What is CTC Tea ?

CTC Tea – Where and How did it get its name?

It derives its name from a production process Crush, Tear, Curl. It is a process by which a number of cylindrical rollers are used to make an even cut tea pellet.

What does CTC tea taste like?

The characteristics of a good Assam CTC tea is that it will taste malty, has good strength and rich taste. When you add milk, the liquor should turn golden.

History of CTC Tea - India's Gift to Tea Lovers

Col. James Buckingham was born on March 23, 1843. Son of late Reverend J. Buckingham, Devon. He planted Amgoorie Tea Estate in Assam.

Sir William McKercher In 1931, was the Superintendent of Amgoorie Tea Estate and he invented the CTC tea manufacturing process. His invention had spread across India and Africa by 1950, and he left an indelible mark on the tea industry.

Today, CTC Tea is the most widely consumed tea in the world.

About Amgoorie Tea Estate

The tea estate derived its name from two words “Aam” which means Mango and “Guri” means roots of the mango tree. It is said that there were many mango trees in the area. The tea garden is located on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra and borders Nagaland.

Goodricke Group Limited owns the tea estate, and the garden is considered a jewel in the crown. Amgoorie Tea Garden produces some of the best CTC teas in Assam. The tea is sought after by boutiques in India and Abroad.

Enjoy drinking a cup of CTC Tea

Every morning we are used to drinking the perfect cup of tea, most CTC teas have a consistent flavour profile. The best CTC Tea is made in Assam and ha a bright Golden Colour with a malty taste. Most tea companies and tea blenders use Assam CTC Tea to make blends like English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast etc.

Indian Masala Chai or Chai Tea

CTC Tea is the most popular tea in India; in fact, it is the base of the famed Masala Chai.

India’s most famous tea, Masala Chai uses CTC tea as its base; it is commonly known as Spiced Tea, Mixed Spice Tea, and Spicy Tea.

There are other spicy tea blends made with CTC Tea like Ginger Tea, Cardamom Tea etc. Usually, these teas are consumed with milk and sugar.

What is the manufacturing difference between CTC and Orthodox type

As you can see, the manufacturing of CTC tea is faster as compared to Orthodox tea, and the process is illustrated below.

What is the basic difference between CTC Tea and Orthodox tea?

These are the basic differences between CTC Tea and Orthodox tea

 Which regions manufacture CTC tea?

The regions that manufacture CTC tea are Assam, Terai, Dooars and South India.  Assam and Dooars produce top quality CTC teas, and there are a number of gardens which are sought after for their CTC teas.

Understanding the manufacturing process of CTC Tea.

When the tea is manufactured in the factory, the second last stage is the sorting process. We need to understand this process in-depth to be able to understand the science behind tea grading. It is in this process where the tea is sorted into various grades.

What exactly is a sorting machine?

Basically, it is a machine which has 8 to 10 trays through which the tea is sieved and segregated. To simply put it each tray in the sorting machine has holes in them through which the tea passes. The number of holes per square inch decides the grade of the tea.

What are the grades of CTC Tea?

What is the price of CTC Tea?

There are many factors that determine the price of CTC Tea. For example, it depends on the Grade of Tea and the region. For example, Assam CTC Price can range from Rs.170 – Rs.650. You can buy cheaper Dooars CTC tea which can range from Rs.140 – Rs. 375. The

What are the health benefits of CTC tea?

CTC tea is black tea and has immense health benefits.

Loaded with antioxidants – CTC Tea is a rich source of antioxidants which can help prevent cancer. The antioxidants help kill the cells which cause cancer without damaging the surrounding cells.

CTC Tea keeps you hydrated

It aids in weight loss. It helps in blocking fat absorption in the cells, which helps in maintaining your weight.

It helps in lowering blood pressure. Consuming two cups of black tea without milk will reduce your chances of cardiovascular disease.

The natural chemicals help relieve stress, and it helps you overcome headaches

It aids digestion. If you have a cup of black tea, you will not have stomach cramps.  

Where to buy good CTC Tea?

The best place to buy Assam CTC Tea is from specialised tea shops, or from experts who run online tea stores. You can buy Assam CTC Tea at Teacupsfull their Tea Master is an authority on CTC tea manufacturing. Till the time Mr N K Puri was in the tea gardens, he made the best-selling CTC Tea and created a market for it.

There is a wide variety of CTC Tea available in commercial stores; these are blended tea and don’t possess the qualities of a good CTC Tea.

Why is the grading of CTC important

It is important for tea blenders and commercial companies as they make blends in bulk. Also, if they have made a blend for the purpose of selling it, they need to maintain consistency in the taste and quality. This can only be achieved when you refer to the grades of tea used.

Here is a simple guide for understanding the tea grading system.

Black tea is graded into four types: Whole leaf, broken leaves, fannings and dust. So what is the fuss all about?

Whole leaf tea is produced with little or minimum alteration to the leaf, which is plucked. Whole leaf teas are termed as most valuable, especially when they contain tips.

Broken leaves are sold as medium-grade loose teas; smaller broken leaves are also used in teabags.

Fannings are smaller in size and usually the leftover from the production of large tea grades.

Dust is fine particles of tea and is the lowest grade of tea. In simple terms, the last of what is leftover.

Fannings and dust are commonly blended and used to make teabags.