Introduction

The magic of tea comes from its subtleties and differences. Tea is complicated, its secrets aren’t apparent initially, and many easy ways exist to explain it. This information is meant to teach, so we apologise if it gets too technical. We hope this helps you understand and enjoy the different kinds of Tea you might try.

All tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. This evergreen shrub can grow sixty feet tall in the wild. Tea bushes are grown and kept to about three feet to get tea. There are about 3,000 different kinds of tea, each with its qualities.   Even though there are a lot of different kinds of tea in the world, there are seven main categories: black tea, green tea, oolong tea, white tea, Pu-erh tea, Matcha tea, and yellow tea.

White Tea

White Tea is frequently described as “gentle,” yet our experience contradicts this description. White Tea is surprisingly forgiving and can be brewed in nearly any fashion. It does not quickly become bitter or astringent, so handling it with extreme care is unnecessary. The tastes range from fruity/herbaceous/bright white tea the least processed type of tea, made from the youngest leaves and buds of the tea plant. It is minimally oxidized, which gives it a light, delicate flavour and pale colour. It suits those who enjoy light and delicate tea flavours but doesn’t suit people who enjoy more robust tea flavours. White tea has the lowest caffeine content and is often consumed for its potential health benefits, including its high concentration of antioxidants. Some popular types of white tea include Silver Needle, White Peony, and Long Life Eyebrow.

Green Tea

Green tea is made by trying to keep the tea leaves from turning brown, which would change their colour and flavour. The leaves are steamed in Japan, but in other countries, they are fried in a pan or dried differently. This type of tea tastes lighter than black tea, and when it’s brewed, it’s usually pale green or golden.

Traditional Chinese and Indian medicine uses green tea to control bleeding, treat wounds, help digestion, promote heart and brain health, and regulate body temperature. Green tea may help with weight loss, liver diseases, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and more.

Yellow Tea

Yellow tea is a rare and lesser-known tea that offers a unique and delicate flavour profile. It falls between green and white teas in terms of oxidation, with a slightly higher oxidation level than green tea. Yellow tea is good for your health if you drink it daily and have no health problems. Yellow tea could lead to stress, anxiety, stomach problems, and trouble sleeping when consumed more than four cups per day. Some types of yellow tea include Junshan Yinzhen and Huoshan Huangya yellow tea.

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is produced predominantly in China and Taiwan. Depending on where the tea leaves were grown and how they were processed, this tea can taste like fresh green tea or something completely different. Depending on how the tea master makes it, oolong tea can be from 0% oxidized as Green Oolong to 100% as Red Jade Black Tea. Moreover, Oolong Tea is the only tea category that goes through the roasting process. This means its flavour ranges from light to full-bodied, floral to grassy, and sweet to toasty. The leaves and brewed tea can also be green, golden, or brown. Oolong tea can have a sweet, fruity flavour or a woodsy, rich flavour. Some lighter oolong teas smell like honey, while other, stronger ones smell roasted and complicated.

Suppose you have wondered what traditional Chinese teas’ health benefits are. In that case, Oolong Tea’s protective effects against diabetes and its consequences have been substantiated across multiple studies, most likely through modulating insulin resistance and reducing inflammation. It combines the beneficial aspects of dark and green teas. Thus it may have more than one health benefit.

Oolong tea also has been linked to potential cognitive benefits. Some researchers have linked antioxidants in black, green and oolong teas to reduced cancer risk. Caffeine is a crucial factor in the potential dangers of drinking oolong tea frequently or in large quantities. The maximum cup of daily oolong tea is four cups.  

There are many speciality loose-leaf tea to purchase. The most common oolong teas include Dong-DIng Oolong Tea, Jin Xuan Milky, Four Season Oolong Tea, and High-Mountain Oolong Tea. Some popular types of oolong tea for tea connoisseurs include Tie Guan Yin, Da Yu Ling, Oriental Beauty Tea and Red Oolong Tea.

Black Tea

Black tea is the most common tea consumed in the Western world. It is a fully oxidized tea with a robust, bold flavour and dark colour. Black tea is typically higher in caffeine than other types of tea, making it a popular choice for morning or afternoon pick-me-ups. Some popular varieties of black tea include Assam, Ceylon, and Earl Greys. The idea of black tea with citrus notes has led to many different versions, and there are as many Earl Greys as there are teas. The flavour profile usually focuses on a strong, bright, full-bodied cup with different levels of fruitiness and maltiness. Black tea has a smoky and woody smell, and one drawback is that the flavour sometimes comes from an artificial essential oil, like bergamot essential oil in Earl Grey.

Pu-erh Tea

Pu-erh tea is a fermented tea that is aged for several years, sometimes decades, to develop its rich, earthy flavour and aroma. It is often consumed for its potential health benefits, which include its high concentration of antioxidants and probiotics. Some popular types of pu-erh tea include Sheng (raw) and Shou (ripe) pu-erh.

Matcha Tea

Matcha is a type of Japanese green tea different from all the other teas. Matcha tea is made in the dark after the veins and stems of the leaves have been taken off. Matcha is a fine powder made by grinding these leaves between two stones. Matcha is whisked into hot water, and the liquid and the leaf are drunk. It doesn’t get steeped in water or taken out like most teas. Matcha is the tea that is served at the famous Japanese tea ceremony. Culinary grades of Matcha are now used in many less formal ways, such as smoothies and baking. Matcha tea has a relatively high level of caffeine. Consumption of matcha tea in large doses may cause digestive issues.

Conclusions

In conclusion, loose-leaf tea comes in various flavours and types, each with unique characteristics and potential health benefits. Whether you prefer bold and robust black tea, delicate and floral white tea, complex and earthy pu-erh tea, or multi-level tastes of oolong tea in one cup, there is a loose-leaf tea for everyone to enjoy. Experimenting with different types of loose-leaf tea can be a fun and rewarding experience for enthusiasts and novices.

Oolong tea is the most versatile of all the different types of tea. Due to the complicated way oolong tea is made, it has natural flavours that range from garden fresh, like green tea, to floral, like yellow tea and white tea, to fruity, nutty, woody, smoky, like black tea and pu-erh, but better. Click here to see what kinds of Oolong tea we have.

SOURCE:

1. openai 2023
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4. https://blog.piquelife.com/types-of-tea/
5. https://www.mountaintea.com/