The naming of teas is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your everyday games-
Some might think you as mad as a hatter
Should you tell them each goes by several names.

For starters each tea in this world must belong
To the families Black or Green or Oolong;

Then look more closely at these family trees-
Some include Indians along with Chinese.

T.S. Eliot
The Naming of Cats

 


There are three popular varieties of Indian Tea
Assam
North Bengal Teas
Nilgiris
Darjeeling
Two varieties of manufactured tea are popular in India. These are
Black Tea (99%)
Green Tea (1%)


In the Black category,there are two popular types, namely, CTC and Orthodox.

ORTHODOX

A machine, which takes its name from the first mechanised method used in the second stage of tea processing that rolls the withered leaves thus breaking the veins and releasing the leaf enzymes. Teas made by this method are known as Orthodox teas.

C.T.C

Cut, Tear and Curl describes a machine which literally cuts, tears and curls the withered leaf, breaking the leaf veins. This releases the juices or enzymes of the leaf and completes the second stage of manufacture. Today, CTC tea, or Unorthodox tea is applied to all types of manufacture other than Orthodox. It is used in the second stage of manufacture where the tea leaves are broken into particles before fermentation and drying.

GREEN TEA

Tea that is withered, immediately steamed or heated to kill the enzymes and then rolled and dried. It has a light appearance and flavour.


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