Tea or chai is one of the world’s second most popularly consumed beverages after water. The love for tea is something people can’t get over! 

A variety of teas are available. Surprisingly all the varieties are sourced from a single plant species known as Camellia Sinensis. What differentiates one variety of tea from another is its processing. 

Depending upon the process of manufacturing, teas are broadly classified into 3 major types-  

  • Non-Fermented Tea (Green Tea)
  • Semi-Fermented Tea (Oolong Tea)
  • Fully-Fermented Tea (Black Tea)

Of these, green and black are the most commonly consumed teas, accounting for about 70% of tea consumption worldwide. 

With regard to total tea production, India is the second-largest producer in the world wherein over 89% of the total tea produced is consumed in India itself. This self-signifies the craze for tea in India! From nukkad chai vala to 5-star restaurants, tea is a go-to refreshment beverage that can rejuvenate people of all age groups! 

Despite the love and craze for tea, people are often unclear about different styles of tea (orthodox tea, and CTC tea). Through this article let’s try to clarify the doubts by digging deep into the most common and known style of tea processing– Orthodox Tea!

WHAT IS ORTHODOX TEA?

‘Orthodox’ as the name signifies, means ‘traditional’. Orthodox Tea refers to the loose tea leaves that are brewed using time tested traditional method of processing. The flavor of orthodox tea is sharp and authentic. 

In general, fully fermented black tea is the most popular type of orthodox tea. However, orthodox green, white, or oolong tea is also widely available. 

HOW IS ORTHODOX TEA MADE?

The manufacturing of Orthodox Tea is most common in India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. To bring a strong taste and distinct flavor, the tea manufacturers follow these processing steps- 

1. PLUCKING

This is the first process in which fresh tea leaves are plucked from the tea garden. This is a manual process that requires skilled labor. Local men and women are generally engaged in plucking and collecting tea leaves.

fresh tea leaves are getting plucked by three hilltop women workers

2. WITHERING

This is the second step. Freshly collected tea leaves are mindfully spread on a piece of paper, under the sun. This step is crucial to evaporate the moisture content from the tea leaves. Evaporation also softens tea leaves and prepares them for further processing. 

3. ROLLING

The third step is to gently roll down the tea leaves in the desired shape. This process is done either manually or through machines. In this process, the cell walls of tea leaves break releasing the juice without actually tearing the leaf apart.

4. oxidizing

This is one of the most critical steps in processing orthodox tea. It is this process of oxidation that helps tea leaves attain their distinct color, flavor, and aroma. 

On exposure to air (oxidation), enzymes and polyphenols present in the tea leaves change their color from green to yellow to copper and finally brown. If the tea leaves are under-oxidized, the tea tastes metallic while over-oxidized tea leaves lack briskness and are poor at retaining flavor for a long time.

5. Drying

This is the final step in which moisture content is reduced by drying the tea leaves. Generally, within 15-20 minutes, the moisture content is reduced from 60% to 3%  in the tea leaves. Once this is done, tea leaves are allowed to cool down followed by grading and packing. 

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORTHODOX AND CTC TEA

To put it in the simplest words, orthodox and CTC are two different types of processing tea. Any or every tea can be prepared with CTC or Orthodox method. 

As explained above, Orthodox tea is the traditional method of processing tea that includes plucking, withering, rolling, oxidizing, and drying. While, CTC is an advanced, modern method of preparing black tea that follows the same steps as the orthodox method. However, In the CTC method, black tea is passed through a series of cylindrical rollers with serrated blades that crush, tear and curl (CTC) tea into small and even-shaped pellets which are packed into tea bags.

  • In the Orthodox process, the tea leaves are left fermented, divinely aromatic, and fresh. 
  • Processing orthodox tea is a time taking process, while CTC is a quick process of preparing standard-quality tea. 
  • For tea lovers, orthodox black tea is the go-to choice as it provides the most authentic tea experience while CTC tea has an astringent flavor that tastes great with milk. 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF BLACK ORTHODOX TEA

There is a common misconception that tea being caffeine-rich is not good for health. This is definitely not true. When taken in a controlled portion, tea is one of the finest beverages to rely on. Here’s all that orthodox tea can offer you- 

  • Orthodox Tea for Improving Concentration

Black orthodox tea is known to improve mental focus and alertness. People prefer black tea during and after work hours as it helps to lower stress, and fatigue and uplift mood instantly. This is primarily due to the presence of naturally occurring L-theanine (amino acid) and caffeine in orthodox black tea leaves.

  • ORTHODOX TEA FOR WEIGHT LOSS

For weight watchers and fitness enthusiasts, black orthodox tea is a good beverage option to trust on. Black orthodox tea is extremely low in calories. Plus, antioxidants present in it help to boost metabolism, while the presence of catechin melts away stubborn belly fat easily. 

  • ORTHODOX TEA FOR A HEALTHY HEART

Black tea is naturally enriched with flavonoids that are extremely beneficial for the heart. Research studies prove that flavonoids or polyphenolic compounds work at lowering LDL or cholesterol by supplying HDL (good fat) to the body Plus, it also works at maintaining healthy vaso-dilation of veins and arteries. This helps to keep the heart healthy. 

  • ORTHODOX TEA FOR IMMUNITY

If you are in search of a natural immunity booster, orthodox black tea is what you should try hands on! Black tea contains strong antioxidants, catechins, polyphenols, and flavonoids. All of this help to build and boost immunity by detoxifying the body and eliminating toxic waste from the blood. 

How to Make a Perfect Cup of Orthodox Black Tea?

Orthodox black tea is the easiest to prepare. Here’s what you need to do-

  • In a pan, boil the water
  • Add 1-2tsp of orthodox tea
  • Simmer and cover the pan for 2-3 minutes
  • Strain the tea 
  • Add a sweetener or lemon drops, depending on your taste and preference 
  • Relish the sense-awakening aroma and flavor of black orthodox tea!

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Can I have Orthodox Black Tea during Pregnancy? 

There is no evidence that proves orthodox tea injurious to health during pregnancy. However, over-intake can definitely cause implications like insomnia, acidity, mood swings, etc. Hence it’s best to limit black tea consumption to 1-2 cups a day during pregnancy or breastfeeding. 

2. Is there any side effect of Orthodox Tea?

No, when taken in recommended portions there are no chances of side effects. However, in case you find yourself irritated or uncomfortable after having a cup of orthodox tea, it’s best to avoid it in the future. 

3. WHAT ARE THE GRADES OF ORTHODOX TEA?

The grading of orthodox tea is an important part of its processing. Generally, there are 22 grades which are divided into 4 broad categories- whole leaf grades, broken, fannings, and dust.

4. Orthodox Tea or CTC Tea, which one is better? 

This is a matter of personal preference, taste, and liking. Orthodox tea is loose tea leaves that impart a lingering flavor and a strong aroma. While CTC tea is easy-to-use tea leaves that are commercially packed in tea bags. Which one to choose depends on the kind of tea you wish to enjoy at the start of your day or after a hectic day!

Wrapping Up

one cup of orthodox and CTC black tea each

The ruby red color of black orthodox tea is a treat to the eyes! Brewed using the time-tested traditional method, orthodox tea tastes immensely sharp and is authentic! On the other hand, CTC tea has a malty-rich taste and is easy to prepare. 

Due to the fact that Orthodox tea is churned out of the traditional method of processing, the antioxidants and other compounds’ availability is better as compared to CTC tea. This is because CTC undergoes additional processing steps that result in a loss of flavonoids, catechins, and polyphenols to a certain extent. 

However, when choosing tea, most people prefer considering taste, and aroma. Hence, you can choose any tea- CTC or orthodox, based on your choice of flavour and fragrance!