- "Crush, Tear, and Curl, a machine-based process which macerates the leaves by pressing through counter-rotating rollers to create a stronger, more coloury tea."
Jun 20th, '08, 13:33
Posts: 5151
Joined: Dec 20th, '06, 23:33
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Location: Gainesville, Florida
CTC means "crush, tear, curl" and is a manufacturing process that has become dominant in India in the last few decades.
Jun 20th, '08, 15:24
Posts: 921
Joined: Feb 6th, '08, 04:57
Location: enjoying a cup of Red Rose down in GA
while i would never drink CTC as a tea to sit down and focus on, and while i think it would be a stretch to call it 'good tea' for the reasons that sal mentioned, i have to admit that it has an enduring appeal. in my experience, CTCs lack the flavor subtleties of other grades of indian tea, and their caffeine content can be excessive at times - they're really brisk, bracing teas, but i've found that they really hit the spot when i'm in the mood for that (whether i just want/need a jolt of caffeine, or i'm outside early on a fall day, or want a stronger breakfast brew, or whatever). so although i don't drink it daily, and am often turned off when i see it in the cabinet or pull it down to smell it, i always like to have some on hand because i know that a CTC day will roll around sometime soon...