Tea is a part of our everyday culture, whether you’re having it during breakfast or you need something to relax after a long day. There are many tea blends out there to try, and all of them are delicious. Here are eight tea blends that any tea lover should try.
Considered one of the most popular tea blends, Earl Grey is a black tea that is flavoured with bergamont oil. Assumed to be named after Lord Grey, there is a story that after his men saved the son of a Chinese aristocrat, Lord Grey received this blend as a thank you gift. However, no one knows if this is true or not. Smoky and fragrant, this tea can be enjoyed with a slice of lemon or without milk.
Another tea with a smoky flavour, Russian Caravan is a full-bodied tea made from a combination of Oolong, Keemun and Lapsang Souchong teas. Though the tea is Chinese in origin and flavour, this tea blend gets its name from the caravans that were used to transport the tea from Europe to Asia, going through Russia. You can enjoy this tea with or without milk and some honey as well.
Tea blends are all about creating new ways to drink tea, and chai is one of those inventions. Also called Masala chai, this tea blend of Assam and Indian spices came about as a way for Britian to find teas that didn’t originate in China. Made with warm milk, this tea is perfect to enjoy on cold winter’s day and is deliciously sweet as well.
Darjeeling is another tea blend that tea lovers should try. Though the leaves are grown in India, the leaves are actually from China; this is because a civil surgeon brought the Chinese plant with him when he was stationed in the Darjeeling district of India. Usually made as a black tea, this tea blend is lightly coloured with a floral aroma, and can be enjoyed without milk.
When you think of tea blends you should try, you can’t go past the traditional breakfast tea. As the name suggests, this tea blend can be enjoyed while you’re having breakfast and is a substitute to coffee, due to the higher caffeine content the tea has. There are three main varieties of this tea: English, Irish and Scottish, with the Scottish Breakfast tea being the strongest of the three. As a result, you should probably add some milk into this tea blend.
As the name suggests, this tea blend is best enjoyed in the afternoon, while you’re enjoying some cakes or miniature sandwiches. Made up of Assam, Ceylon, and Kenyan black teas, this tea is medium bodied and quite refreshing and can be enjoyed with a slice of lemon or milk. A perfect accompaniment that serves to enhance and complement an afternoon meal.
One of the most fragrant of the tea blends, jasmine tea is a staple of Chinese flavoured teas, and is considered the most popular. Often made with green tea leaves, but can be made using black or oolong tea leaves, Jasmine tea has a distinct aroma and sweet flavour, due to the jasmine petals being used. Besides being a delicious tea, there are also some health benefits to jasmine tea, including preventing diabetes and boosting your immune system.
One of my favourite tea blends is peppermint tea. Made by infusing peppermint leaves in hot water, this tea is refreshing and is great if you want to cleanse your palette after eating. This tea is also great for improving digestion and reducing aches and pains.
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