Various Types of Tea
If you’re new to tea, the various types of teas…
…might be confusing and daunting. What is the difference between black and green tea? How about rooibos or herbal tea? Can you tell the difference between white and oolong teas, as well as purple and pu-erh teas? We’ll go over it in greater detail here, so you’ll know everything there is to know about tea in a flash!
Tea Made from the Camellia Sinensis Plant
All varieties of “true” tea are derived from the same plant. This beverages is come up from Camellia sinensis. is the scientific name for the tea plant. This plant originated thousands of years ago in southern China and has been grown and consumed for hundreds of years. Camellia sinensis is divided into two varieties: camellia sinensis var. sinensis, which grows largely in China and other East Asian nations and has a softer, mellower flavor, and camellia sinensis var. assamica, which grows primarily in India and is typically heartier and more robust.
The camellia sinensis tea plant is used to make black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea, pu-erh tea, and purple tea. Each of these teas has its own distinct qualities as a result of varied harvesting and processing processes. Some teas are steamed while others are pan-fired. Some are permitted to oxidize, whereas others are not. Some tea leaves are hand-formed into tightly rolled balls, while others are coarsely chopped and air-dried in their natural shape. Some teas are collected in the early spring, while others are picked in the summer and fall.
There are several elements that impact tea’s look and flavor, and particular tea processing processes have evolved over hundreds of years. Here are three of the most popular varieties of tea found on the market.
Types of Tea List
Black Tea
Many individuals who are new to the tea world are most familiar with black tea. At the grocery shop, you may get black tea in name-brand teabags such as Lipton or Tetley. Black tea is often used in popular breakfast blends such as English Breakfast and Irish Breakfast. Black teas are quite rich in caffeine, with roughly half the caffeine content of a cup of coffee. They have a darker, coppery hue when brewed and a bolder, more powerful flavor than other varieties of tea.
How Black Tea is Made
Tea leaves are plucked, wilted, and softly crushed to make black tea. Some black teas, such as Irish Breakfast, are broken down even more using a technique known as crush-tear-curl, or CTC. The tea leaves are then completely oxidized, turning them brownish-black.
Where Black Tea is From
Black tea is mostly grown in China and India. Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, and Kenya are among emerging tea-producing countries that export black tea. Indian black teas are often stronger and more robust, and they are frequently used in substantial breakfast mixes that hold up well to the addition of milk and sugar. Many varieties of Indian black tea are classified using a unique tea grading system to indicate their grade.
Green Tea
Green tea is another form of tea manufactured from the camellia sinensis plant. Green teas often brew a light green or yellow color and have a lighter body and softer flavor. They have roughly half the caffeine content of black tea (about a quarter that of a cup of coffee.) Green teas that are popular include Gunpowder, Jasmine Yin Cloud, and Moroccan Mint.
How Green Tea is Made
Green tea is collected and promptly steamed or pan-fired to stop the oxidation process. Green tea leaves have a brilliant green color and a mild, vegetal flavor because oxidation is stopped shortly after harvest. The tea leaves are then dried after being rolled or pressed into their final form.
Where Green Tea is From
Green tea is mostly grown in China and Japan. To prevent oxidation, Japanese green teas are cooked immediately after harvest. They have a somewhat salty, marine flavor and brew a pale emerald green. Japanese teas are frequently shaded for many weeks prior to harvest, which boosts chlorophyll, caffeine, and l-theanine levels. Sencha, Kukicha, and Gyokuro are popular Japanese green teas.
After harvest, Chinese green teas are often pan-fired to halt the oxidation process. These teas are gentler than Japanese green teas, having a delicate golden hue, light body, and mellow flavor. Dragon Well, Gunpowder, and Chun Mee are three popular Chinese green teas.
White Tea
White tea is a delicate, barely processed tea that is prized by connoisseurs and appreciated by both experts and novices. White tea is light in body and taste, with a crisp, clean finish. White tea has a relatively low caffeine content, however certain silver tip teas may have a little greater caffeine content. White teas that are popular include Bashan Silver Tip and White Peony.
How White Tea is Made
Before being dried and packed, white tea undergoes little processing. White tea is sometimes taken from the very first tips and buds of the tea plant, before they expand to produce complete leaves, as in silver tip and silver needle teas. Other white teas, such as White Peony, are picked after the leaves have begun to unfold and grow. White teas are oxidized to a very low degree in both situations.
Where White Tea is From
White tea is mostly grown in China, notably in the Fujian region, where it has a long history. Some speciality white teas are also grown in Nepal, Taiwan, and Sri Lanka.
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