… about tea!
When you say you’d like a cup of tea, what do you think of?
Do you think of tea bags, or infuser balls, or a contraption resembling a french press? Do you think of an ice-cold beverage or a steaming mug? Sweetened until your dentist cries a little, or with cream, or simply as it is?
Tea can actually be broken down into several different categories, and within each category, there are several different varieties. So, how many different types of tea are there?
What Is Tea?
It’s impossible to put a number on how many varieties of tea are out there because there are almost as many different types of tea and tea preparation as there are countries in the world. We’re going to go over some of the types of tea that are the most popular in the U.S., but first, we need to go over a couple of different categories that tea can fall into.
Spilling The Tea About True Tea & Tisanes
Technically, everything that is actually tea comes from a specific type of plant called Camellia sinensis. Teas in this category include white, green, black, and oolong tea.
So, what does that make herbal tea?
To spill some tea about herbal: it’s not tea. Instead, it would be considered a tisane, because it is comprised of herbs, spices, or other plant material (like flowers). While most people will know what you mean when you say you like herbal tea, it doesn’t quite fit the bill for what tea actually is because it doesn’t come from a Camellia sinensis. Tisanes include mint, ginger, hibiscus, and blueberry “tea.”
Loose Leaf & Bagged
Loose leaf tea, which is also often called whole leaf tea, is made of entire tea leaves that are dried out. Bagged tea, on the other hand, is usually made up of the “dust and fannings” that are leftover when people make loose leaf tea.
Is this going to stop me from loving some bagged teas? Not a chance. Bagged tea can be a fun and affordable option when compared with pricier loose leaf teas, but if you’re looking for the best tea experience out there, you may want to invest in some loose leaf tea and a good infuser.
Types Of Tea
While it’s impossible to make an exhaustive list of different teas, these are the teas you’re most likely to run into and what makes them different:
- White tea is plucked and withered – that’s it. While many teas are allowed to oxidize for varying lengths of time, white tea is finished quickly and mostly prevented from oxidizing. In addition, while other types of tea are often rolled or shaped, white tea is usually left as-is. It results in a very light tea and tends to have a more delicate flavor.
- Green tea is also not oxidized, but it goes through a special rolling process that uses heat to prevent it from oxidizing. This is why, while most other teas will be varying shades of orange and brown, green tea is still just that: green. The shape that the leaves are rolled into is important, as it can have a big impact on the flavor. These leaves result in a greenish or yellowish tea and may have a sort of “green” vegetable- or grass-like flavor.
- Oolong tea takes a lot more time than white or green tea because it needs time to oxidize repeatedly. It’s often considered a middle ground between green tea and black tea, because it is usually between 10% and 80% oxidized, compared to green tea not being oxidized at all and black tea being oxidized very thoroughly. The leaves are rolled, then oxidized, then rolled, then oxidized, often several times before they are done. Oolong teas are often a shade of orange and can have more complex flavors with fruity and floral notes.
- Black tea is oxidized more completely than oolong tea and normally goes through oxidation all at once, instead of going back and forth between being rolled and oxidized. This type of tea is usually a dark red or brown when it’s made, and is most likely the base of your favorite iced tea.
- Fermented tea is made from the same leaves, but is allowed to age for anywhere between a couple of months to several years. It may be left as loose leaf tea or molded into decorative shapes, and usually makes a beverage with a rich flavor and earthy scent.
Each of these teas can be prepared differently, with different blends, water temperatures, and even by adding milk and sweeteners. Though it’s most popular for black tea to be made with milk and sugar, additions like simple syrup are fairly common in other types of tea as well. In some cultures, it’s common to add butter to tea, and if you’ve ever had a sore throat, you’ve more than likely had some tea with honey in it too.
Now it’s time for you to spill some tea: what is your favorite cup of tea?