Your most frequently asked questions about tea

Tea, tea, tea... what is it?

1. What is tea?

Black and green tea is produced from tea plant leaves. The plant was first cultivated in China. Chinese monks and European traders later took it to Japan, Sri Lanka and other countries. In the world today there are more than 3,000 types of tea, and each has its unique character, mostly due to where it comes from.

The basic difference between black and green tea consists of the way the tea leaves are processed. Whereas black tea is fermented (oxygenated) before drying, green tea is, instead of being fermented, steamed and then dried.

2. How can I make the best cup of tea?

In addition to the tea leaves themselves, quality water and the correct steeping time are decisive when making a good cup of tea. Follow these instructions:

- Use a pre-heated kettle or cup.

- The water should always be fresh and cold.

- Bring the water to the boil. Boil it only for a short time, so that it does not lose the acidic substances that are important for releasing the unique aromas of tea.

- In the case of black tea pour boiling water on the tea leaves or tea bag. When preparing green tea the water should be cooled to approximately 75 degrees Celsius. However, it always has to boil first!

- Leave black tea to stand for three to five minutes, but green tea for a maximum of three minutes.

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3. What equipment is the best for correctly preparing tea?

Teapot: the teapot’s material (glass, ceramics, porcelain) does not have any influence on the resulting taste of the tea. However, the shape is important. So that the tea can steep properly, it is necessary to use a rounded shape. The bigger a tea strainer is, the better, because the tea leaves need room to steep.

The best strainers are made from stainless steel and porcelain. If they are big enough, cotton strainers or paper filters can be used. We recommend, however, that different strainers be used for green and black tea. A paper filter is suitable for preparing tea in a cup. Plastic strainers can negatively influence the flavour of tea, which it why you won’t find them in our range. A metal infuser is also not the best solution, as the tea leaves do not have sufficient room for infusion.

4. How long can tea be kept for?

Generally, tea is a product with a long life; its minimum life is usually 18 months. However, tea very easily soaks up moisture, aromas and smells from its environment. Therefore, the method of storage has a marked influence on its life. In particular in the kitchen, where various aromas combine, tea should be hermetically sealed. In addition, tea should be kept in a cool, dry place. The best way to ensure tea keeps its original quality is to store it in metal containers, which you can buy in all specialised shops.

5. Is it true that soft water is better for making tea?

The softest possible water is the best for making tea. This is because it enables tea to give off its typical aromas after being made. If you have hard (mineralised) water available, we recommend you boil the water in an open pan for a few seconds, while the chlorine and phenols evaporate and the calcium settles. In general, however, the quality of water in the Czech Republic is very good.

6. In the event that water is very chalky, should a water filter be used?

A water filter does not have to be used. However, if water is very chalky a filter can have a positive influence on the flavour of tea. In the event mineral water is used, however, a water filter is recommended, because the salts it contains have a very bad effect on the tea’s flavour.

7. Why are teas blended?

The majority of teas that reach the consumer are blends of various types and harvests. This is because the buyer expects a product that is always the same. However, because tea is a natural product and the quality of harvests differs, depending on the specific weather conditions, blends are the only way to offer the customer what he is used to.

8. Who determines what tea will be part of a tea blend?

Tea-tasters create tea blends. They check the quality of tea and decide what teas are suitable for what blends. A tea-taster obviously has to know the fine nuances of the teas he has available. This requires long experience and very well developed senses of smell and taste.

9. What does “garden tea” mean?

Garden tea originates in a certain plantation and, in contrast to blends, is not mixed with any other tea. For this reason the taste and quality of a specific garden (plantation) can vary from harvest to harvest. Garden teas are only available in specialised outlets.

10. What does “flying tea” mean?

Flying tea (Flugtee in German) is a synonym in the west for freshly harvested Darjeeling First Flush. Immediately after harvesting and fermentation the tea is transported from India to the destination country by air. This tea has a special freshness of flavour and very fine aroma.

11. What influences the quality of tea?

The quality of tea is influenced by many factors, primarily the area of the harvest, climate, harvest time, method of picking the leaves, processing and storage. There are significant differences not only between the various areas, but within an area. Obviously, the quality of one plantation differs from harvest to harvest. In general we can say that the quality of tea from higher altitudes is higher, because the leaf grows more slowly and therefore has more time to develop substances rich in flavour. Tea from lower-lying areas is mostly stronger and darker when poured. Even such teas, however, can be of a high quality, like the best types from Assam, India.

12. What are anti-oxidants and how do they work in tea?

Anti-oxidants are substances that slow down the oxidation process, or slow down the oxidation of fat in the body. Anti-oxidants in tea are called flavonoids. In the human body they can contribute to protection from free radicals and the prevention of cancer and heart disease. As natural bodily protection is not always sufficient, the contribution of anti-oxidants from food or drink makes sense in any case.

13. Does green tea contain more anti-oxidants than black tea?

Both green and black tea contain a significant quantity of anti-oxidants. The difference is not large. It is not possible to clearly say that green tea is richer in this respect.

14. What quantity of caffeine does tea contain?

One cup (200ml) of black tea contains, on average, 40mg of caffeine (theine). For comparison: a cup of coffee contains approximately twice the quantity. Caffeine was discovered in tea in 1827. At that time its specific name in tea, theine, came into being. In contrast to coffee, in tea it occurs in bound, rather than free form. A consequence of this is that it has a different effect in the human organism. Whereas caffeine in coffee gets the heart beating rapidly and its effect relatively rapidly fades, theine in tea has a milder, but longer effect.

15. Does green tea contain less theine than black tea?

If you consider the dried tea leaves, then the theine content is the same in black and green tea. However, the quantity of theine in finished tea depends on the method of preparation. The quantity depends both on the time it is left to stand and the temperature of the water poured onto the leaves. With regard to the fact that green tea is made from water at a lower temperature and also mostly steeped for a shorter time than black tea, the theine content in finished tea is lower.

16. Does tea drain the human body of water?

With regard to the theine content, tea has slightly diuretic effects. This is because theine supports the kidneys and urination. This is caused by increased blood-flow to the kidneys. This effect is, however, relatively mild and short-term. Tea cannot be said to drain water from the body. It can be regarded as mildly diuretic.

17. Is tea good for pregnant women?

Tea tastes pleasant, quenches thirst and contains a number of substances important for the body. Tea is a suitable drink for pregnant women.

18. Does tea have a rejuvenating effect?

The aging of living organisms is primarily due to genetics. However, it can be positively influenced, by an anti-aging process. According to contemporary scientific knowledge, an excess of free radicals has a negative effect on aging. It is therefore important to regulate excess reactions by such radicals. Tea is especially important for this purpose, due to its high polyphenol content.

19. How is tea related to a wellness life-style?

The term wellness spread to western Europe from the USA recently – at the end of the 1980s. Many people think that it is a name for exercising. Wellness, however, is a synonym for internal balance and a good bodily feeling. It is related to self-knowledge and, primarily, spiritual calm. It is therefore no wonder that tea is often related to this positive life feeling, thanks to its many fine properties.

20. How does tea protect the teeth?

Tea protects the teeth twice – is strengthens the enamel and slows down excessive creation of acidic substances in the oral cavity. As various scientific studies have proved, one litre of tea (black or green) contains approximately 2-3 milligrams of fluoride. This quantity corresponds to an adult person’s daily requirement. No other foodstuff contains such a large quantity of fluoride. In addition to this, the polyphenols contained in tea protect from plaque. Polyphenols slow the breakdown of starches in the mouth by deactivating the enzyme amylase contained in saliva. It breaks down starch, for example from flour products, into glucose. Glucose creates a suitable environment for plaque bacteria. They create acids, which damage enamel.

This complicated mechanism is fundamentally limited when a person drinks a few cups of tea a day. With a little exaggeration we can say that the British, for example, with their high consumption of tea can, with a clear conscience, eat cake and other sweets...