Definition of Speciality Tea
SPECIALITY TEA -
Speciality teas may be defined as teas which are of special (high) quality.
Typically, branded teas available in this country are blended. They may contain teas from many tea gardens and from many producing countries. Tea companies blend their teas to maintain a particular flavour profile which consumers have come to expect from those companies and to maintain a stable raw material cost structure. These companies all employ expert tea tasters who periodically change the blends to reflect changes in the tea marketplace and in the qualities of the tea which they receive.
Speciality teas may be blended or unblended.
Unblended teas come from a particular region of a tea producing country known for high quality. They may even be teas which come from a particular tea estate (plantation) known for high quality -
In addition, flavoured teas such as Earl Grey (flavoured with oil of bergamot), scented teas such as Jasmine (a green tea which is flavoured with Jasmine flowers), spiced teas (flavoured with ginger), or a tea which undergoes special processing such as a Lapsang Souchong (which has a smoky flavour) are also referred to as Speciality Teas.