TEA TYPES and NAMES
Many different Tea names are found on numerous tea packagings, some classic, most are blends of classic teas with various herbs, fruits, grasses, or oils, as well as blends of one or more herbs and fruits, often refereed to as Herbal Teas or Tisane.
There is only a handful of classic tea types that basically derived from the way tea leaves of Camellia sinensis tree are processed and transformed into its final dried state.
Black Tea is the most recognized and known type of tea. It’s fully oxidized due to the process that follows all steps of the tea treatment. Each step is done once per each batch and the tea is normally done in one day.
This type of tea accounts for the 80% consumption of all teas.
Oolong Tea leaves withered and slightly oxidized under the direct sun or in the cool breezy room, followed by a bruising process, which is shaking, tossing, resting repetitions. Oolong tea contains less caffeine than black and some green teas.
Green Tea leaves are not oxidized after leaf harvesting, these type undergo minimal processing, and most resembles the original green leaf. The processing does include the rolling by applied heat of oven or a pan, which prevents oxidation. Green tea lis packed with important nutrients, has many claims for improving health, loaded with antioxidants, and has highest polyphenol content.
Green Tea is the most famous and widely available of all teas.
White Tea is picked from the first flush buds and select young leaves of the plant, has minimal processing of all teas with no high heating exposure. The withering is outdoor under the sun only for a few hours, then indoor for the remaining time with no rolling or tossing. This type of tea has very strict harvesting and processing guidelines.
Tea Names by Region
Although tee trees originated from China around 1600s, consumption of tea in India was first documented around 750 BCE. British started their own successful cultivation of tea trees around 1830s in Assam region of East India for commercial production.
Therefore some of the easily recognizable names of classic teas derived from the specific geographical location of the tree, where it is also harvested and locally processed.
Assam is a black tea from Assam region known for strong characteristics.
Darjeeling tea considered a very high quality black tea and is named after the region it's grown in. Darjeeling region is located in the Himalayan Mountains of India.
Popular Tea Names by blend
English breakfast is the most popular tea in British tea culture. The base for breakfast blend is typically a black, strong, full bodied tea, like Assam, often used with milk.
Earl Grey is a blend of a classic tea flavored with bergamot oil. The base tea used was originally black, but now the green or oolong are also used.
Imperial is rolled high-grade tea from Chinese green made usually from older leaves.
Chai is a blend of black tea leaves and specific spices. Steamed milk is added to complete this infusion.
There is only a handful of classic tea types that basically derived from the way tea leaves of Camellia sinensis tree are processed and transformed into its final dried state.
Black Tea is the most recognized and known type of tea. It’s fully oxidized due to the process that follows all steps of the tea treatment. Each step is done once per each batch and the tea is normally done in one day.
This type of tea accounts for the 80% consumption of all teas.
Oolong Tea leaves withered and slightly oxidized under the direct sun or in the cool breezy room, followed by a bruising process, which is shaking, tossing, resting repetitions. Oolong tea contains less caffeine than black and some green teas.
Green Tea leaves are not oxidized after leaf harvesting, these type undergo minimal processing, and most resembles the original green leaf. The processing does include the rolling by applied heat of oven or a pan, which prevents oxidation. Green tea lis packed with important nutrients, has many claims for improving health, loaded with antioxidants, and has highest polyphenol content.
Green Tea is the most famous and widely available of all teas.
White Tea is picked from the first flush buds and select young leaves of the plant, has minimal processing of all teas with no high heating exposure. The withering is outdoor under the sun only for a few hours, then indoor for the remaining time with no rolling or tossing. This type of tea has very strict harvesting and processing guidelines.
Tea Names by Region
Although tee trees originated from China around 1600s, consumption of tea in India was first documented around 750 BCE. British started their own successful cultivation of tea trees around 1830s in Assam region of East India for commercial production.
Therefore some of the easily recognizable names of classic teas derived from the specific geographical location of the tree, where it is also harvested and locally processed.
Assam is a black tea from Assam region known for strong characteristics.
Darjeeling tea considered a very high quality black tea and is named after the region it's grown in. Darjeeling region is located in the Himalayan Mountains of India.
Popular Tea Names by blend
English breakfast is the most popular tea in British tea culture. The base for breakfast blend is typically a black, strong, full bodied tea, like Assam, often used with milk.
Earl Grey is a blend of a classic tea flavored with bergamot oil. The base tea used was originally black, but now the green or oolong are also used.
Imperial is rolled high-grade tea from Chinese green made usually from older leaves.
Chai is a blend of black tea leaves and specific spices. Steamed milk is added to complete this infusion.