From Real tea to Flavored: What Are the Main Types of Tea?
Are you a tea lover? Well, tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world. Keeping this fact in mind we assume that you knocked on our doors for your love of the beverage. Tea is a generous drink that is consumed for a morning jolt, in phases of illness, and a refreshing daily break.
There are abundant types of tea and varieties of the same. At times it can be confusing to understand the diversification of the teas. Here is an easy breakdown of the teas types for better understanding. Whether you are a new tea connoisseur or a handy tea drinker, we love guiding one through the beautiful journey of tea.
What’s Tea?
All types of tea leaves come from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis. One must have often been perplexed by the question of what are the main types of tea, to answer the question the broad categories of teas are: Black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea, pu-erh tea, purple tea.
The other types of teas such as Hibiscus tea, peppermint tea, chamomile tea, ginger tea, and so on are not from the tea plant. They do not technically belong to the category of tea. However, the debate has been a perplexing one for ages. Let’s not fall into it.
There are so many types of tea even when sourced from the same plant. Must be perplexing right? Well, the difference lies in the processing, oxidizing, and when the tea leaves are picked. For example, the white tea is plucked when the leaves are very young. On the other hand, the black tea is plucked when the leaves have matured.
Loose Tea vs Tea Bag
Though the prevalence of tea bags has gained popularity because of their convenient usage and storage method, loose tea leaves are what we advocate. They are the purest tea forms that retain the natural properties to the most potential. We choose health benefits over convenience, what about you?
What are the Main Types of Tea?
There are two broad tea types:
Real Tea: Camellia Sinensis Genesis
The label of real tea or the “True tea” is only limited to a few. There is one common essential between the teas, that is they are sourced from the same plant: Camellia Sinensis. All the other categories of teas fall under the category of herbal tea. The true tea club is the one that comes from the plant or its species.
Camellia Sinensis plant is native to the subtropical regions. The famous tea-growing areas are Darjeeling in India, China, Japan, Vietnam, and so on. Pure teas have been a part of the culture and everyday life in these regions. The rationale is historical ties, the health benefits it offers, and the regional trends. The major real teas are:
Black Tea
The origin of black tea finds its place in the pages of history. The tea originated in China but widely grew its branches with the colonization of India, Sri Lanka, and so on. The British tea culture is ancient and still finds a place in the social life of the people.
Black tea, just like the pure teas category, is sourced from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis. The tea leaves are plucked, weathered, and fully oxidized before being served on your table. These are heavily oxidized and hence turn ‘Black’. The oxidization process gives the tea its strong flavor and aroma.
Black tea has the highest amounts of caffeine when compared to other types of tea. Black tea has a lot of health benefits that include boosting immunity, protection from the risk of cardiovascular diseases, improving well-being, and so on.
Where Does Black Tea Come From?
China and India are the parent countries of black tea. Countries like Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, also are major exporters of tea today. The different types of tea from these countries have different flavors and aromas. For instance, the types of tea in India which are in the variety of black have stronger aromas and flavors than from China.
Types of Black Tea
There are substantial varieties of black tea that can be difficult to list. However, the common types of black tea are:
White Tea
This tea comes in only three different styles: White Peony, Silver needle, and Tribute eyebrow. White tea is delicate both in flavor and its profile. The tea is plucked when the tea leaves are very young. They are negligibly processed and oxidised.
This delicate type of tea has a range of flavor profiles, ranging from fruity, nutty to natural greeny. The tea is beneficial for inflammation and has proven results on the skin. The tea is known as the ‘Beauty Tea’ for its effects on the skin cells.
White tea has the lowest amount of caffeine but is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. This is the reason that the tea protects against cell damage and helps the damaged ones heal.
Where Does the White Tea Come From?
white tea is a native of the Fujian province of China. The province has a rich history of white tea which can be found in the social life of the area. The other white tea-growing areas are Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Nepal.
Types of White Tea
The different types of white teas are
Green Tea
Green tea is the aces the popularity of the health benefits of the types of tea. The tea is renowned for its effects on weight loss and well-being. The tea has a green or yellowish color with an intrinsic aroma and bitter taste.
Green tea is rich in antioxidants like polyphenols. The tea helps improve health by protecting the body from chronic and acute diseases. The properties, taste, and profile of the tea is dependent on the type of tea and the region it belongs to.
Where Does Green Tea Come From?
Japan and China are the parent countries of green tea. Chinese green is pan-fired while Japanese tea is steamed. The type of tea in Japan has a savory taste and the profile is a little oceanic. Chinese tea on the other hand has a light body with golden hue-like color and the taste gives a mellow touch.
Types of Green Tea
The broad categories of green tea are:
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea has wide varieties which have been specially cultivated for years for its distinguished taste profile. Oolong tea is partially oxidized. The tea is also distinguished from the other types of tea because of the process of oxidization that it goes through.
The tea has a light yellow color of appearance and a rich amber-like flavor. The flavor of the tea is actually dependent on the oxidation process it goes through. There are many types of tea that can trick you with the name of oolong tea and that is too natural.
Where is the Oolong Tea From?
Oolong tea hails from the countries of Taiwan and China. Taiwan in particular is renowned for the Oolong tea. The tea-growing areas of China are Anxi, Wuyi Mountains, Guangdong, and Fujian provinces.
Types of Oolong Tea:
The types of tea that fall under oolong are:
Pu-erh Tea
Pu-erh tea has a profile, taste, appearance, and aroma similar to that of black tea. The difference lies in fermentation. Pu-erh tea is partially fermented unlike the other types of tea. There are two main types of tea: Ripe and Raw.
The tea is plucked at a time similar to that of green tea. However, the process of fermentation, oxidation, and harvest is different. The tea is aged for years gives it a rich flavor profile. On average, the tea is aged for almost three years.
Where Does the Pu-erh Tea Come From?
Pu-erh tea is a native tea from the Yunan province of China. Only the tea produced in this province is termed the Pu-erh. However, the other varieties of tea of the species are grown in provinces like Guandong and Hunan.
Types of Oolong Tea
The broad types of Oolong tea are:
Herbal Types of Tea
The term is used for the beverages made from substances other than the tea leaves but steeped in the same manner. The herbal tea is not typically the ‘tea’ as it is not sourced from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Since they do not come from the tea plant, they are often caffeine-free. These types of tea are blended with spices and other substances like herbs to create a healthy and strong flavor profile. These are also known as “Tisanes” which is a French word for a beverage that comes from the herbal infusion. The teas that fall into this category are:
Rooibos Tea
The tea is derived from the shrub called Aspalathus Linearis. This shrub is native to South Africa. The tea is sweet and earthly in taste, and has a rich red hue. Rooibos tea is extremely filled up with health benefits.
The tea is a rich source of antioxidants like quercetin and nothofagin.The tea also aids the health of the heart. The tea will furnish you with fluorides, calcium, and manganese. Do you want strong bones and teeth? Go for the “red bush” as it is called.
Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is a strong types of tea that is driven from the rhizome of the ginger plant. The tea is used in the culture of countries like China, Japan, and India for its therapeutic properties and strong taste. If one is looking for a caffeine free supplement to Black tea, ginger tea is the answer. The ginger tea is prepared by brewing ginger with water and spices.
The tea has great benefits for health as it contains compounds like shogaols and gingerols. These compounds are anti-inflammatory in nature. The tea has been used for treating motion sickness and nausea.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is sourced from the Asteraceae plant. The tea is known as the best tea for sleep because of its calming nature. Chamomile tea is made from dry Chamomile flowers. There are two types of tea varieties of the same: German tea and the Roman Chamomile. Though both the teas are sourced from the same plant, they differ in growing conditions and appearance. The tea has a range of health benefits that include supporting digestion and supporting calming nature.
Hibiscus Tea
This red brew color is sourced from the Hibiscus plant. The plant is found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The tea has a sweet-tart-like flavor and is great for a lazy summer afternoon.
Though the tea does not offer great health benefits, it does help your body positively. The tea is great for the health of the liver and is a healthy substitute to coffee for cholestrol management.
Types of Flavored Tea in India
India has been a culturally rich country where tea is a quintessential part of society. There are various varieties of tea grown and consumed in the subcontinent. The major types of tea that the country offers are:
- Assam Tea: This state of the Indian subcontinent is a tea-growing province that is renowned for its beautiful tea. Therefore, the tea that comes from this state is called the “Assam Tea”.
- Darjeeling Tea: The eastern part of the country has a hilly city called Darjeeling. The region is a heaven for tea. From the climatic conditions to the available resources everything becomes a perfect contributing factor to the delicious taste and properties of the tea.
- Chai: The Indian society has made tea a part of its culture. Chai is the common name for “Tea” in the country. Chai is made with the help of tea leaves, water, milk, spices, and herbs. Chai is often found in Indian households as a welcome drink for the guests, an everyday refreshing beverage served many times a day, and a drink for social gatherings.
The Bottom Line
People have been crushing over the new flush of trends around tea. The beverage has been replacing coffee for the health benefits it offers. However, the types of tea are many and it can be challenging to understand the clear difference. The article has been drafted to make a clear difference for better understanding. Use the knowledge above and do not forget to sip a cup of tea!