A Look At Darjeeling Tea And Other Black Teas

Many people are fans of black tea but do not realize that there are many different varieties of black tea. Black tea tends to be more of a pick-me-up than some other varieties of tea simply because there is a higher level of caffeine in it than with other teas. The basic flavour of black tea can vary quite a bit depending on where it has been harvested from, how it is prepared and whether any additional ingredients have been added to it.
One classic example of a black tea is Earl Grey tea. Earl Grey tea is traditionally made from black tea leaves but has a distinctly lemon taste that is caused by the addition of bergamot leaves. For some people the addition of lemon flavour to Earl Grey tea may make it unappealing to some people but they may want to check out the different varieties that are available rather than discounting Earl Grey tea altogether.
Some types of Earl Grey tea have citrus flavours added to them in addition to the lemon flavouring that comes from the addition of bergamot leaves. One other flavouring that many people like is the addition of lavender leaves to the Earl Grey tea leaves.
This type of tea can be found as loose leaves or as tea bags. In order to bring out the full flavour of the leaves many tea aficionados recommend that it be steeped in water that is 96C (205F) and that it is steeped for approximately three minutes. This means that the tea will be strong but it will not be able to become bitter.
For other people, the taste of this type of black tea can be overwhelming. They may prefer the taste of Darjeeling tea instead. While Darjeeling tea is considered to be a black tea it is often not oxidized to the same extent which gives it a much milder flavour that can be appealing to many people. It can be fairly musky and this is something which many people find very appealing.
If you are purchasing Darjeeling tea you may want to pay attention to where the leaves have been harvested from. Different leaves may have different flavours and this can affect the taste of the Darjeeling tea that you will be drinking.
You may want to consider purchasing Darjeeling tea that has been harvested from a single estate. This can be more expensive but will often give you more consistent brewing results than you may get from teas made from a blend of leaves.
Many tea lovers recommend that the only way to truly appreciate Darjeeling tea is to make it from loose leaves and not from bagged tea leaves. They feel that loose leaf tea has a richer flavour that is not influenced by the taste of the material that was used to make tea bags.
Again, because it is a black tea, it is a good idea to steep Darjeeling tea for three minutes in water that is just below boiling. This is because the flavour will be able to develop fully without allowing any bitterness to affect the taste of your tea.