I visited the tea factory in Munnar last week Oct 2021. The factory is partially owned by the Tata group. The factory takes in tea leaves and outputs 12 grades of tea. 

The tea factory guide who is a second generation employee of the factory shared the following interesting details...

1. We are used to boiling tea dust or tea leaves in the water or milk. This process releases a lot of nicotine and hardly any flavor. This tea is addictive.

2. The correct way of preparing (non addictive) tea is as follows... Bring water to boil. Turn off the fire. Keep water for 2 minutes. Add tea dust or tea leaves. Leave for 5-7 minutes. Then strain and drink. He promises you get the true flavour of tea.

This strained, prepared brew can be reheated. Do not reheat with leaves or dust, you get the nicotine. You may now add sugar or milk. But tea is best enjoyed without either.

3. Tea comes as dust and leaves. Dust has more strength. Leaves have more flavour. The tea factories supply 12 grades between leaf and super fine dust. FMCG companies blend these grades in different proportions ro get different brands. If you don't like your blend, make your own. Add leaf to dust in 2:1 ratio for example.

4. Drinking tea on empty stomach, like in the morning, adds to acidity and can lead to reflux. Tea reacts with the hydrochloric acid and the effects aren't good.

After eating, wait 20 minutes and then drink your tea.

Some people say that drinking green tea 7-8 times a day helps you lose weight. If you are drinking it that many times in the day, you will definitely drink it at some time when your stomach is empty. The acidity build up makes you lose appetite, and hence eat less. You will lose weight, but it's obvious it's not the healthiest way to do it.

5. White tea contains so much more anti oxidents than green tea. White tea is made from just the freshest of tea sprouts. It's so high in anti oxidents, you can only consume it 2-3 times a week, more than that and it's bad for you. White tea costs 1lakh rupees a kilo, and most of the white tea produce is exported.