Well, let me tell ya somethin’ about this black tea, the one they call “Hongcha” in them fancy places. It’s tea, alright, but it ain’t just any tea. They say it’s fully “oxidized,” whatever that means. Sounds like somethin’ that happens to metal when it rusts, but I guess it makes the tea taste good or somethin’.
Now, I ain’t no expert, mind you, but from what I hear, these Chinese black teas got all sorts of flavors and smells. Some smell like flowers, some like fruits, and some just smell like plain ol’ tea. It’s like a whole garden in a cup, they say. Personally, I just like a tea that tastes like tea, nothin’ fancy. But hey, to each their own, right?
They also say you can buy this tea from China in big batches, “wholesale” they call it. And you can get your name or whatever stamped on it, make it “custom.” Sounds like a lot of fuss for a cup of tea if you ask me. But I guess some folks like to have things their way, even their tea.
Now, this “Pu-erh” tea, that’s a different story. They say it’s black tea too, but not the same kind as the red tea. It’s “fermented” and “aged” like some kinda cheese or somethin’. I ain’t never tried it, but folks say it’s good for ya. They got all sorts of teas in China, green, white, yellow, red, “oolong,” and this dark Pu-erh. Six kinds! More teas than you can shake a stick at, I tell ya.
What’s so special about black tea? Well, I reckon it’s just tea, like any other. But folks seem to like it a lot. They drink it in the mornin’, in the afternoon, even at night. They say it wakes you up, helps you digest your food, and even makes you feel all calm and peaceful.
- It warms you up on a cold day.
- It tastes good with a bit of sugar or milk.
- It’s better than plain ol’ water, that’s for sure.
Now, I ain’t sayin’ all this stuff is true, mind you. It’s just what I heard. But I guess there must be somethin’ to it, all these folks drinkin’ black tea and carryin’ on about it. Maybe it’s the taste, maybe it’s the smell, maybe it’s just the habit. Who knows?
How do you make a good cup of black tea? Well, you boil some water, put the tea leaves in a pot or a cup, pour the hot water over ’em, and let it sit for a bit. How long? I dunno, depends on how strong you like it, I guess. Some folks like it weak, some like it strong. Me? I like it somewhere in the middle.
And that’s about all I know about this black tea. It’s tea, it comes from China, it’s got different kinds, and folks like to drink it. Nothin’ too complicated, really. Just a simple drink, for simple folks, like me. Or maybe not so simple, with all that “oxidizin’” and “fermentin’” and whatnot. But hey, who am I to judge? If it makes ya happy, drink it up, I say.
So, next time you have a cup of black tea, think about all the stuff that went into makin’ it. All the way from them tea plants in China to your cup. It’s quite a journey, ain’t it? And all for a simple cup of tea.
Tags: Black Tea, Chinese Tea, Hongcha, Pu-erh, Tea Benefits, Tea Brewing
