Chá preto: produção e aplicações - uma revisão

Abstract

Teas made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis are the most consumed beverage in the world after water, having a great economic, social, and cultural impact in many countries. Black tea, the most common variety, is the point of research interest in several areas, such as health, control and automation, agriculture, and the food industry. The growing demand for tea has led to an increase in production and, consequently, to the mechanization and industrialization of the production chain. Even so, the artisanal method is still used to produce higher quality teas. In Brazil, the production and consumption of tea are still small if compared to other countries, but it has been growing over the past years and looks like a promising area. The objective of this work is to perform a general review of tea in the world, especially the black tea variety, considering its history, social and economic aspects, production, and applications in other areas of knowledge.