Black Teas

BLACK TEAS

Darjeeling

Ceylon

Sikkim

China

Assam

Nilgiri

Black Tea Benefits

Numerous studies have trumpeted the cardiovascular benefits of green tea, the beverage

of choice in much of the Far East. But elsewhere in the world, particularly in Europe and

the Middle East, black tea reigns supreme, and fewer studies have examined its heart-

healthy properties. In terms of its rich antioxidant properties, black tea comes next to

green tea. The most commonly used and the most popular tea in the West, black tea is originally green tea with the leaves further dried - this changes

its color and taste. Black Tea undergoes full oxidation and fermentation. The leaves thus turn black and receive their strong, typical flavor. The oxidation

process is stopped once the aroma and flavor develops completely. The leaves are further crushed to various sizes, sorted

out and stored according to their sizes.

Black tea is the foundation upon which the popular varieties of English tea are derived from. And many might be delighted

to find out that black tea, aside from being an enjoyable drink, can actually be good for the health.

Recent studies in leading medical journals declare black tea a potential heart tonic, cancer blocker, fat buster, immune stimulant,

arthritis soother, virus fighter and cholesterol detoxifier. Not bad for a lowly shrub soaked in a little hot water.

"Tea is beating all scientific expectations as the most potent health beverage ever," says researcher John Weisburger at the

American Health Foundation. "The many ways tea can promote health is truly astonishing."

A Brief Guide to Black Tea Origins

Assam - The Assam region, on the southern slopes of the Himalayas of North India is home to 2000 tea gardens, making it one of the largest tea-producing regions in the world.
A greenhouse-like climate in lower areas produces rich, full-bodied, malty teas which are the basis for many breakfast blends. Higher growing elevations have interesting fruity notes
along with the malty character.
China - China is the original home of tea & today has thousands of tea farms large and small, mostly concentrated in the South Eastern Provinces. This contrasts sharply with India,
Sri Lanka, Africa and other places organized by the British into large Tea Estates most of which are over 1000 acres. In China, hundreds of hybrid or "cultivar" plants have been
developed regionally over centuries, with each Province or Region being famous for certain teas. Tea is grown in lowlands and high mountain settings with an incredible range of leaf
styles, tastes, and methods of production. Some of the major tea provinces and regional areas include: Yunnan, Hunan, Fujiian, Anhui, Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan,
Hubei, Vhejiang, Jiangsu, Henan, Shaanxi, Hainan.
Darjeeling - Under snow-covered Himalayan peaks 120 miles to the west and a little north of Assam lies spectacular Darjeeling. Here the climate is cooler and misty with unique soil
conditions. Called the “champagne” of teas, the Darjeelings are lighter in body with wonderful muscatel flavors and flowery aromas. Darjeelings are picked three times a year, each p
icking of new growth or “flush” having its unique flavors.
Sikkim - Immediately west of Darjeeling, in the Himalayan Mountains, is Sikkim. With similar growing conditions for tea, and similar tastes to the Darjeelings, we feel that the few
Sikkim teas available are very good values.
Nilgiri - In the south of India lies the Nilgiris or Blue Mountains, where elephants still roam in the rolling grasslands and dense jungles of the lower plains. Tea thrives in the higher f
oothills and peaks, interspersed with shade trees and spice gardens. Nilgiri tea is brisk and bold with a medium body. Much of it stays in India for local consumption or blending, but
a few excellent grades are now being exported.
Ceylon - Sri Lanka, just off the southern coast of India is synonymous in the western world with tea. Sir Thomas Lipton and others made their fortune here promoting the concepts
of “orange pekoe” and “brisk tea.” Teas produced in different regions of Sri Lanka have unique characteristics—from the low grown bold Dimbulas to the higher grown lighter Nuwara
Eliya teas. Ceylon teas are making a comeback as premium handmade teas, with many organic tea gardens.

What Makes Black Tea Black?

After picking, tea leaves are processed in different ways to produce the various types of tea: Black, Oolong, Green and White. Black teas are the most fully processed.

Following a short drying period in the shade, the leaves are rolled to release their natural juices. The rolled or "curled" leaves are then exposed to air for very specific amounts of time in

order to allow for interaction between the air and the leaf juices (oxidation) to produce varying taste and color characteristics. Finally, a fast drying process is used to stop oxidation and

dry the leaf for grading. With Black tea, more of the juices are allowed to interact with air, producing unique tastes, and the final drying temperature is higher, turning the tea black.

ZHONG GUO CHA (ZGC)

Parda Ponders Current Affairs

Monday, 18 February 2008

Philip Parda is the Founder and President of Zhong Guo Cha (ZGC) and Middle Kingdom Tea, a wholesale tea import business. World Tea News Editor Heidi Kyser spoke to him recently about the challenges and opportunities the specialty tea business faces.

Philip Parda is the Founder and President of Zhong Guo Cha (ZGC) and Middle Kingdom Tea, a wholesale tea import business. Under his direction, ZGC takes a holistic approach to the tea business, inviting its customers to see the opportunities tea offers beyond the cup – or as the ZGC’s mantra proclaims, to lead consumers to “health, enjoyment and quality of life through tea.” World Tea News Editor Heidi Kyser spoke to Parda recently about the challenges and opportunities the specialty tea business faces.

Question: How’s the future of the specialty tea business looking to you right now?

Answer: I expect interest in specialty tea to rapidly develop in the Western market over the next 10 years. There is a ground swell of interest in specialty tea by a growing number of consumers, and an enthusiastic group of developing small businesses establishing and positioning themselves to meet the demand that will develop as specialty tea awareness spreads. There is the opportunity for tea professionals to develop a high-end market for the educated consumers that are interested in the health benefits and the wide range of taste profiles offered through specialty tea.

Q: Describe these tea professionals, based on your experience with them.

A: As a purveyor of tea wholesaling to small businesses and start-ups, I see a high caliber of individuals that are selecting tea for building their futures. This gives me a feeling that specialty tea is in good hands for the future. The Specialty Tea Institute is doing good work by providing a uniform educational platform to help tea entrepreneurs educate themselves with required tea knowledge.

Q: What are the top one or two concerns on these individuals’ minds?

A: I think definitely one of the thoughts going through their minds has to do with flavored teas becoming such a large segment of tea sales in the Western market. Most of our customers that are smaller shop owners have an appreciation for good tea, and I think they’re concerned about the time period that it will take for some of the more general tea drinkers to gravitate toward the higher-quality, single-garden tea. So many people smell a tea that has raspberry or hibiscus in it and go, “Wow!” but it can take a while to move beyond that to really good-quality teas.

Q: How do tea retailers help them do that?

A: What I always advise is that they remember, first of all, drinking tea is good, so they want to encourage that in their customers. Sometimes people say, “Can I put honey or sugar or cream in my tea?” And I always say, “Yeah, whatever it takes to get the good of tea inside you.” Then, I may go on to explain that people in the countries of origin would not be doing that. It’s the same thing with the flavor. If you can introduce them to the opportunity to drink any tea, then the door opens for them to go further and begin to appreciate something better. Take any chance to expose them, then suggest certain types of transitional teas to introduce them to whole leaf, single-garden teas.

Q: Is the economic downturn having an impact on business?

A: It has to. It’s kind of like being on the end of a long rope that’s wagging. Dollars go so far, and people have so much disposable income. I don’t think they’ll stop drinking tea, but I do think that maybe the grades they’re buying will be impacted. Some people that are closer to the edge may say, “Maybe I won’t drink as much.”

Q: Are you concerned?

A: (Wholesalers) are scared to death. The fact is, it’s about the energy. There’s a number of concerns, but that one’s huge. It’s affecting production, because the cost of producing is getting driven up. Then, to our customers, all this stuff is piling up. … It can’t be absorbed in the middle, between the tea garden and our customer.

Q: What do you do?

A: You have to stay in business. We need to do things differently. We need to change the way things are getting done in our country. We should not have this vulnerable position on energy. We’re the recipients of bad policy. … What does a truck driver do? He has to put fuel in his truck. And especially the small companies, the tea shops, they can’t absorb it; they have to pass the price on.

Q: Could the growing mainstream interest in tea help compensate for economic weakness?

A: Possibly, but I do have a concern that if large players in the industry exploit the true goodness of tea for quick profits, it could undermine the efforts of those attempting to deliver a high-end experience for their tea customers. It may confuse consumers if (the large players) offer less healthy or non-healthy products under the guise of healthy tea.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge or opportunity the industry faces right now?

A: Helping mainstream consumers make an educated leap from unhealthy beverages to healthy tea beverages. This includes having healthy products available to the consumers (those not loaded with sugars, sweeteners, fats, etc.), and developing awareness for the consumers on the health benefits quality tea beverages have to offer.

Q: Are there any tea myths that you would like to dispel?

A: First, that tea is simply tea! It all originates from the same plant; however, all tea is not created equal. The plant, and the way it’s processed and brewed, makes all the difference in the cup. The Chinese have an adage, “Take one step back, and the sky is bigger.” This helps me teach people that tea is more than a beverage. Tea has health and social benefits. It really is a vehicle to improve our lives—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.



		Health Focus: At ZGC, our Goal and our Mission of “Health enjoyment, and Quality of Life through Tea”, is directed at improving the lives of ZGC customers through better health by adopting the “Tea Lifestyle”, and incorporating it into their lives. It is our intention to share information about the benefits of the Tea Lifestyle with our customers, and to make the best selection of teas available for them to enjoy and to derive the benefits from that we have shared with them. Our Mission is not to simply sell tea. Without assisting our customers in the pursuit of good health through incorporation of the Tea Lifestyle into their lives, our Mission is not complete. As the ZGC website continues to develop the information on the benefits of adopting the Tea Lifestyle will be shared in greater and greater detail. At ZGC, we are Tea Specialists, Researchers, Producers, and Merchants. We do not have medical degrees, but we continually follow research of the global medical profession on the health benefits of Tea, and bring that documented information to our customers. Scientific research on the health benefits of Tea is abundant. The reputed health benefits of tea have been, and continue to be verified in study after study. All Tea has health benefits. The ZGC product line therefore focuses on many varieties of Select China Teas. China Teas contain Nutrients. Amongst them are the following along with reputed benefits:


ü Catechins, antioxidants, cancer prevention, reduces cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, regulates glycemia, enhances immune system ü Carbohydrates, reduces blood sugar levels ü Vitamine C, antioxidant, prevention of scurvy and cancer ü Vitamine E, antioxidant, prevention of cancer, promotes fertility ü Zinc, prevents skin inflammation, enhances immune system ü Selenium, antioxidant, cancer prevention ü Flavenoids, Strengthens elasticity of capillary walls, beneficial to the heart, accelerates metabolism, improves urination, ü Caffine, stimulates the central nervous system, accelerates energy, improves urination ü Flourine, reduces tooth decay. Our “Health Focus” pages contain information on all health benefits of the ZGC products, but heavily concentrate on the White and Green teas. Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D. & Registered Dietitian in her book “Green Tea” shares her research with us on Green Tea being a Healing Medical Beverage for thousands of years that in recent years has had its validity and ancient reputation confirmed by scientists as having the ability to fight disease and even lengthen life. Nadine summarizes the powerful benefits of Green Tea as follows:* ü Preventing normal cells from turning cancerous. ü Suppressing the formation and growth of tumors. ü Guarding against free radical damage that can bring about cancer, heart disease, diabetes, radiation damage, and aging. ü Enhancing immune system function. ü Controlling cholesterol levels. ü Lowering the risk of stroke by making blood platelets less “sticky”. ü Controlling blood pressure levels. ü Keeping blood sugar at moderate levels. ü Fighting deadly food-borne bacteria. ü Promoting “friendly” bacteria in the intestines and encouraging bowel regularity. ü Fighting viruses, including those that cause herpes simplex, polio, and even HIV. ü Lowering the risk of post traumatic epileptic seizures in laboratory animals. ü Assisting in weight loss by blocking the breakdown of starch. ü Providing a mild stimulating effect without causing sleepless nights or nervousness. ü Fighting bacteria in the mouth that causes cavities and bad breath. ü Slowing the aging process. ü Maintaining the body’s fluid balance. ü Reducing stress. ü Acting as a safe and effective natural preservative in food and cosmetics. Nadine further explains that no other substance is know of that can claim such wide-ranging and powerful health benefits, and all without any negative side effects. Catechins, which are polyphenols, are powerful antioxidants. Nadine explains that they are particularly powerful disease fighters that have wide ranging beneficial effects, from preventing food spoilage to halting the progression of cancer. Catechins are found in red wine, Ginko biloba leaves and in pine bark, but are in the greatest quantity in fresh tea leaves at an impressive 15-30% of their dry weight.* ZGC searches China for the best quality Green and White Teas we can find. We locate them, purchase them, package them in our own facility to insure the quality, and rush them to our temperature controlled storage where they await delivery to ZGC customers. These Select China Teas are chosen with the health benefits being the primary criteria for selection. At ZGC we focus on finding the best selections available, carefully preserving the purchased selections, and effectively getting them to the customers for enjoyment and health benefits. ZGC Partially Processed “Oolongs” drop on average to 8-20% catechin content. While lower than the Greens and Whites, the Oolongs are still quite high in catechins, and therefore maintain much of the health benefits of the Whites and Greens,* but offer the Tea Drinker a vast selection of flavors resulting from the varietals and the processing done after plucking. Oolongs are also reputedly beneficial to aid in digestion, lower cholesterol levels, and promote slimming. While the Fully Processed Blacks drop to 3-10% catechins, they do maintain some of the benefits of the Greens and Whites, and also offer other benefits such as theaflavins & thearubigens (antioxidants) which have been found to inhibit oxidation in fats. Oxidation in fats is likely the reason studies have shown Black Tea lowering the risk of strokes and death from heart disease.* Some other reputed Black Tea benefits are: ü Helps reduce the occurrence of kidney stones. ü Provides a calming, soothing effect to the stomach and intestines, and aid in digestion ü Lowers cancer risks. ü Aids in the detoxification capabilities of the liver. ü Interferes with the formation of plaque and fights oral bacteria. ZGC selects the best teas available keeping our focus on health as our primary criteria. In order to deliver the desired health benefits, ZGC takes great care to select the best, to store & handle the tea in a manner that protects & preserves it, and informs our customers in great detail how to store & prepare the tea without negatively affecting the healthful ingredients within the tea. To achieve the desired result, you must begin with a quality product. There is a reason some teas are very inexpensive. Many factors such as season, plant varietals, location, altitude, processing, age, storage, and transportation affect the quality and therefore the pricing of the tea. ZGC strives to bring it’s customers the best in healthy Select China Teas, carefully selected, packaged, preserved, and transported to them from China at a high value price. ZGC offers customers an extensive line of Select Hand Crafted China Teas. This means that customers can explore our products, and experience some of the finest teas in the world. To introduce customers to our extensive line, ZGC has created our “ZGC Recommended Starter Selection”. This selection covers a wide variety of China teas. We suggest that this is a good point for customers to begin enjoying our teas, and to branch-out to additional selections from there. The first character of our ZGC item numbers indicates if the teas are: W=White Tea G=Green Tea O=Oolong Tea B=Black Tea Learn how you can receive a Free Sample of our Tea Please contact us at info@zgc-wsi.com for recommendations and with questions. I CONSIDER THIS COMPANY MY MOST FAVORITE COMPANY TO BUY FROM

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