Types Of Teas

No matter if it is raining or sunny, at the middle of the night or early morning, a cup of perfectly brewed tea can brighten your spirits at any given time. Many of us love the taste and aroma that a cup of nicely brewed cup of tea has to offer. There are numerous teas on sale which give you unlimited options to choose from. Although most of us have one preferred type of tea, I would recommend all tea lovers to experiment with different kinds of tea so as to be able to taste their individual flavors.

There are four types of tea mainly White, Green, Black and Oolong tea. It is a known fact that there are no specific rules for serving tea, but different types of tea work well for different occasions. In this article we provide you with helpful details that shall aid you to serve the perfect type of tea on different kinds of occasions.

Tea is the world's most popular beverage, next to water. But, some people are still fairly new to tea drinking, and are still learning the popular varieties and deciding which ones are they like best.

One of the tea varieties that's most popular today is white tea. White tea comes from the same plant as black and green teas, the camellia sinensis. What makes white tea different is when it is harvested and how it's processed. White tea is harvested much earlier than other teas, before the leaves are fully open.

At this point in the growing process, the tea buds are still covered by fine white hair, which is why it's referred to as white tea. Unlike other types of tea, both buds and leaves are used in white tea. White tea undergoes very little processing, and is not fermented.

The leaves are simply steamed (or occasionally fired) and then dried. Sometimes, tea harvesters will even steam the leaves right in the field, and then let them dry in the sun.

Fewer people are familiar with white tea in part because over the years there's been far less white tea grown and processed than other teas. In fact, many years ago white tea was reserved for use at the highest tea ceremonies, and was considered tea for the elite.

Even today, less white tea is grown in the world than other types of tea. However, as it gains popularity, it's likely that more of a tea garden's harvest may be devoted to white tea. However, at least for now, white tea is rarer than black and green teas, and therefore more expensive.

White tea is a very healthy beverage. Because it undergoes very little processing, white tea retains its anti-oxidants. In fact, it's estimated that white tea contains an even higher and more effective anti-oxidant level than green tea. There have been very few studies on white tea's ability to prevent and help treat disease.

However, since white tea's anti-oxidants are similar to those of green tea, about which much research exists to suggest health benefits, it's assumed that white tea carries those same benefits. Green tea's anti-oxidants have been shown to fight diseases like cancer, heart disease and high cholesterol. In addition, white tea has been shown to boost your immune system, improving your body's ability to fight diseases, particularly infections.



So, What Does It Taste Like?

White tea is paler in color and has less aroma than black and green tea. Its flavor is light and slightly sweet. You won't find a white tea with the bold flavors you can find in black and green teas. If brewed properly, it has no bitterness and no after taste. In addition, it lacks the grassy flavor that you often find in green tea.

How to Brew

You'll brew white tea in much the same way as black or green tea. Use fresh, cold tap water, or filtered water. Put the water in a clean tea kettle and put it on the stove to heat. While the water is heating, put hot tap water into your teapot to warm it up. Bring the water to a boil and then remove it from the heat for sixty seconds.

White tea should be brewed with water that is somewhere between 170 and 185° F. By bringing the water to a boil and then letting it sit for one minute, you should ensure just the right temperature for white tea.

During this sixty second lull, remove the hot tap water from your teapot and add the white tea leaves. White tea is less dense and compact than black and green tea, so you'll need to use more. Begin with two teaspoons per cup as a starting point, adjusting to your taste.

White tea should be steeped for about 5-8 minutes, depending upon your taste. It will be pale; don't expect it to gain the color you're used to seeing with black tea. Read the steeping directions carefully, white tea's steeping recommendations can vary greatly. There are even some white teas that should be steeped for up to 15 minutes.

Because of its slightly sweet flavor, it's recommended that you not sweeten white tea. In fact, tea connoisseurs suggest that white tea be consumed without any additives for best flavor. In addition to being delicious hot, white tea is also very good iced.

As you experiment with white tea, you'll find varieties you particularly enjoy. Some will have a bit more of a flower flavor and some will be fuller bodied than others, though none will match the body of a black or green tea.

As you get to know white tea, buy just a little of a variety until you decide whether or not it's right for you. Since white tea (particularly in loose form) is so expensive, it's not wise to buy a large quantity until you know whether or not you'll like it.

White tea is available today in bag form and ready to drink bottles, as well. However, nothing matches the flavor of brewing a cup of white tea at home from loose tea leaves and drinking it while it's still steaming. Give white tea a try; you're sure to love its sweet and refreshing flavor.

GREEN TEA: The benefits of green tea to our health has been researched quite a bit in the last decade and there is quite a bit of evidence that this great tasting beverage can also be good for you. Of course, that's no surprise to ancient cultures who have used green tea for health for thousands of years!

Green tea is full of antioxidants. Flavinoids and polyphenols can help boost the bodies immune system which makes it easier for the body to fight off disease and illness. Even the moderate amount of caffeine found in green tea can be good for you as it helps to increase blood flow to the brain helping you to stay alert.


In fact, green tea can help with a variety of medical conditions including cancer, cholesterol levels, infection, rheumatoid arthritis, immune function and cardiovascular disease. It is said to help lower cholesterol levels and improve the ratio of good to bad cholesterol. A study in 1994 showed that the risk of esophageal cancer was reduced by 60% for Chinese men and women who drank green tea. Perdue University researchers have found that green tea contains a compound that inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

Aside from the benefits of green tea to our health, it simply tastes good! Interestingly enough, it comes from the same plant (Camellia Sinensis) as black, oolong and white tea, but the method of production is different thus producing the different tastes.

Green tea leaves are plucked and then steamed which helps them to retain all of the antioxidants or EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate). This also gives the tea a delicate flavor.

Different regions prepare their green tea differently and you will find a different flavor in different "types" of green tea.

The tea from Hang Zhou China is dired in a pan. Flat in appearance, it is sometimes called Dragon Well. It is one of the most common drinks in that country that boasts several fine green teas including Gyokuro or Jewel Dew.

Drinking green tea is also very popular in Japan and the tea for them Uji region of Kyoto is considered to be one of the finest green teas in the world. Once used only in ceremonies, this tea called Matcha is powdered and can even be found in ice cream!

The benefits of green tea to our health may even go beyond the components in the tea. Just having a tasty, relaxing cup of tea may help to reduce your levels of stress - something that is well know to have long lasting health effects. So go ahead - drink up and enjoy!

BLACK TEA: Black also works great for early mornings; they are also packed with antioxidants that can help you stay healthy. The taste of different black teas would depend on the location of its growth. Some may have a flowery or fruity flavor depending on where they were grown and how they were processed.

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OOLONG TEA: Oolong tea has several health benefits and can improve your health. You may consider drinking a cup of oolong tea after dinner at night for positive results.

If you are tired of the regular black and green tea, you might try Oolong tea. This tasty tea is comes from the same plant as both black and green do, but by brewing Oolong tea properly, you can get a great delicate flavor that is a bit different from what you are used to.

Oolong comes from the Fujian Province and originated about 400 years ago during the Ming Dynasty. The name means "Black Dragon" in Chinese and the tea itself is steeped in myth and mystery.

Moderately oxidized during production, Oolong has most of the health benefits attributed to both black and green tea. This also gives it a distinctive taste that some compare to that of a fine wine.

The leaves used for Oolong tea are carefully chosen by hand. Individually plucked, the tea comes in many different varieties each with their own interesting taste. Some of the standard teas you might find in a Chinese restaurant include Water Turtle and Big Red Robe. A lighter brew of Oolong is called Golden Buddha but if you prefer a darker brew then go for Water Sprite. Perhaps the most favorite blend comes from central Taiwan and is called Dong Ding.

Brewing Oolong tea must be done carefully so as to release the delicate flavors. Running hot water through the leaves twice will enhance the flavor as well as rinse away anything that the leaves picked up during processing. This double brew method is a method used in Taiwan and makes Oolong a fine and tasty brew.

Like it's cousin, green tea, Oolong tea has a host of health benefits. It is especially beneficial for digestion, but it's health properties don't stop there. It is full of polyphenol and catechins - antioxidants that help purge the body of disease causing free radicals.

Recent studies have also found that the vapors from Oolong tea can help to dislodge toxic compounds from the air sacs of the lungs as well as the bronchia. Breathing the vapors causes this residue to be coughed up or expectorated. This discovery might go a long way in explaining why there are fewer cases of lung cancer among Chinese men who are the heaviest smokers on earth.

Oolong is a fine tea which has been enjoyed for centuries and, as you can see, brewing Oolong tea properly can help you enjoy a fine, tasty drink and might even improve your health!


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This poetic cast-iron teapot is a visual representation of a pond. Looking down at the lid, it appears like a pond viewed from above. From the side, it looks like a pond viewed from underwater. Pond ripples and four goldfish stand out from the sand base texture. The shimmering gold finish lends the feeling of sunset on a lake.

Wowever these are not the only kinds of tea that you should consider trying out. You should also consider experimenting with special blended teas that are abundantly available in the market. Although all tea lovers would agree that any time is teatime, here below are some tips to serve the right type of tea at the right time of the day:

CEYLON TEAS: Dimbula and Kandy are both nice options for a mid-morning drink. Nuwara Eliya is a very light tea which has a perfectly delicate flavor, it tastes excellent when served with some lemon and ice.

CHINA TEAS: Jasmine tea offers a very soothing taste which makes it very much suitable for a late-night drink. After a meal consisting of fish and white meat, Keemun would be a great choice. Lapsang Souchong provides a very smoky taste and is good to serve it after a flavored meal although you should make sure to serve it without milk.

KENYAN: Teas from Kenya are the perfect options for the first drink of your day; they offer a coppery colored, full-bodied beverage.

INDIAN TEAS: Darjeeling tea is also a good option as breakfast tea. Assam tea is also a flavorful tea that can be served during breakfast or sometime mid-morning.

There are many different types and kinds of tea in the market that you may want to try out. Do not hesitate to experiment with different types of tea, treat your taste buds to incredible flavor today!

Although I'm a new tea drinker, yet I like black strong tea. But it doesn't necessarily mean that all new tea drinkers should start with black tea. Drinking tea is entirely a matter of personal taste and preference. There are different kinds of teas that are available on the market, like black tea, white tea, green tea and oolong tea; it is advisable to try out all the four kinds in order to find out which of these suits your taste the best.

In case you are not sure what tea type will be to your liking, here's some information for each of the tea types mentioned above that'll help you figure out the best tea for you.

Black tea: it is very popular in the United States. The taste of Black tea depends on where it is grown, it can be fruity, flowerily, spicy or nutty. A recent study on black tea has shown that it offers an equal number of health benefits as Green tea.

White tea: if you have a delicate taste, then white tea might just be the right kind for you. It is the most subtle of all its kinds. Studies have proven that white tea also has strong health benefits and helps in enhancing your immune system by up to 10%.

Green Tea: I'm not too sure, how you would like the taste of green tea, because personally, I never liked it much. But nevertheless it has several health benefits and therefore, is recommended by doctors.

Oolong tea: this is a partially oxidized tea being somewhere between black and green tea, but surprisingly it doesn't taste like either, drinking oolong tea gives you a pleasant after taste.

I hope the abovementioned information will help you find the right kind of tea for your In conclusion, tea is a wonder beverage with none of the harmful side effects of other beverages but all of and more amazing health enhancing properties. In other words as a tea drinker, not only can you enjoy and lose yourself to the spell binding aroma and flavor of tea, but you can also drink it without worrying about any harmful side effects, while it goes through your system, making you hale and hearty on the inside and bright and cheerful on the outside!

Whether you are an avid tea lover or a new tea drinker, if you love and enjoy your tea, you are probably one to go for top notch quality. Remember good quality always comes with good inspection and test.

Good tea testing companies have well trained chemists with expertise in tea chemistry to conduct tea tests so that the end product meets the international standards. The lab tests usually include the followings:

* Physical assessment of tea and spices
* Entomological assessment of tea and spices.
* Chemical assessment of tea and spices.
* Aflatoxin testing
* Essential oil testing.
* Pesticide residue testing
* Microbiological analysis.
* FDA compliant analysis.
* Related testing.

The abovementioned analyses are conducted just to make sure that the buyers receive high quality tea that is sure to enhance their tea drinking experience.