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Out of the Asian nations, only the Philippines doesn't have a tea culture to speak of, even with our "salabat," which cannot be considered tea, technically. But with the rising consciousness for health and wellness, tea appreciation is slowly finding its way through our daily lives. And there is actually more to tea than what it appears to be.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf recently invited tea connoisseur and master tea blender David DeCandia from the Tea Association of the United States of America to talk about tea appreciation with Filipino foodies and tea aficionados. If you're a fan of Coffee Bean's blended tea, it's David you've got to thank because he was the one who personally selected the ingredients from tea-growing countries and created blends for Coffee Bean.

He let us in on the basics of the drink, and even shared very interesting trivia! For example, green, black, and oolong tea all come from only one plant, the tea plant (camellia sinensis). These plants are cultivated in countries with high humidity and amount of rainfall such as India. The only difference that separates these kinds of teas is the period of oxidation. Green tea is un-oxidized tea, oolong is semi-oxidized, while black tea is completely oxidized. Teas that aren't made with the tea plant are strictly not tea. So "teas" like chamomile, peppermint, barley, and even our own salabat are called herbal infusions despite the similarities in making them.

 

'Green tea is un-oxidized tea, oolong is semi-oxidized, while black tea is completely oxidized'

David also shared his knowledge of the nuances of tea and on gave us tips on how to appreciate the drink better. The next time you buy tea or make your own cup, you can follow these tips so you can enjoy your tea more:

1. Instead of the usual tea bags, buy packaged loose leaf tea. These whole tea leaves have more flavor, and the proper preparation of this tea will help you discover the drink's nuances and ingredients (if it's a blend of tea with other spices and natural flavorings).

2. Don't store tea leaves in clear glass jars or bottles. Clear containers absorb heat and light, which can change the quality of the tea leaves. Tea is best stored in opaque containers like boxes or tin cans.

3. When heating water for tea, don't bring the water to a rolling boil. Also, only heat as much water as you need, because you can never get the same quality with water boiled for the second time.

4. Never use distilled water for tea. Mineral water will do just fine.

 

5. Don't oversteep your tea or soak the leaves in the drink. Follow the steeping time indicated in the packaging and drain the leaves so your tea doesn't get bitter. Green tea usually requires just one or two minutes to steep, while black tea can be steeped for at least three minutes.

6. Savor the tea by slurping the first sip. Slurping creates a spray that spreads through your mouth, so you'll be able to taste the tea full-blast. Don't taste the tea by gargling.

7. Try to drink tea without adding sugar, milk, syrup, or lemons. Good tea doesn't need any additives because these only ruin the drink's natural flavors.

 

'Savor the tea by slurping the first sip. Slurping creates a spray that spreads through your mouth, so you'll be able to taste the tea full-blast'

8. If you do enjoy tea with additives, select the right ones. Lemon complements green tea, but never sugar or milk. Black tea is the best for making milk or lattes, so feel free to add milk, sugar, or syrup in it.

9. When sampling different kinds or blends of tea, take sips of water in between. This washes down the taste of the previous tea so your taste buds can get ready for the next.

10. Not all teas can be served cold. Oolong, in particular, doesn't make good iced tea. If you want to make iced tea from green or black tea, steep the leaves in hot water first, let it cool down for a while, then put the tea in the refrigerator. You don’t need to add ice because more water can dilute the tea.


With these tips, it gets easier to slip into the habit of appreciating tea. Happy drinking!