Apart from China, India is one of the largest tea producers in the world and is home to some of the best tea varieties. What’s interesting to know is that each tea plantation region of the country produces its own variety of tea that has its distinct flavour and aroma.
Explore these most popular types of Indian tea varieties and learn how people prepare and drink them:
CTC Tea
CTC tea, full form: Crush Tear Curl tea, is the most popular type of tea in India as it is used for preparing chai. CTC tea has a granule form due to its manufacturing process that involves tearing and rolling the tea leaves in large cylinders that have inwards-facing spikes.
Compared to long-form tea leaves, CTC tea has a robust taste and does not have the leafy aftertaste that long-leaf teas have. The consistency in robust flavour has made CTC tea the go-to chai preparation choice for Indians since the East India Company introduced tea in India.
Dooars and Assam are the main CTC tea producing regions in India. Here are some facts about them:
- Dooars – The Dooars-Terai region in West Bengal is the second largest producer of CTC tea following Assam. Many Dooars tea gardens are located in semi-hilly terrain which gives Dooars tea a bright and full-bodied flavour. Also known as Siliguri tea, Dooars tea plays an integral role in meeting the CTC tea market demands in India as well as in other regions of the world, such as The Middle East. Leading Siliguri tea companies, such as Naturolled Tea, offer high-quality Dooars teas that are sourced directly from the local Dooars tea gardens to keep a high level of freshness intact.
- Assam – Assam is the largest producer of CTC tea in India and is one of the oldest. Similar to Dooars CTC tea, Assam CTC tea varieties have a robust flavour that is ideal for preparing kadak chai.
Green Tea
Green tea is another popular type of Indian tea that had a worldwide popularity and a growing market demand. Green tea varieties from Darjeeling are the most prized possessions for tea lovers as they have the highest quality. Darjeeling’s green tea varieties cater to the premium market segments as they have high-end pricing.
It needs a bit of practice for prepare Indian green teas as they have a medium infusion time. The purest green teas do not infuse quickly as they are withered and dried for a long period of time. The quality and flavour majorly depends on the flush season as well. The most recent the flush batch of Darjeeling green teas, the better and fresher they taste.
Orthodox Tea
Orthodox tea is also a significantly popular Indian tea variety originating from the tea gardens of Darjeeling. In most parts of India and other countries, such as the UK, Europe, Australia, Canada, and more, Darjeeling orthodox teas are used for preparing fine black tea.
The long leaf form of Darjeeling orthodox teas gives them an earthy yet fruity flavour and a leafy aftertaste that tea connoisseurs simply love. Similar to green teas, orthodox teas from Darjeeling vary in quality and are priced accordingly.