How well do you know about tea? How many types are there
and how are they different from each and other? If you don’t have the answers
for any of these questions, don’t worry because we’ve round up the types of tea
that will help you choose the best one for your taste buds.
All tea comes from
the Camellia sinensis plant, an evergreen shrub that may grow up to sixty feet
in the wild. When cultivated for harvest, tea bushes are kept to a height of
about three feet. There are over 3000
varieties of tea, each with its own specific characteristics. The naming and
growing of tea are in many ways similar to wine. Just as Bordeaux wine is named
after the Bordeaux region in France and Champagne can only be produced in the
province of Champagne, many teas are also named after the area they are grown
in. For example, Assam tea is named after the Assam region in India and Yunnan
tea is named after the Chinese province. Like wine, where the tea is grown, the
climate, soil conditions and how the tea is processed will altogether determine
its flavour characteristics.
While there are
literally thousands of teas in the world, as a subject of classification tea
can be broken down into six main types: black, green, oolong, white, Pu-erh and
yellow.
Black tea is
withered, fully oxidized and dried. Black tea commonly yields a hearty,
amber-coloured brew. Some of the most popular types of black teas are bold
breakfast teas (e.g., English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast) and Darjeeling. #2: Green Tea
Green tea production
endeavours to avoid the oxidation of the tea leaves, in order to retain its
natural green colour and fresh flavour. In Japan, the leaves are steamed, while
other countries will pan-fire or dry it through other methods. This type of tea
has a more delicate flavour than black tea and often brews up pale green or
golden in colour. #3: Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is
produced mainly in China and Taiwan and is only partially oxidized. This type
of tea can range from tasting similar to a fresh green tea, The flavour can
vary widely, depending on where the tea leaves are grown and how the tea is
made.
Originally from
China, white tea is simply withered and dried, causing a very light oxidation.
Its flavour is most similar to that of green tea, but is usually more creamy,
soft and sweet. #5: Pu-erh Tea
Pu-erh (also spelled pu'er) comes exclusively
from China and is famous for its distinctively earthy flavor. Pu-erh is tea
that has been fermented, often stored underground for several years.
Traditionally, pu-erh is compressed into round cakes and can be very expensive. #6: Yellow Tea
Yellow tea is the
rarest type of tea. It is similarly processed to green tea, but is more slowly
dried to make the leaves take on a yellow color. The taste of the tea is mild,
often described as being somewhere between white and green tea. #7: Herbal Tea
