It’s almost unbelievable that there are hundreds of varieties of Tea and that it’s the most
consumed beverage in the world after water! What’s more incredible is that all of these
teas are made from the leaves of the same plant species – Camellia Sinensis. You’ve
probably heard of all these different types of tea but do you really know what makes Green
tea, green or White tea, white? It all depends on when the leaves are picked and how
they’re treated after the picking. Let’s delve deeper into the different types of tea.
1. Black Tea
Black Tea is of two types: CTC and Orthodox. Crush, Tear, Curl or Cut, Tear and Curl method is used to process the leaves, making the leaves look like small nuggets. CTC is the most commonly consumed type of tea in India, Middle East, Africa and South America. It is one of the main types of tea used in brewing Black Tea. It produces very strong flavored, dark colored liquor and has a rich, malty taste (more on the bitter side). In India, it is usually
consumed by adding milk & sugar to it. Orthodox tea refers to either hand-
processed tea or tea that is rolled with machinery in a manner that mimics hand-rolling.
Most specialty tea is made with orthodox production methods. All whole-leaf tea is made
with orthodox production methods.
CTC Tea Orthodox Black Tea
2.Oolong Tea
Oolong (originally spelled Wu Long) teas are not as robust as CTC or as subtle as Green Tea.It is a Chinese term which means “Black Dragon”, referring to the way the tea leaves curl making them look like a dragon’s tail. We can think of Oolong as midway between the body of Black Tea and the freshness of the Green Tea. The leaves are partially oxidized after they are withered under the sun. It activates enzymes in the body which cuts down a type of fat in the blood. Each of the above types of tea has several flavors to explore and taste.
3. Green Tea
Green Tea Leaves are prepared by heating the leaves soon after harvesting to prevent oxidation, allowing them to retain their green color. This is by far the most popular tea in the world. It is rich in Catechins, a type of anti-oxidant. It reduces the formation of free radicals in the body, protecting cells and molecules from damage. Lack of oxidation also
results in low caffeine content.
4. White Tea
White Tea is a rare genre of tea, which derives its name from the silvery white hairs on the buds of the tea plant and not because of the color of the liquor. It is simply dried when plucked and does not go through any processing and oxidation. Thus, it is appreciated for its delicate aroma, taste, high concentration of anti-oxidants and low levels of caffeine.
5. Tisane
Herbal Tea or more correctly Tisane, these Herbal Infusions are not exactly tea as we know it as they do not come from the Camellia Sinensis species. These are made witih various herbs, flowers, fruit & spices. They are caffeine free and have many medicinal benefits which helps in fighting various infections. There is a wide array of such Infusions –Chamomile Tea, Peppermint Tea, Lavender Tea etc. are some of the famous Tisanes.
Do explore our online store to choose from a range of delicious teas! We’d also love to
know your favourite type of tea and why!