea bags are best to buy, we will talk about some of the "golden" rules for choosing. We will also introduce you to several ways to study the quality of an invigorating drink at home.

Why do many people choose tea bags?

What's good about tea bags? This is an excellent tool for lazy people and workaholics: some do not have the desire to “mess around” with a crumbly drink, others do not have enough free time for this. It is much easier and faster to just throw the filter bag into a mug and get a fragrant liquid.

Tactile sensations from drinking tea bags are also more pleasant, because individual tea leaves, leaves and flowers do not fall into the cup and do not climb into the mouth without demand. In bagged tea, everything is calculated for us: the optimal dosage of ingredients in one bag allows you to prepare a delicious drink. Such a drink is brewed faster than loose tea leaves, this is due to the fact that the leaves in the bag are crushed.

Against the background of such advantages, many are ready to put up with some of the disadvantages of a packaged drink. Not everyone is embarrassed by its high cost, the presence of suspicious components and a less pronounced taste, compared to a composition that requires a brewer. However, there are people who consider it below their dignity to consume a certain amount of a drink brewed with a bag.

Tea bags contain caffeine, catechins, theophylline and other alkaloids. If there is more of a substance than necessary, it can cause negative consequences.

Packaging will help you understand which tea is better in bags

To choose the best tea bag, the first thing to consider is its packaging. Moreover, at this stage there is no need to buy a drink. Even the box that contains the tea bags must be made in a certain way. It must be intact, not wrinkled and tightly sealed with a transparent film. Due to this, moisture and various living creatures, which can sometimes live in a store, will not penetrate inside, where the treasured box can lie on the shelf for a long time until it is grabbed by the tenacious hands of the buyer.

The bag itself can be made from:

• cornstarch
• Synthetic silk
• Nylon
• food foil
• papers

To determine the quality of a drink by a bag, you will have to buy a package and gut the contents. Unless, of course, the above rule for choosing good tea is observed and the film takes place. Otherwise, it is better to refuse the purchase at this stage.

The outsider of this list is the paper bag. This material does not pass water well and does not have the best effect on the taste of the drink. There is an opinion that tea of ​​mediocre quality gets into a paper bag.

Not only the material, but also the shape of the bag can be different: round, square and even pyramidal, which has become especially popular these days. The fact is that this form of packaging affects the quality of brewing. Pyramids have a larger volume than rectangular bags, which allows tea leaves to unfold in all their glory inside the sachet, freely “dance” inside, thereby giving the maximum of aroma and taste. It is generally accepted that selected varieties of tea can only be sold in pyramids, but not in rectangular bags. The advantage of the pyramids is that the composition of the sachet is clearly visible through the material, so it is impossible to put “tea dust” there, only beautiful leaves.

If the choice fell nevertheless on tea in rectangular bags, give preference to such a box, each bag of which will be enclosed in a foil bag. Food foil prevents the penetration of moisture, dampness, mold into the bag itself, and protects the product from drying out and sunlight.

Therefore, tea in individual foil packaging is not an unaffordable luxury or a competent move by marketers, but an important factor confirming the care of the manufacturer and the potential buyer.

This study of the box is not over yet: to choose a good tea bag, take them out of the package and inspect if there is any tea dust on the bottom. If there is a lot of dust, refuse to buy. Most likely, such a “tea” is made mainly from it.

However, nothing prevents an unscrupulous manufacturer from placing a cheap, low-quality product in a pyramid or in foil packaging to blow tea dust into the eyes of the buyer.

How to choose tea bags

What is the best tea bag? One that is made from high-quality raw materials, where there is a minimum of flavors identical to natural, and where there are no dyes. The presence or absence of flavors and dyes can be judged by the packaging: the manufacturer is obliged to indicate this information.

The quality and benefits of a tea drink mainly depend on the type of raw material. There are three types:

• Whole tea leaves can be placed in the bag, and this will be the best option. Such tea will have a rich, slightly tart taste, bright color alluring aroma.
• Inside the sachet, crushed leaves can lie in a special way, and such raw materials are called “Fannings”. A very common method among Russian manufacturers.
• The cheapest option is tea dust, which can be seen even at the bottom of the drink box. Such a liquid will not have the proper taste and smell. And if you are attracted by the aroma of this drink, most likely, the manufacturer did not spare taste enhancers, flavors and dyes. But these are clearly not the best varieties of tea in bags.

It is difficult to determine which bagged tea is the best, because you need to conduct a detailed analysis of the composition, to identify the taste of the drink from hundreds of brands. But you can determine for yourself how good the tea you have chosen is by experience.

Let's find out if the best black tea in bags is on your shelf:

Before you go to the "wet" business, you will have to stock up on cold water and patience. After all, you need to put tea bags in a cup with cold water. After that, mark two hours, and go see the result. The water has practically not changed color, is it practically the same transparent as before the experiment? Congratulations, you have managed to buy good tea bags.

And if the “tea leaves” managed to brew in cold water, the drink acquired the usual dark brown hue, remember the packaging in your face, throw it away and never buy again. In such bags, in addition to the leaves of the tea bush, if they are there at all, of course, flavors and dyes are contained.

There is another way to determine the quality of black tea: you need to put a slice of lemon in a cup with a drink at normal temperature. If the drink has not changed color, it contains dyes. If tea has become very pale from exposure to citrus, there are no dyes in it. True, this does not mean that there are no low-quality flavors in it.

Green tea quality check:

Take a transparent cup or glass, drop a bag into it, fill it with hot water and wait 10 minutes. If the drink looks beautiful and has a transparent color, most likely you have chosen a good green tea bag.

If the infusion looks cloudy, whitish, the product is of poor quality.

You can again carry out the same experiment with a slice of lemon, which was carried out with black tea. The result is the same: the drink brightened, which means that the natural leaves of the plant were used. If the color remains the same, the product is full of dyes. The best green tea bags should not contain dyes.

To determine the quality of tea, it will not be superfluous to understand when it is approximately harvested. If foam appeared on the surface after brewing, the leaves were recently collected. If foam is not observed, the raw material was collected at least a year ago.

After the drink has migrated to the stomach, inspect the walls of the cup. A brown coating indicates not the best tea bags, or even expired raw materials.

As we have already said, good tea bags should not be brewed instantly. The drink should acquire the proper shade, taste and aroma approximately 5 minutes after adding water.

Therefore, choose product packaging that does not have such inscriptions:

• Strong
• Brewed in a minute
• fast brew

Take a tea bag, cut off a piece from it and pour the contents onto a white sheet. You came across the best tea in bags, if the tea leaves are large, they are about the same color, smell and size.

Is there a ranking of the best tea bags?

So are there better brands of tea bags, or should we get rid of the habit of equating loose tea with bagged tea? Various companies sometimes conduct research on this product and compile ratings.

The TOP-best often includes brands such as Greenfield, Ahmad Tea, Broke Bond, Dilmah, Maitre de The. But do not lose sight of the fact that the best tea bags in this rating are chosen not by the quality of the drink itself, but by the company's sales volume. Based on the fact that a low-quality product will not sell well, and draw conclusions.

The Roskontrol organization also conducted a study of well-known tea brands. Most caffeine in tea "Ahmad" and "Greenfield". The more caffeine, the higher the quality of tea is considered. But at the same time, the excess content of this substance adversely affects human health. The least amount of caffeine was found in Beseda tea. This brand has lost in many respects:

• faded shade
• Mild taste
• Lack of fragrance

Teas "Lipton" and "Brook Bond" are in the lead in the content of useful catechin. In addition, the composition of Lipton tea was found to contain crushed tea leaves, and not suspicious granules. We can say that "Lipton" according to this study is selected as one of the best tea bags. However, this is not the ultimate truth. When choosing a product, be guided by your preferences, consumer reviews and always carefully study the composition.

In the Soviet past, domestic shelves surprised with the monotony of the goods presented, and tea was no exception. Each family standardly purchased a black long leaf with an Indian elephant on the package.

Whether business now. One black tea, namely this type is preferred by 90% of the population of Russia, an unimaginable number of titles are produced. And in the varieties of tea with additives, you can get confused at all.

To avoid disappointment in the future, we decided to test 11 types of black tea, for which we purchased the drink in the capital's supermarkets and sent it for examination to the testing center of NPO Impuls LLC.

Our reference Traditional tea producing countries are Sri Lanka, India, China and Japan. Exactly one third of Russian tea imports come from Sri Lanka, India is in second place (25.2%), China and Kenya provide about 9% each, and Vietnam closes the top five - about 8%.

The technology of collecting and drying tea is complex, time-consuming and requires true craftsmanship. Therefore, manual labor is still used in this area with might and main: only tender young leaves are plucked from the branches.

During processing, water is removed from the tea leaf, the content of which is reduced to 3-7%. In addition to drying, the raw material undergoes fermentation, after its complete cycle, the tea leaves acquire the black color familiar to most people. However, the process can be stopped at various stages and produce green, white and even blue tea.

Tea infusion contains three types of alkaloids: caffeine, theobromine and theophylline. Most of all in the drink caffeine, it is found in the tea leaf in combination with other substances and is often called theine. Having a milder effect on the body than caffeine, theine tones well, increases motor activity, mental and physical performance, and has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system.

Polyphenols, which include more than 30 substances, in particular tannins, turn tea into an indispensable dietary product. They create the effect of astringency, thanks to which the tea infusion stimulates the activity of the salivary glands and quenches thirst well.

Most tannins in green teas. Moreover, the higher the grade of tea, the greater the content of tannins in it. These polyphenols dissolve well in hot water, so when strong tea leaves are cooled, they precipitate and the drink becomes cloudy. If it is heated again, the transparency will return. If this is not observed, then the tea is of poor quality.

The aroma of tea is determined by the composition and concentration of aromatic substances in freshly picked raw materials and depends on the season of collection, the breed of the tea bush, the degree of maturity of the leaves, and the region of growth. There are more aromatic substances in spring tea than in summer and autumn, in young tea more than in mature tea.

In each locality, tea develops its own special aromatic palette. Of the samples we bought, only three were packed at the place of growth of raw materials - in Sri Lanka: Ahmad Tea OP, Dilmah and Nuwara Eliya Mlesna. Twinings English Breakfast Tea is packaged in Poland, the rest - in Russia: these are Greenfield Magic Yunnan, Riston, Lipton, Brooke Bond, Akbar, Matre de The Noir "Ceylon with tips" and "Crown of the Russian Empire".

All samples are produced in accordance with the manufacturers' own specifications. The mold content in all the samples turned out to be significantly lower than the permissible level, and metal-magnetic impurities were not detected at all.

The physical and chemical indicators were also in order: the amount of water-soluble extractive substances, the mass fraction of moisture and total ash in all samples corresponded to GOST. The first indicator can be used to judge the freshness of tea. This means that in those cases when tea was packaged far from the plantations, the raw materials did not stale and did not lose their valuable properties.

More curious were the results of the tasting. According to experts, Twinings English Breakfast Tea, declared by the manufacturer as a premium tea, in fact, is not such and only falls short of the first. Brooke Bond has a similar problem.

Ahmad Tea OP also overestimated itself: judging by its appearance, this is not a large-leaf, but a medium-leaf tea, although it corresponds to the highest grade in taste and aroma.

Greenfield Magic Yunnan claimed the championship: on the box the variety "bouquet" is indicated - the best according to the Russian classification. However, the number of tips was not enough to qualify for this title, and therefore the tasters attributed it to the highest grade.

But Matre de The Noir "Ceylon with tips", on the contrary, was modest: experts believe that it belongs to the "bouquet" variety, although the highest is declared on the box.

In general, testing has shown that tea producers present on the Russian market can be trusted. You just need to be able to choose a quality product.

Always pay attention to the information on the package, the more, the better. Ideally, the region where the tea is harvested should be specified.

The second indicator is the quality of the packaging: the better the sealing, the higher the probability that the contents will not lose quality.

Expensive varieties of tea should be stored in the refrigerator in a hermetically sealed ceramic jar.

What do the letters say

OP (ORANGE PEKOE) Tea in this class contains only whole rolled leaves, usually young. This is a "royal" tea (orange is nothing more than the Orange royal dynasty of the Netherlands, the country - the largest supplier of tea in the 16th century). Regular ORANGE PEKOE does not contain tips, however, there are varieties with the addition of buds.

BP (BROKEN PEKOE) Tea from broken or cut leaves, which are waste products from the production of whole-leaf tea, or are specially ground. Such a mixture is brewed faster and infused more strongly, but at the same time subtle shades of taste and aroma are lost.

P(PEKOE) Badly curled, rough, hard sheet.

CTC (CUT, TEAR AND CURL) Granulated tea. The leaves are passed through rotating rollers with fine teeth, which both cut and twist them. The tea is brewed stronger and has a brighter color, but less rich aroma.

F (FANNINGS) Sifting, fine particles of tea (used for tea bags).

D (DUST) Crumb, the smallest particles of tea (used for tea bags).

Tasting results

	Tea black long leaf Ceylon large-leaf "Dilmah" (THE SINGLE ORIGIN TEA 100% PURE CEYLON) Top grade Appearance: especially large-leaved, twisted, heterogeneous, with a small amount of open and rough leaf, broken leaf and a small amount of petioles. Bright Aroma: quite pronounced Taste: tart, rough, bitter Score: 4.25 Corresponds to the highest grade
	Tea black long leaf Ceylon large-leaf "AKBAR" / "AKBAR" Top grade Infusion: above-average, transparent Aroma: pronounced, quite pleasant Taste: rather tart, with bitter aftertaste Boiled leaf color: copper brown Score: 4.25 Corresponds to the highest grade
	Tea black long leaf Ceylon large-leaf "CROWN OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE" t.zn. "MAY" Top grade Appearance: especially large-leaved, twisted, with a small amount of coarse leaves and a small amount of petioles. Infusion: above-average, transparent Aroma: quite pronounced Taste: rather tart, bitter, rough Boiled leaf color: copper brown Score: 4.25 Corresponds to the highest grade
	Tea black long leaf Ceylon leaf O.P. AHMAD TEA Appearance: medium-leaved (BOP), fairly uniform, twisted, with petioles. Flask: above-average, bright, transparent Aroma: pronounced Taste: tart, astringent, with pronounced bitterness Score: 4.5 Conforms to the highest grade in taste and aroma and does not correspond to the appearance (harvesting) declared on the label
	Black loose leaf tea "Brooke Bond" / "Brook Bond" Top grade Appearance: heterogeneous, small-leaved, with open plates of tea, petioles and fibers. Infusion: medium, clear Aroma: quite pronounced Taste: medium tartness Boiled leaf color: copper brown Score: 3.75 Corresponds to the first grade
	Black loose leaf tea "LIPTON YELLOW LABEL TEA" Top grade Appearance: fairly uniform, medium leaf Flask: medium, bright, clear Aroma: quite pronounced Taste: tart, astringent Boiled leaf color: copper Score: 4.25 Corresponds to the highest grade
	Tea black long leaf Ceylon large-leaf, standard O.R. RISTON CEYLON PREMIUM Appearance: extra large leaf, uniform, even, well twisted Aroma: pronounced, pleasant Taste: tart, full astringent, with harmonious bitterness Boiled leaf color: copper brown Score: 5 Corresponds to the highest grade
	Ceylon black leaf tea "Matre de The Noir "Ceylon with tips" Top grade Appearance: large-leaf, even, well-rolled, with a small amount of silver tips Infusion: above-average, bright, transparent, with a reddish tinge Aroma: pronounced, pleasant, with a slight floral note Taste: tart, full, astringent, with harmonious bitterness Boiled leaf color: copper brown Score: 5, 25 Corresponds to the variety "Bouquet"
	Black long leaf Ceylon tea "NUWARA ELIYA Mlesna" / "Nuwara Elia Mlesna" Top grade Appearance: mixed: medium leaf with large leaf, well twisted Infusion: medium, bright, transparent, with a reddish tinge Aroma: pronounced, pleasant Taste: tart, astringent, with harmonious bitterness Boiled leaf color: copper Score: 4.75 Corresponds to the highest grade
	Long leaf black tea t.m. "Greenfield" Magic Yunnan Sort Bouquet Appearance: large-leaf, well-rolled, even, with a small amount of golden tips Infusion: above-average, transparent Aroma: pronounced, pleasant, with a slight note of dried fruits Taste: rather tart, soft, with a taste of dried fruits Boiled leaf color: copper Score: 4.5 Corresponds to the highest grade
	Tea black long leaf small-leaf t.m. "TWININGS" "ENGLISH BREAKFAST TEA" / "English Breakfast Tea" Top grade Appearance: heterogeneous, small-leaved, with the presence of open plates of tea, petioles, fibers and small things Infusion: medium, clear Aroma: quite pronounced Taste: medium tartness Boiled leaf color: copper Score: 3.5 Corresponds to the first grade

What kind to start with if you want to become a connoisseur of tea - or just to finally find the exact tea that you can enjoy every day? Let's figure it out in this article. And first, let's remember

What kind of tea is there?

When people talk about "tea varieties", what do you think they mean?

Everyone knows that tea is a plant, a tea bush. Plants of different varieties, from the point of view of botany, have different decorative or physiological characteristics. For example, two varieties of peonies or tomatoes may differ in external data, have different colors and shapes of petals, the size and taste of fruits, etc. And many still think that green and black tea are made from different plants. In fact, there is one type of tea plant - Camellia sinensis - and many varieties of it. The type of tea (green, black, yellow, etc.) depends on the processing of the tea leaf.

We will not go into botanical details. After all, for the buyer, the taste, aroma, color of the finished drink matters. These indicators are determined commercial grade.

Commercial grade of tea - an indicator of quality

The trade grade of tea consists of many factors. In addition to the variety of tea plant (Chinese, Assamese, Cambodian), the following are taken into account:

• the place of growth of the plant itself (this is country of origin, the most famous are Chinese, Indian, Ceylon, Kenyan and other teas from Africa, Georgian, Vietnamese, Japanese and, of course, native Krasnodar, characteristics plantations),
• time and conditions of collection (which leaves are collected, manually or by machine, collection season, etc.),
• features of sheet processing (drying, twisting, grinding and many more special processes).

And that's not all - many varieties of tea are obtained by blending and additional aromatization(There is nothing wrong with this if the flavors are natural).

All these factors affect the final grade of tea. And as a result, we can read on the pack, for example, "Chinese green large-leaf tea (... company name)". Here every word matters.

Blending is another reason for the variety of teas

Blending (and in simple terms - mixing) is carried out by tea-packing factories. Each blend gets its own unique name and sometimes becomes the "face of the company". The composition of such a mixture may include 1-2 dozen varieties of tea leaves grown in different countries.

Which tea maker is the best?

In Soviet times, we had access to one type of tea, which many still miss ("with an elephant"). Then the country rushed to the other extreme, and only imported tea could be bought in stores. Now the choice is great, there would be money.

It is very difficult to choose the best tea manufacturer. Mainly because the same company produces 3-5 different brands of tea in several price categories - expensive, medium, economy. And ardent adherents of Greenfield tea, in fact, choose the same manufacturer as economical lovers of the Princess Nouri brand (both are made by the Orimi Trade company). Therefore, the definition of "the best tea producer" is very conditional.

Of the Russian tea producers, we note the following companies:

• "Orimi Trade", she owns the brands "Princess Noori", "Princess Kandy", (as well as Gita, Java), as well as Tess, Greenfield,
• "May"- and this is not only May Tea, but also Lisma, Curtis,
• Unilever- "Conversation", Brooke Bond, Lipton (the owner of the company is England, but the production is located in Russia).

Among foreign teas, the most famous "Dilmah"(supplier of Ceylon tea), English Twinnings, « Ahmad, Ceylon "Riston"(positions itself as "premium English tea"), « Akbar".

When selecting tea varieties for the rating, we were based on customer reviews and research results. We did not consider rare, elite and expensive varieties that are sold only at auctions or in tea shops of a narrow specialization. The ranking contains popular trade grades of black and green tea, which are easy to find in stores near your home.

For over 5,000 years, tea has been the favorite drink of millions. It invigorates in the morning and perfectly tones up during the day. To warm up on winter evenings, they drink it hot, and to quench their thirst in the heat, ice is added to the drink. A huge number of companies around the world produce 1000 different varieties and types of tea. It is difficult to find the best drink in such a variety, so we have compiled a rating based on expert opinions and customer reviews.

The best loose black tea

Most of the production volumes are black tea. For its manufacture, the leaves are subjected to fermentation, which can last from 2 to 4 weeks. Large-leaf black tea has a tart taste. Manufacturers are constantly experimenting with a variety of additives to give the drink versatility.

4 Basilur

The best premium black tea
Country: Sri Lanka
Rating (2018): 4.6

This tea is truly grown, harvested, produced and packaged in Ceylon, so it is of consistently high quality. The company was founded in Sri Lanka in 1982 and has been a major tea supplier to other countries ever since. The authenticity of the origin of the drink can be verified by the sign of the golden lion on the original packaging. This symbol is not allowed to be used by any other country. One of the secrets of the great taste of tea is the work of tea testers. This is a kind of tea sommeliers, tasters who are able to distinguish tens of thousands of shades of taste, aftertaste, bouquet of the drink. Therefore Basilur is really a premium product at a moderate cost - about 250 rubles. for 100 gr. Tea can be found in large supermarkets.

The range of teas is simply huge, and both classic and flavored lines are popular. The harmony of the tea bouquet is achieved by refusing to use artificial flavors, adding pieces of fruit, inflorescences, flower petals and buds, aromatic herbs and oils. The company's assortment includes at least 200 types of tea, among which every connoisseur of this drink will find the best taste and aroma for himself. Many customers really like the oriental tea collection. One of the brightest flavors from this line is Frosty Day with a harmonious bouquet of white and blue cornflower petals, passion fruit and orange. Finding negative reviews about this brand is very difficult.

3 Birds of Paradise

The best loose leaf tea
A country: Sri Lanka (there is a representative office in Russia)
Rating (2018): 4.7

Sri Lanka is considered the country of origin of the brand, but the tea that is on the shelves of our stores is packaged by the Russian representative of Aromat Extra LLC. Despite the low cost (about 100 rubles per 100 gr.), the tea is of very good quality, has a rich, harmonious taste and aroma. It is also impossible to attribute it to the category of mass consumption products - tea is not supplied to all stores, it is not the most common. But it is one of the best in its price range.

Under the Birds of Paradise brand, mainly classic large-leaf and medium-leaf Ceylon and Indian teas are produced. Flavorings are rarely used and only natural. For example, a light, unobtrusive scent of bergamot. Large pieces of berries are visible in Strawberry Glade tea. There are a lot of varieties, you can find an option for every taste. Users respond very well to it. They like the absence of "dust" and broken tea leaves. When brewing, whole leaves become visible. The taste of tea without additives is very rich, slightly tart, the color is thick, beautiful.

2 Tess

Variety of flavors at an affordable price
Country Russia
Rating (2018): 4.7

The Tess brand is part of the large Orimi-Trade concern, which has been producing coffee and tea drinks since 1994. In the reviews, Tess tea buyers note the excellent taste of the drink and the variety of choices. All products are made from high-mountain varieties of tea bushes. The brand cannot be called the highest quality - it belongs to mass consumption products, has an affordable price. A pack of tea weighing 100 grams costs about 100 rubles. But at the same time, its palatability is quite high, and the variety of flavors, rich aromas and availability in most supermarkets and shops make it one of the most popular.

The range of black teas includes 6 different varieties. Tess Ceylon high-mountain Ceylon large-leaf tea is especially popular. Tess Plezha has an unusual taste, as it harmoniously combines rose hips, apple, flower petals and tropical fruits. "Tess Orange" is a real source of energy - the orange that is part of it pleasantly invigorates and tones. Tess Earl Gray tea has a more refreshing effect, the energy of citrus fruits and the freshness of bergamot contribute to an easy awakening. Tess Sunrise will give you a classic cheerful morning; according to gourmet reviews, it is the best drink in the brand line.

Everyone knows about the beneficial properties of tea and the absence of contraindications for consumption. However, it is worth noting that there are several limitations:

• do not brew tea several times;
• "yesterday's" tea does not contain useful substances and can even harm;
• if you drink tea on an empty stomach, you can harm the digestive system;
• due to the increased concentration of caffeine, a strong drink should not be consumed by hypertensive patients;
• taste and nutritional qualities deteriorate due to improper brewing;
• tea should not be taken with medicines.

1 Twinings

Real English tea
A country: Great Britain
Rating (2018): 4.9

For over 300 years, Twinings drinks have been popular with consumers. The manufacturer has found an approach to everyone, as it implements a wide range of varieties. For lovers of bergamot, the company produces Earl Gray tea. A rich taste of "English Breakfast" is given by a blend of large-leaved varieties. In the fruit collection, the leader of sales is Lady Gray Tea, which combines citrus notes of bergamot, lemon and orange.

Tea "Prince of Wales" is the pride of Twinings. It was created in 1921 personally for His Highness the Prince of Wales. Of course, only experienced specialists were involved in its production, who used the best varieties of large-leaf tea. Now the company's collection is represented by more than 150 varieties of tea sold in 100 countries. Russian users also appreciated its quality. In the reviews, they note the invariably rich taste, pronounced aroma. Unlike many other brands, the manufacturer produces the same quality tea in bulk and in bags. The peculiarity of the brand is that loose leaf tea is produced mainly in metal cans to preserve the unchanged taste and aroma. The cost compared to mass consumption brands is quite high - about 350 rubles per 100 grams.

The best black tea bags

American merchant Thomas Sullivan sent samples of tea to his customers in small silk bags. The customers decided that tea should be brewed directly into them. This is how tea bags were accidentally invented. It is convenient to brew black tea in them, because this does not require a kettle. Tea crumbs or small long leaf tea are packaged in small triangles made of fine polymer mesh or filter paper bags. The packaged drink has a wide range of flavors, which is why it is very popular with customers.

4 Newby

Selected high quality tea
A country: United Kingdom (country of origin India)
Rating (2018): 4.7

An expensive but very high quality international premium brand that produces a wide range of classic and flavored teas in bulk and in bags. There are several features in the production that make the products unique - the collection is carried out only in the most favorable period, the factory is located in the heart of the tea regions of India, so the raw materials are immediately delivered for processing, blending and packaging immediately after collection.

The company's assortment includes about 150 different varieties of tea - black, green, herbal, oolong, flavored varieties. Packed black tea is of high quality, gives a strong infusion with a noble color and rich taste. On sale you can find classic varieties (Assam, English Breakfast, Earl Grey), as well as teas with aromas of thyme, bergamot, cardamom, jasmine, ginger, mango, strawberry and bouquets of different aromas. But in the case of expensive teas, users prefer classic tea without additives. The most popular of this brand is the English Breakfast blend with a balanced taste and aroma without pronounced bitterness. The cost of a box of 25 bags varies between 300-400 rubles.

3 "May tea"

Quality proven over the years
Country Russia
Rating (2018): 4.7

The trademark was registered in 1991 by the concern "May", and is still the most recognizable on the market. Large-leaf varieties are subjected to special processing in order to preserve all the benefits and richness of taste. For the convenience of brewing, "May tea" is sold in bags and pyramids that retain all the advantages of a leaf drink. The most popular varieties in the collection are Ceylon and Kenyan teas. This is the well-known "Crown of the Russian Empire", as well as "Golden Petals", "Black Diamond".

Also bagged black tea has a wide flavored line. Lemon, wild berries, raspberries, strawberries and currants are used for a variety of tastes. Among packaged teas, buyers fell in love with a fairly new line of products packed in beautiful golden boxes - Currant with Mint, Fragrant Thyme, Fragrant Bergamot. These teas do have a rather pleasant aroma, but can only claim to be one of the best teas in the budget price range. The cost for a box of 25 bags rarely exceeds 85 rubles.

2 Dammann

Best quality tea bags
Country: France
Rating (2018): 4.8

One of the most expensive and high-quality teas on the Russian market. It is produced by the oldest tea company in France, founded in 1925. It can be safely called the best manufacturer of packaged teas, since it tastes no different from a drink brewed from a loose product. When you open the bag, you will find in it not dust and sawdust, as happens with cheap brands, but a real large, correctly rolled tea leaf. This company was one of the first to start producing flavored teas, but they do not use cheap flavors, but only natural ingredients.

Also in the assortment you can find classic tastes without additional additives. When brewing, the difference is immediately felt, it is seen even by those who cannot call themselves a connoisseur and connoisseur of tea. Very rich, dense color, slightly tart, strong taste and incomparable aroma. True, in Russia this tea is more often purchased as a gift - the cost of a box of 25 bags starts from 700 rubles. But true connoisseurs of the drink can treat themselves. Assorted bags are very popular, including teas with the taste of bergamot, strawberry, currant, honey, almond, lime, vanilla, hazelnut.

1 Althaus

Best for tea shops and restaurants
Country: Germany
Rating (2018): 4.9

Althaus is a German tea, harvested from the best plantations in different parts of the world. The collection was designed by lead teatester Ralf Janeki in Bremen. Due to its high quality, it is purchased for restaurants, cafes, as well as tea boutiques. The classification of black tea "Althouse" is conditional, since this category also includes puer, oolong and red varieties. The drink undergoes strict quality control, therefore it fully complies with EU and Russian standards. Interestingly, some varieties of tea bushes were bred specifically for the Althaus brand.

The brand's collection includes classic blends and aromatic teas with the addition of thyme and bergamot. It is difficult to find fruit teas in the assortment - the company tries to preserve the pure taste of a noble drink, only slightly shading it with the most harmonious additives. On sale there are tea bags made from leaves collected on plantations in India and Sri Lanka. This is really a worthy tea, which has earned high marks from the most fastidious gourmets.

The best loose leaf green tea

The leaves harvested for green tea are steamed. Therefore, the color of the drink remains green and preserves the natural supply of nutrients and vitamins. After steaming, the leaves are dried, rolled and packaged. Some varieties are fermented, but not for long - a maximum of 48 hours. The taste of green tea is slightly sweetish or tart with the aroma of herbs.

4 Nadin

Rich collection of flavored teas
Country Russia
Rating (2018): 4.7

The company, founded in Russia, has taken its rightful place in the market due to the abundance of different varieties of tea. Bagged tea is rarely found on sale, but there are a lot of varieties of large-leaf black and green tea. In their composition, artificial flavors are usually not used - in the mixture you can see pieces of fruits and berries, an admixture of petals and herbs, and other natural additives. Not in favor of the company is the fact that the tea leaf is grown in China, but the main processing is already in Russia - the quality of this, of course, suffers.

Most of the teas are designed for mass consumption, so they have a low cost - about 60 rubles per 50 grams. But there are also more expensive varieties. For example, green tea "Silver Strawberry" in the form of balls formed from whole tea leaves costs about 350 rubles per 100 grams. The flavors "Forest basket" with pieces of berries, "Chinese lemongrass" with lemongrass grass and citrus zest are very popular.

3 Ahmed

Strict quality control
A country: UK (manufactured in India, China, England, Iran, UAE, Russia and Ukraine)
Rating (2018): 4.7

Ahmad Tea Ltd was founded in 1946 by Ahmad Afshar in Hampshire. The company values ​​its reputation, so it uses tea leaves from the best plantations in China, India and Kenya. Natural oils for scented collections are produced under strict control in the UK. Tradition and strict quality control helped the tea house to receive several international awards, and even visit the International Space Station in 2005. Since 2011, the company has been producing the "Royal Collection" for Buckingham Palace.

In the assortment of the company you can find classic green teas with a very pleasant aroma of a well-made product. Fans of complex flavors will love the line of flavored varieties with the addition of jasmine flowers, lemon balm, mint, lemongrass. Among ordinary people, Ahmad tea has been associated with a top quality product for a couple of decades. According to real connoisseurs, it is very far from the category of premium brands, but in its price category it can be considered one of the best. The cost for a pack weighing 100 grams starts from 100 rubles.

2 Greenfield

The best tea according to Russians
Country Russia
Rating (2018): 4.8

In 2003, the Orimi Trade group of companies signed an agreement with the British company Greenfield Tea Ltd. According to numerous surveys and studies, Greenfield ranks first in the rating of "favorite teas" of Russians. The range of the brand includes more than 30 items. The line of green leaf tea is represented by three varieties.

Leaf Chinese tea Flying Dragon, grown in Hunan province, will delight tea lovers with rich color, floral aroma, invigorates, refreshes and quenches thirst. Jasmine Dream from Chinese plantations in Yunnan is special. In its preparation, jasmine flowers are dried along with tea leaves and then hand-picked. Japanese Sencha is grown in the Japanese province of Fukoka. But some users note that the quality of tea has declined somewhat recently. It is no longer as fragrant and rich as before. Many people buy it out of habit or because of its low cost - about 100 rubles per 100 grams.

1 Russian Tea Company

Large selection of varieties
A country: Russia (produced in Germany and Russia)
Rating (2018): 4.9

"Russian Tea Company" was established in 1998, and is constantly improving the quality and range of its products. The trademark sells green, white, black teas and herbal preparations with a unique combination of berries and fruits. Tea production is carried out not only in Russia, but also at the German plant Wollenhaupt GmbH. For the manufacture of unique blends, the company is purchased at auctions in China and Sri Lanka.

The collection of the brand has more than 200 items, so everyone can choose tea to their liking. The company also boasts of packaging. In addition to branded packages for buying loose tea, the manufacturer offers gift tin and glass jars, as well as exclusive wooden boxes. In addition to boxed teas, which are sold in large supermarkets, many cities have specialized departments that sell various types of tea by weight. There are different reviews, but negative ones are usually left only for the cheapest varieties of tea. The price range is very wide - there are budget and elite varieties.

The best green tea bags

Sachets, sachets and pyramids are always strictly metered and designed to produce 200 ml of a delicious drink. When brewing green tea bags, the infusion does not turn out strong, so the amount of caffeine consumed is reduced. This form of release is also popular due to its ease of use. Particles of tea leaves, various herbs and pieces of fruit do not get into the mug. Below are the brands that produce green tea bags.

4 Ronnefeldt

Tea from two top leaves and tips
Country: Germany
Rating (2018): 4.7

The famous brand of premium tea is known for its very high quality and variety of flavors. The brand is one of the oldest - it was founded in Germany in 1823. Now it is very popular, used by many of the best restaurants and hotels in the world. The manufacturer uses only selected raw materials purchased from proven plantations in India, Sri Lanka and China. The basis of all products is the principle - to use only the top two leaves and a kidney. In total, the company's assortment includes more than 350 varieties of elite tea.

The line of green tea bags is based on selected raw materials from Chinese plantations. On sale you can see pure tastes without impurities and flavored varieties. Only natural flavors are used - berries, fruits, herbs. Some sachets are designed to be brewed in a teapot. Gourmets can choose from varieties with one taste - mint, jasmine or whole bouquets of aromas made up of citrus, cornflower petals, roses, sunflowers, mangoes. If negative reviews are found, then they are associated exclusively with the high cost of the drink. The cost of a box with 25 bags starts from 400 rubles.

3 Clippers

The best quality and naturalness
Country: UK
Rating (2018): 4.7

The Clipper tea company has been known since 1984. Its products have won the recognition of customers due to the high quality of tea made entirely from natural ingredients without the use of artificial flavors and dyes. Classic organic green tea without additives has a pleasant, very harmonious taste. Some customers who have tried real Chinese tea (purchased in China) claim that Clipper tastes very close to it.

All teas are packaged in ordinary paper bags without strings. If you break one of them, you can see a fairly small, but high-quality tea without "sticks" and any impurities. Most of the flavored line is based on citrus fruits - lemon and lime, sometimes with the addition of ginger and aloe vera. The cost of tea, depending on the store, is 200-300 rubles per box of 20 bags. The pleasure is quite expensive, but quite acceptable for a quality drink.

2 Heath&Heather

100% natural composition
Country: UK
Rating (2018): 4.7

The Heath&Heather company produces green teas consisting only of natural ingredients grown without the use of pesticides and fertilizers. The brand was founded in 1920 by brothers James and Samuel Reeder. To date, the best specialists of the company carefully select each ingredient, creating amazingly tasty and healthy drinks. All varieties of green tea produced by Heath&Heather are powerful natural antioxidants that help normalize metabolism.

The collection includes both classic varieties and rather interesting taste solutions. For example, with the addition of cucumber - the taste is not for everyone, but fresh and pleasant. Unusual, spicy tea with the aroma of basil will appeal to lovers of adding milk to the drink - they are very harmoniously combined. There are more standard solutions - orange peel, jasmine, mint, coconut, ginger. This tea can definitely be recommended to lovers of new tastes. The cost of a box of 20 bags starts from 300-350 rubles.

1 VKUS

Excellent quality green tea bags
Country Russia
Rating (2018): 4.9

The brand company was founded in Russia in 2013, but tea is produced in Morocco. Raw materials for the manufacture of various blends are brought from the best plantations in the world - from China, Japan, Ceylon, India. The tea is tested in Europe and only after a strict selection does it reach the store shelves. For tea bags, high-quality, but broken tea leaves are often used to offer customers a lower cost, but retain a decent taste and aroma of the product. Another interesting feature is the packaging in cotton bags that do not spoil the taste of the drink.

The line of green tea bags includes both classic and flavored varieties with jasmine, rose petals, and mango. The cost of a package of 20 bags starts from 500 rubles. The brand is not the most common, but very popular in narrow circles. It is considered by many to be one of the best green tea bags on the Russian market. Its taste is balanced, soft and rich at the same time, the aroma is strong, but unobtrusive.

Let's talk about a drink so beloved in our country. Strong, freshly brewed, fragrant, it invigorates no worse than coffee. Guess what it's about? Of course, about tea. And even though we are far from being Chinese, we don’t devote so much time to the ceremony of drinking this drink, but still ... And what kind of tea is the best? You will not find an answer to this question, because each person has his own taste. Someone likes black, someone - green, and someone generally prefers to use herbal.

What are the teas?

There are more than a hundred types of this product all over the world. Teas vary in leaf quality, harvest time, enzyme levels, and aging time. There are some species that are very popular in some countries and completely unacceptable in others. In general, people often associate the best tea not even with a variety, but with a certain atmosphere and environment. For example, cooked outdoors in a pot on a fire (fragrant, with smoke) or in a restaurant at a tea ceremony ... Agree, there is a difference.

Therefore, it is somehow more logical to divide it into varieties and talk about which one is the best. strife, and you will see this now. So...

Oolong

Oolong tea is a Chinese variety. It has an average level of enzymes. It has the aroma of fresh green tea, but at the same time with a pronounced floral taste. Depending on the variety, oolong can be brewed seven to fifteen times. And every time you will again enjoy its aroma and taste. When brewed, it has a sweet floral aroma and honey aftertaste, and can range in color from orange-red to emerald green.

There are more than two hundred and fifty varieties of this tea in the world. They are truly beautiful and deserve to be tried at least once. But among them, there is one that has received the most good reviews worldwide. Probably, we can say that he is the best tea from this category. This is a milk oolong. This special variety was bred in Taiwan and named "golden flower". The technology of its manufacture is rather complicated, but also interesting. The tea bush is pollinated with a sweet solution of sugarcane, watered with milk, which is why the leaf already has a sweetish milky aroma when harvested.

good green tea

All over the world, green tea is the most popular of all varieties. There are a huge number of its types and varieties. A distinctive feature is the processing technology that does not subject the raw material to the fermentation process. Green teas are divided according to the varieties of manufacturing technology, place of growth, quality.

He has miraculous powers. Of course, tea is a good drink that quenches thirst, relieves fatigue, has a thick and rich aroma, and has a wonderful taste. The Chinese are probably the biggest connoisseurs of this drink. And here's what's interesting: their favorite is jasmine green tea. It turns out that the taste of jasmine in the drink is a Chinese invention. This drink is very refreshing and invigorating, gives strength. The aroma of jasmine itself is clean and fresh, it helps to stabilize the energy balance of the body. After its use, there is a feeling of some kind of freshness and lightness, an energy boost is noticeable.

The best tea - Puer

The birthplace of Puer tea is the village of the same name in Yunnan province. Several trees that are almost a thousand years old grow in this region. The best varieties are obtained from leaves plucked from trees, and not from bushes. And the older it is, the more refined the taste of the prepared drink.

A feature of this is that fermentation is constantly going on in it. Each year of its aging gives it a new taste and color. Some like the taste of young Pu-erh, while others like aged Pu-erh. Brewed, it has a dark red color, persistent rich aroma, long-lasting taste. Puer is the best tea for true connoisseurs of quality varieties.

How to choose a good tea?

How can an inexperienced novice tea drinker choose a good variety? You need to know the characteristic properties of this product, for which it is valued.

The best tea is alpine. Although modern technologies make it possible to grow it anywhere, it is the green variety cultivated in the mountains that is considered the most delicious. After all, it is there that nature has created ideal conditions for plants.

In Japan, due to the lack of land, highland varieties are grown very little. The best is Chinese tea, Taiwanese is also good.

The next advantage of such a product is its price. Remember that highland varieties are quite expensive. In the country of origin, the minimum price is two hundred and twenty dollars per kilogram. And rare and unique varieties generally have a colossal price.

The most important feature of any tea is its freshness. If it is stored for a long time, it loses its properties (except for some expensive varieties).

A very good tea should have a uniform color, but if it contains green or whitish leaves, then this indicates that this is a mixture of different crops. And this is unacceptable.

In general, the right tea is the one that is sealed in front of you in the package. Packaged at the factory, it will likely keep for years. Of course, modern packaging will not let it lose all its properties, but it will still not be fresh.

In order to store good tea, it is better to use a porcelain container. After pouring some leaves, tightly close the container with a lid. After all, tea very quickly absorbs foreign odors. And contact with air is harmful to him. In a porcelain box, raw materials can be stored both in the refrigerator and at room conditions.

Instead of an afterword

In general, the best tea is the one you like. This drink is unique in its properties. In addition to being soothing and relaxing, it also has a positive effect on vision. A vitamin such as B2 will protect the skin from peeling and dryness, and strengthens blood vessels, thereby supporting the work of the cardiovascular system. Tea lowers cholesterol and helps break down fats. You can list the advantages of this drink for a long time. And therefore, if you have not been fond of tea drinking before, we advise you to reconsider your attitude towards it. Perhaps you just have not yet found your variety that will win you over with its taste and aroma.