Breville BTM800XL - Manuel (Page 6)

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BEFORE FIRST USE
Of your Breville Tea Maker
BEFORE FIRST USE
TEA TYPES
There are four main types of teas from the
tea plant camellia sinensis. The picking and
processing methods determine the type of
tea fi nally produced.
Black Tea 1.
Black tea is the most common type of
tea worldwide. It is made by fermenting
the harvested leaves for a couple of
hours before heating or drying. This
oxidation darkens the leaves and
increases the amount of caffeine. Of all
the teas, black tea has the strongest
color and fl avor.
White Tea 2.
White tea is the rarest and the most
exclusive tea. White tea consists of the
whitish buds of the tea plant which are
steamed then left to dry naturally. This
tea is low in caffeine and has a slightly
sweet fl avor.
Green Tea 3.
Green tea makes up approximately
ten percent of the world’s tea. The
leaves are picked, rolled and dried
before they can go brown. Green tea
has a distinctive aroma and has a
slight astringent taste.
Oolong Tea 4.
Oolong Tea is semi fermented,
which means leaves are processed
immediately after picking. They only
have a short period of oxidation which
turns the leaves from green to red/
brown. Its leaves have a fl oral, fruity
quality and hence have a delicate fruity
taste. It is recommended not to drink
Oolong tea with milk, sugar or lemon.
Herbal infusions or Tisanes 5.
Herbal infused teas are not produced
from the tea plant, but from fl owers,
leaves, roots or seeds. Common herbal
beverages are chamomile, peppermint,
fennel, rose hip, and lemon verbena.
Herbal infusions that do not contain
tea will generally not become bitter
with extended brews. These can often
be brewed with boiling water 3 times
without jeopardizing the taste.
Blends 6.
Tea producers make blends by
combining different types of teas, often
in order to achieve fl avor consistency
from one season to the next. Common
black tea blends include English
Breakfast, Earl Grey, Irish Breakfast,
and Russian Caravan.
TIP:
Brewed tea leaves make an ideal
garden fertilizer and help condition
the soil.
TEA STORAGE
Teas stored inside a vacuum sealed •
bag can be stored for up to two years,
depending on the quality and grade of
tea. Once opened, tea should be stored
in an airtight container and kept in a dry
and dark place.
Once opened, black teas will last longer •
than green and oolong teas but all tea
needs to be stored in ideal conditions.
You can tell when tea is past its best if it •
has lost its aroma and will create either
a bitter or dull tasting cup.