Read the following article about different varieties of tea, and then answer the questions on the
opposite page.
TIME FOR TEA
Black Teas
Black teas are perhaps the best known and most popular teas. Like old friends, they are dependable and comforting. Drinking a cup of black tea as soon as you wake up helps to make you fully alive before you begin the new day’s activities. Drinking one again at the end of the day helps to relax your mind and body before you go to bed. Black tea has many health benefits. It also contains less caffeine than coffee so does not disturb your sleep at night.
Assam Tea
This is a north Indian tea which grows on the hot, steamy banks of the Brahmaputra river. It has a strong and malty flavour, and is excellent when you drink it with a little milk at breakfast time.
Nilgiri Tea
This tea is grown in the Blue Mountains of south India. It has a pleasant, fresh flavour together with an extra slight taste of sweetness.
Ceylon Teas
These teas are slow-growing, and are found high up in the cool air of the hills of Sri Lanka. You can use either hot or cold water to make the tea, which has an unusual light brown colour when it is poured into the cup. They produce a most fragrant flavour, which you can appreciate even better if you add a slice of lemon.
Teas from Kenya
Kenyan black teas have a distinctive, bright colour. They produce a good, refreshing flavour, often with a hint of orange or lemon, and you will be full of energy when you have finished your drink.
Flavoured Black Teas
Plain black teas can sometimes taste rather dull, especially if you are expecting a more exciting drink. These teas can be made more interesting by adding natural ingredients, which give a variety of fruity and floral tastes. You may enjoy these teas either hot or iced.
Earl Grey Tea
The recipe for this tea came originally from China many centuries ago, and was passed down through generations. It became a favourite drink among wealthy people in Britain in the 19th century, and was named after the British prime minister at that time. It is a tea flavoured with oil from a citrus fruit, now known as a ‘bergamot’. At present, this fruit is grown in Italy.
Green Teas
These are the earliest types of tea. Their history dates back over 5000 years. Most are still found in China, although some varieties are increasingly cultivated in other countries. Green teas produce a light, refreshing drink that rarely requires milk or sugar. The same leaves can be used again and again, producing several cups of tea. This makes them particularly good value to buy
What is the benefit to you of drinking black tea at the start of the day?