Persian tea is known as organic tea in the world because due to the suitable climate in the north of the country, it does not need to use poison to eliminate pests. In its processing, artificial perfumes and colors are not used, but with all these explanations, many questions are raised about Persian tea, including, why the quality of Persian Chai is not uniform? Where to get high quality Iranian Chai? How to identify a quality tea?

Some facts that you should consider when buying a high quality tea are as follows:

In general, 4 main types of Persian tea are produced in Iran, which are: Zarrin Premium Tea (Sargol), Broken Tea (Chai Shekasteh), Pen Tea (Chai Ghalam) and Gunpowder Tea (Chai Barooti: the best type in terms of aroma quality, taste and color).
Tea products in the north of Iran are produced in three seasons: spring, summer and autumn, and the products that are produced in spring are called spring tea. The color of spring tea is more, its taste is astringent and it has the highest quality. (The best type of tea is harvested and produced in spring)
High quality tea is usually crispy, and has a smaller volume than regular teas.
The quality of tea depends on many factors, including the type of harvest, the youth of tea plant, the manufacturer and finally the appropriate sorting.
Some tea producers or sellers combine premium tea with broken tea or gunpowder to make more profit and reduce the cost of products.
If the excellent spring tea is pure (for instance the purchased tea is not a combination of broken and excellent tea), it is also called spring flower tea.
Prominent Iranian brands use names such as Vazin, Zarrin, Momtaz and Shekaste Momtaz for their best tea products.

How to brew Persian tea:

First, follow these 2 tips:

Be sure to use a porcelain Persian teapot to cook tea. This does not mean that you can not use a steel or plastic teapot, the goal is to show all the flavors and colors of northern tea in your cup in the best way.
If possible, do not use tea makers. If instead of plastic tea makers, Iranian samovars or steel kettles are used to boil water, boiled water will be better for brewing Persian Chai.

The water in the kettle or Iranian samovar should be perfectly clear and boiling. To prepare each cup of tea, pour a tablespoon of dry tea in the Persian teapot (it is better to put the teapot on Samovar before pouring the water and let the tea be heated for 2 minutes before adding water). Note that for dry tea that is poured into the teapot, the amount of water should be the size of a fingertip above the dry tea. Let the tea cook for 15 minutes for a better aroma and taste. Put it on the samovar for 15 minutes and then drink.

Tip: After 20 minutes, remove the Persian teapot from Iranian samovar and place it next to Iranian samovar (it is better to cover it with a cloth or (brewing) to keep it warm). This will make you enjoy the aroma and taste of tea for a longer time.

Buy high quality Persian tea and 6 important points that you should know

Have you ever wondered why the aroma of tea that comes from coffee shops is so wonderful? The truth is that coffee makers use quality tea in addition to their tea brewing skills. In this article of Chiyakotravel, we will help you with 6 important points about buying high quality Persian Chai; It is easier and more principled to buy quality and fragrant tea.

What are the differences between high quality Persian tea and foreign tea?

Tea was not born in Iran from the beginning. In the 15th century, when Kashef al-Saltanah, the Iranian ambassador to India, was studying tea plantation methods in northern Iran, he may never have imagined that this seemingly bitter drink would one day become a staple of Iranian cuisine. From ceremonies to “tea cheese bread” as breakfast, tea is deeply rooted in Iranian culture and customs.
However, the aroma and flavor of Persian tea is different from the tea of other countries. Unfortunately, these days, foreign teas and some domestic brands with unnatural perfumes and essential oils have completely changed the public belief about quality tea. Many of us think that the dark color of tea after brewing is a sign of its quality, while good quality tea has a lighter color after brewing, and the longer the red color stays, the better tea we have. Northern Iranian Chai, which is one of the best and most well-known teas in the world, is completely light in color and has an extraordinary natural taste and aroma.

Another characteristic of Persian tea is its tannin content. Tannin is the bitter agent of tea and gives it antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. However, high levels of tannin cause digestive problems and prevent the absorption of iron.
The amount of tannin in Persian tea is quite appropriate. It is not so much that it is problematic for you, nor is it so low that you are deprived of its properties.

Important points for buying Persian tea

You can find Persian tea in Iran stores in packages, or in bulk, or you can buy it online from reputable websites. However, if you have the opportunity and position, it is better to travel to the foothills of Gilan and Mazandaran, where you can both go for a walk, and buy the best Persian tea from local markets. The reason is the fact that if a tea brand is Iranian, it does not mean that its tea is really Iranian. For example, the Doghazal brand offers Sri Lankan tea and Shahrzad brand offers Indian tea. Naderi brand is one of the brands whose tea is a product of Lahijan tea gardens.
The cities of Lahijan, Rudsar, Kalachai, Chaboksar and Ramsar are among the best tea-producing cities in the north of Iran. During the tea harvest season, its strong and pleasant aroma can be inhaled well around the tea-making factories.

When is the best time to buy Persian tea?

The best time to buy new tea is spring. Tea harvested in spring has the best aroma and quality. Of course, tea is also harvested in summer and autumn, but it does not have the quality of spring tea.

Learn specialized words about different types of Persian tea grades

In local stores you will hear a variety of tea grades with specific names that you’d better know what they mean. Tea is divided into several grades based on where the leaves are arranged from the plant:

Sargol tea

This Persian tea contains only tea buds, the highest tea leaves. As the name implies, the seeds are very small, darker than other varieties, and have a bitter taste that may not be pleasant to everyone. The price of this Persian Chai is higher than other types of tea.

Important Note: Note that the darker the tea, the better the color of the dry tea, not the brewed tea.

Momtaz Ghalam Tea

This Persian tea contains a bud and a lower leaf. Dry tea of this type is slightly larger than the type of flower, but the stem of the plant is rarely seen in it. For many consumers, this tea is the most delicious and desirable type of tea. Its inflated color is red, but not bitterly the first type.

Coarse Ghalam Tea

As the name implies, the stem of the tea plant is more common in this type and is larger than the previous two types. The brewed color of this tea is lighter. Of course it is cheaper.

Chai Shekasteh

If the third and fourth leaves of the tea plant are arranged, Chai Shekasteh is obtained by crushing and processing it in the factory. The quality, color, bitterness and price of this type of tea are lower than other types.

The aroma of quality tea

An important feature of tea is its aroma. However, you will not be able to recognize it until you inhale it. For this reason, it is better to either get help from someone who is familiar with these matters, or buy a small amount of tea as a sample and buy more after brewing.

Types of Persian tea packaging

One of the disadvantages of buying tea from local stores is that it is usually sold in bulk and with improper packaging. If you buy bulk tea, you should rinse it with cold water before brewing to remove dust. Also, at the first opportunity after purchase, place the tea in a container with a tight lid so that it is protected from the penetration of air and moisture.
If you buy tea from the store, pay attention to its different packaging:

Sturdy bags made of aluminum foil

These cartons are very resistant to air penetration, are available in different sizes and their soles are designed to be in a standing position. It has a zipper that can be fastened again each time you use it. So you do not need to keep the contents in another container.

Can or container

Some brands also offer Persian tea in metal cans or plastic containers. With the purchase of these packages, there is no need for a separate container for storing tea.

Carton or cardboard box

In this type of packaging, dry tea is first poured into a foil or paper bag and then placed in boxes or cardboard bags. Because you can’t close these covers again after opening them. They usually make the packages smaller so they can be used sooner. However, it is better to pour the tea into the tea container after opening the package. These packages are mostly 100 g, 250 g and 500 g.

Tea bag (tube)

This type of packaging is prepared for tea consumption during travel. These small bags must be in a tighter package. Otherwise, the aroma of tea is easily lost. Usually tea bags of 20 or 25 bags are marketed.
Buy tea from reputable stores or in packages, or if you buy in bulk, buy it from well-known people. Unfortunately, some profiteers mix good tea with old tea left over from previous years and sell it as quality tea. The problem is that the quality of the tea can hardly be assured.

What are tea additives?

To use all the properties of tea, it is better to buy tea with natural flavor and without additives. However, there are some people who like tea with other aromas and flavors. Brands such as Naderi, Debsh, Golestan and many other brands market flavored teas with additives such as saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, bergamot (from the citrus family). These brands have good packaging in terms of air and moisture impermeability.

Persian black tea and its properties

After water, Persian black tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world and has a special place among Iranian families as well. It is interesting to know that pure and original Persian black tea (without additives) is one of the healthiest drinks on earth! Persian black tea has many properties and benefits for human health because it has many antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body. These include improving brain function, reducing fat, reducing risk of cancer and many other significant benefits. Brewed black tea without added sweets is a very, very low calorie drink. You should drink Persian tea in your travel to Iran and enjoy every moment of your trip.