Fun fact you would have never thought of: all tea types evolve from the same plant. You must be wondering how black, white, pu'erh, oolong, and green tea come from Camellia sinensis. Surprised!
What is Tea?
Every second person must have drank tea for sure. No matter what type of tea it is, it already seems to have its fanbase. Camellia sinensis has beautiful flowers and is ranked as an evergreen, sub-tropical plant; it originated in Asia, but now they have spread everywhere. This is the plant that brings the tea you love the most. It is grown at high altitudes in loose, deep soil. It needs a sub-tropical climate to grow. Some people refer to tea as herbal tea due to the loads of benefits it brings!
How Tea Is Grown?
The tea-grown area can be small or big depending on the setting one prefers, but the best ones can be found at heights or on steep slopes. The premium tea is hand plucked. To make 250 grams of finished tea, one needs at least 2,000 tiny tea leaves. Huge number, try not to waste any tea in the future.
Some Hidden Kinds of Tea
Have you ever wondered your cup of tea belongs to which varieties? Ever heard of Orthodox tea? It is the most common tea, but hardly people have heard this name. Tea, which is processed by following the old method, comes under the orthodox tea tag. This tea has two tender and one unopened leaves. These are plucked by hand, and later, they help in developing different categories of Chai Tea. It involves five common steps. The steps involved in orthodox tea production are as follows;
- It starts by spreading leaves on the bamboo trays to dry
- Leaves are then rolled by hand
- This process may take several days to finish
The crush-tear curl method is also used in some cases, especially in black tea and Masala Chai. For commercial processes, tea leaf plucking can be done through machines.
Have You Thought What Is in Tea Exactly?
Tea has three components to be precise:
Essential oils are there in tea that add aroma to your teacup.
Polyphenols in it are responsible for the briskness and health benefits of tea.
Caffeine is commonly found in tea, which is known to bring a natural energy boost.
Welcoming 10 Different Types of Tea
1. Green Tea
This tea fetches a light green or yellow colour with a milder taste. It is much lighter and has almost half the amount of caffeine in it than black tea. Several types of best green tea are on the market, including Throat Soothe, Kashmiri Kahwa, Slim Easy Tea, and more. It has a good vegetal taste. Primarily produced in China and Japan, green tea has healthy levels of chlorophyll, L-theanine and caffeine.
2. Black Tea
Among all the varieties of tea, black tea is a common name known to the masses. Almost every grocery shop keeps this tea under different brands. It comes in various kinds, and every tea lover might find something different in their cup of black tea if they love to explore. Slightly high in caffeine, this tea has a copper colour and strong and sturdy flavour compared to other kinds of tea. Some common types of black teas are Irish Breakfast, English Breakfast and more. It is generally grown in China and India but has a worldwide fanbase. Chinese tea is often consumed without any sweetener and milk and is often lighter. Not to mention, their caffeine portion is lower than the rest. Golden Yunnan and China Keemun are renowned Chinese black teas. Masala chai, which is popular among all chai lovers, is made by adding milk to the black tea along with other ingredients like ginger, cardamom, sugar and other spices.
3. White Tea
It is a soft, delicate, and minimally processed tea that is enjoyed by all. White tea is light with a mild flavour. It has a crisp flavour with a lower level of caffeine. This tea experiences the minimum oxidation. Primarily coming from China, especially Fujian, it is also produced in Taiwan, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
4. Herbal Tea
This tea is made with a blend of herbs and spices. You will find no caffeine in it. The best part is the variety of herbal tea that you will find in the store. Herbal tea is made with several ingredients, including chamomile, ginger, lavender, peppermint, lavender hibiscus and more. They might have some medicinal properties in them.
5. Oolong Tea
This tea is especially an oxidized tea whose taste and benefits are stuck between black and green tea, especially the oxidation level. Any time can be tea time, and this pale yellow or that beautiful, rich amber cup of tea can match all moods. It can be of different kinds like milk oolong. It is produced mainly in the hearts of Taiwan and China.
6. Pu-erh Tea
It is a traditional fermented tea and can be simply termed as the disguised twin of black tea in character. You will see an inky brown-black colour in your teacup. The most attractive type is its rich and satisfying taste. High in caffeine, this tea has the same caffeine as black tea. This tea has its origin in China's Yunnan province. Originally pu-reh tea produced here is original tea with that traditional flavour.
7. Purple Tea
This newly innovative tea has been known to the outside world for the last few years. It is made with rare purple-leaved tea. This purple tea plant is grown in India (Assam) and Africa (Kenya). Its mellow flavour is too low in caffeine and has a light body. This tea is high in both anthocyanins and antioxidants.
8. Matcha
Matcha tea comes in the form of powdered green tea and has its origin in Japan. One needs to whisk it in water. People use it to make smoothies, baked goods and lattes, too. It has a rich and smooth flavour. One can sense umami notes in it, but in a bitter way. You need to make it in powdered form to use. It is high in antioxidants, caffeine and l-theanine. Matcha tea has its roots in China, especially from the Tang Dynasty. Chinese monks are believed to have brought it in the 12th century. By the 15th century, it was known in Japan. It has a rich history and traditional taste.
9. Mate Tea
It is similar to tea and has its origin in South America. Though this tea is not a part of camellia sinensis, it has caffeine in it. This tea is not consumed directly but through a special filtered straw called bombilla. It can be prepared in the same way you prepare other teas.
10. Rooibos Tea
Originating in South Africa, this tea is also popular as red bush or red tea. The best part is this tea is naturally caffeine-free. Similar to black tea, this tea is a good supplement to black tea without caffeine. This taste has a smooth taste with natural sweetness and can be taken in water or milk. People mix it with various ingredients to make the blend they like.
Understanding Various Tea Types - My Cup Of Tea
When people try to learn more about tea varieties, they often start with the process methods used and the taste it delivers. Lemon Grass Tea is one such healthy, unique tea with several health benefits. Tea can be categorized by understanding the growing methods. Different locations and environments also make them different. Like endless tea lovers, the varieties of tea are huge. You will always end up finding some amazing tea flavours to sip the liquid wisdom through your teacup.
