Arts & Entertainment
Mix It Up: Varie-teas
Published
6 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Carie Birkmeier EBS STAFF
Tea is the world’s second most commonly consumed beverage, behind only water. Tea is grown in over 40 countries around the globe, but most predominantly in India, China, Sri Lanka and several other Asian countries.
Many people are surprised to learn that all tea varieties come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. Different varieties of tea are produced by physically altering the shape and chemistry of the leaf through withering, rolling, shaping, oxidizing and drying. Where the plant is grown, the time of year, and the soil, can all affect the profile of the final product.
Oxidization is the most crucial part of tea processing and will define, for the most part, what type of tea is created. Oxidization refers to the process of enzymes, in this case present in tea leaves, interacting with air. The effects of oxidation can be seen when a cut apple or the yellow skin of a banana turns brown after exposure to air. If desired, this browning process can be avoided by applying heat.
The teas listed below are listed in order of unprocessed to processed.
White tea is essentially unprocessed. The leaves are plucked, dried, and that’s it. Leaves are not rolled, shaped or altered prior to the drying process, and little to no oxidization occurs. The brewed tea is pale green to light yellow in color, and has a mild and delicate flavor and aroma.
Green tea is also unoxidized, but avoids the chemical reaction by applying heat. Leaves are plucked, rolled, and then heated by steam or pan-fired in order to stop enzymes from browning the leaves. The liquid produced is green or yellow in color, and the flavor depends on whether the leaves were steamed, which imparts grassy notes, or pan-fired, which lends a toasty quality.
Oolong tea is the broadest of varieties, ranging between unoxidized to almost completely oxidized, the difference between green and black teas. In some cases, heat is applied to slow the oxidation process, allowing delicate layers of flavor to emerge, sometimes likened to the layers in a painting. Because of the complex process and range of results, the color and flavor of oolong tea vary quite a bit.
Completely oxidized tea is known as black tea. It is the least time consuming to produce, and is often completed in a single day. The color of black tea ranges from red to dark brown, and has the most robust flavor of tea varieties.
Herbs, fruits and spices are often added to any of the above varieties to create herbal teas, such as chamomile or earl gray. Caffeine content in tea is dependent on the amount of oxidation. For example, green tea contains on average 30-35 milligrams of caffeine per 8 ounces, while black varieties can contain as much as 60 milligrams per cup.
Tea contains no fat, gluten, calories, preservatives or sugar. It does contain antioxidants which have been proven to improve overall health, and prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. So, the next time you decide to steep a cup of any variety, to enjoy warm or chilled, you can rest assured that you’re making a healthy choice.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Time
(Wednesday) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
The Waypoint
50 Ousel Falls Rd