By Stacy Palmer

In China and Japan, tea is not just a beverage, but an art form. The process of growing, drying and processing tea is a long and arduous one in the modern age, so it must have been even more labor intensive centuries ago. Such a drink needed to be graced with fine cups, saucers, pots and spoons. This also showed respect to any guest that came to drink tea. As a result, many types of Chinese tea sets were developed and are now catching on in the West.

Usual Utensils

Chinese tea sets, no matter what their size, style or color, should have the following – at least two cups or bowls, saucers, a pot and a tray to hold everything. Some other sets may have matching scoop-like spoons for stirring the tea or removing any leaves. Most Chinese tea cups or bowls are very small and without handles. In this way, the tea can be savored at the best temperature and it warms up the hands.

But some types of Chinese tea sets are not made to have the cup be picked up. Tea drinkers place the tiny cup on a saucer or metal frame and pick the whole apparatus up. In this way, there is no risk of burning the fingers. A classic style is called Gong Fu, which originated in what is now the Guangdong province. Its clay pot has a very long handle that sticks out to the side.

Unusual Features

Some Chinese tea sets will have long, narrow cups without saucers. These are called aroma cups, where some tea is poured just for the guests to smell. This practice is similar, but possibly older than sniffing the pulled cork from a bottle of wine. Gong Fu sets will also include a tall wooden cup to hold wooden utensils such as spoons and tongs.

The tea set style called Yixing often includes kettles and teapots with handles but handleless cups. They also may include ornately carved wooden scoops for placing the tea leaves into the pot. This style is still made today. Yixing sets may be made of clay, wood, bamboo or a combination of all three.

The Gaiwan style is made with porcelain and can be ornately painted. Each teacup consists of a saucer, the sup and a lid with a small knob that can be used as a handle. The lid not only keeps the tea hot, but can be overturned and sniffed like an aroma cup.

By Jason Gorka

A Black Tea is when tea leaves have been fermented before they are dried out. This is done to enhance the flavor of the tea. Black tea is referred to black tea due to the fact its leaves are black. In cafes and restaurants a black tea is also referred to as a tea with no sugar or milk added.

There are many types of black tea around today and the only main difference between all the different types of black tea is where the tea leaves are grown, fermented and dried as depending on the conditions where the process happens can vary what the teas characteristics are.

As well as the black tea being named due to the area it was grown like Assam and Yunnan, it is also classified depending on where the tea leaves are taken from on a plant. For example white tea was when the tea leaves were taken from the leaf buds once a year during spring.

Black tea like all other teas still contains the same amount of caffeine in it, so no matter what type of tea you drink it all has the same amount of caffeine in it, which is approximately 25 – 60mg in a cup. However black teas offer antioxidants which are beneficial to your body. The main antioxidant which you will find in black tea is polyphenols aka Tannin which can help prevent cell damage. Black teas don’t contain as many as green tea does however as both types of tea come from the same tea plant they both contain antioxidants which are good for you.

By Jason Gorka

There is black tea flavored with cinnamon or cherry, it exists with evocative names such as Ceylon, Darjeeling, Earl Gray or English Breakfast. Black tea is everywhere, it can be bought in any supermarket, and tea is certainly in almost every kitchen cupboard. But how is it produced and where does he come from?

The euphonious name of teas are usually easy to do with the Herfkunftsgebieten of tea. Darjeeling, Assam and Ceylon tea-growing area of concern in India and Sri Lanka. The Ceylon tea is harvested in Sri Lanka, the third largest region in the world. He has a strong aroma. Assam tea comes from India, the world’s largest wine-growing region. The highland also tastes strong. The delicate, yellow Darjeeling tea grows on the southern slopes of the Himalayas in the Indian state of West Bengal.

From the tea estates to our own cups, it is a costly way. First the tea leaves are shaken in wicker baskets in order to connect the cell juices with oxygen in the air. When the leaves are then rolled up and stored in a humid environment, this is called fermentation. The enzymes of the tea leaves react with oxygen to form aromatics. The flavor of the tea develops. After the leaves are dried – the tea is ready.

As the tea is enjoyed all depends on your own preferences. Or from the country where you live: In Poland, for example, tea is served with a slice of lemon, in France and England, however, with milk. In Chile, at the end of the world, black tea is the traditional drink for dinner – with lots of sugar.

Is true for most varieties: If the tea is to be a stimulating effect, then only draw a maximum of three minutes! However, the more he moves, the more intense the flavor. Longer than five minutes, however, the leaves should not remain in the pot – or the bag in the cup.

By Anne Tenzer

Black Tea is just as beneficial as drinking green tea. As a matter of fact they both come the same plant. The only difference is the way in which the are leaves are processed to give you loose black tea that has full oxidation. Just so there is no confusion, black tea is a type of tea, is not simply tea that does not have any cream in it, like black coffee. So if you are a tea drinker, you can your favorite collection of black tea to your list of teas to drink.

And since one similar plant provides tea leaves that give you green, white, and black tea. You are able reap the health benefits of all the teas that are produced. And this is because these teas have antioxidants that help the body against free radicals. As a matter of fact there was a recent study that was conducted that suggested that drinking black tea was helpful in regulating diabetes blood sugar levels. In addition to sugar control, black tea is helpful in improving blood flow, this is good for those that have issues with high cholesterol or even high blood pressure.

Additional health benefits include:

1 – Assisting the body in fighting cancer by slow down the growth of cancer cells while allowing the healthy cells to grow normally.

2 – Helps increasing your metabolism levels to assist in burning fat. So this is a good idea for those you are trying to lose weight. By drinking loose black tea you can see an increase in your energy and start to look and feel good.

3 – Helps to maintain a good dental hygiene program. Due to the fluoride that is contained in the tea, drinking a few cups of day can help in discouraging tooth decay. So that your teeth remain health and strong.

4 – Want to keep from aging? Again black tea can come to the rescue. It has been suggested that tea can help in delaying the aging process. And I know that everyone wants to grow old gracefully and look good doing it at the same time.

The best way to drink loose black tea is without milk or cream.  Studies have been conducted to show that by adding milk and sugar, you lose out on some of the benefits that the tea offers. So leave out the milk and just add a natural sweetener like honey, to make your tea drink a more pleasant experience.

Remember that you only needed to drink 3 to 5 cups of loose black tea a day in order to reap the amazing health benefits that the tea offers. Also be sure the inform your doctor about any type of tea that you are drinking. Good health is just a cup of tea a way!