Learn more about different types of teas and discover how to bring out the full flavour of your favourites using the 5 precision settings of the Braun Breakfast ID Collection Water Kettle to ensure optimal brewing at the ideal temperature.
Step 1: Quality of your leave
White tea
As it is barely processed, white tea can be seen as one of the most delicate tea varieties. The name goes back to the harvest that takes place before the tea plants’ leaves are fully opened, when the buds are still covered by fine white hairs. The buds and unfurled leaves are handpicked and need to be quickly and thoroughly dried to avoid oxidation.
Green tea
To preserve their all-natural flavour, green tea leaves are heated or steamed just after they have been harvested. This prevents too much oxidation and produces in a gentle and nourishing beverage.
Black tea
While oxidation is avoided in the manufacturing process of white and green tea, it is crucial to achieve the main characteristics of black tea. Its unique colour and flavour is achieved by a high level of oxidation.
Herbal tea
Herbal teas are considered very popular but as they are not made of leaves of the tea plant, they actually are no “real teas”. Despite that, they stand for a great variety of flavours as they can be made from dried fruits, flowers, spices or herbs.
Oolong tea
Oolong tea is one of the youngest types of tea. It can be sorted somewhere between green and black tea as the tea leaves undergo partial oxidation. The processing of Oolong tea is one of the most time consuming and labor intensive.
Pu-Erh tea
Pu-erh tea undergoes microbal fermentation after the leaves are dried. The tea is particularly special as it can age for decades or longer and its taste an flavour keep developing.
Step 2: Quality of your water
Your tea is only as good as your water. Especially if you choose to prepare a tea that has subtle flavours such as white or green tea, the quality of water is crucial. Key standards used to judge the water are hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS) and chlorine. To improve your water quality, you can invest in water purification systems such as active carbon filters that reduce substances which affect the water’s taste, odor or appearance – your tea’s individual aroma will come through better and the tea will look clearer. An alternative option to filtered water can be bottled water.
