Get to Know the Most Popular Types of Tea

When ordering a cup of tea, you are frequently asked the kind you would prefer having. That is because the varieties available in today's market are many, varying from green and black to fruit and herbal. Here, we'll talk about different kinds of teas available and their characteristics.

Primarily, the tea types available in today's market today can be categorized among four main categories, namely green, black, oolong and white. All these varieties are derived from leaves of a tea plant called Camellia Sinensis. On the other hand, herbal teas such as ginger or chamomile and even red tea are derived from another category of leaves, called rooibos.

What distinguishes one type of tea from another is the process employed for making it. Moreover, different varieties come with their distinct aroma and flavor and provide diverse health benefit also.

Black

This tea with a strong flavor is highly preferred in the west. It is generally served with milk and sugar or just with lemon and nothing else. This variety is derived from Camellia leaves that have been oxidized. When served plain, black tea is devoid of carbohydrates, fat and has no calories, making it a favorite of many, particularly overweight people. Caffeine content of this variety is less than that of a coffee.

Green

For a long time, green tea has continued to enjoy popularity in countries like China, Japan and Korea. Of late, it has been realized that this variety of tea offers important health benefits, including the reduction of cholesterol level, enhancement of metabolic rate and even cancer prevention. Because of its health giving properties, it is getting popular in western countries too. The process of making this tea involves oxidation and drying of tea leaves, before fermenting them. Green tea is simply taken without any addition of sugar or milk. Moreover, water needed for making it should not be at boiling temperature.

White

This rare variety of tea is more expensive compared to its other cousins. This tea, made from young tea leaves, is procured from Fujian, China. The leaves are streamed or fried before fermentation and final drying. This is named as white tea as it is derived from leaves with buds having white hair. This variety of tea is known to have maximum amount of antioxidant and minimum of caffeine.

Oolong

This traditional Chinese tea is most often served with Chinese food all over the world. Oolong means black dragon and this tea derives it name from its lengthy leaves, which look like dragons when getting brewed. This tea is distinguished by its aroma and the taste that it acquires from the production process. Its processing involves drying in the sun, oxidation, cooling and drying at the end. Compared to black tea, this tea is rather weak.

If you want to read more about tea and the different types of tea, please visit my tea blog!

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