Tea can warm you up on a winter night but also keep you cool on a hot summer afternoon.
Whether you have your tea hot or Iced its important to know the differences between all the kinds of teas so you can pick your favorite!
The primary types of tea are black tea, green tea, matcha tea, white tea, oolong tea, pu-ehr tea and purple tea.
All the teas, except from the herbal teas, come from the plant “camellia sinensis”. The different growing methods, preparations and processing of the tea leaves will determine the kind of tea that will be produced.
Black Tea
Black Tea comes from tea leaves that have been oxidised heavily and very quickly. This process gives it its dark color and deep flavour and aroma. All teas go through a degree of oxidation but black tea has the highest level.
Flavour profile
Rich, deep, bold flavour and aroma with smokey undertones.
Green Tea
Green tea goes through the opposite process than black tea. As soon as the tea leaves are harvested they go through a steaming or pan-firing stage in order to stop the oxidation.
Flavour profile
Mild, sweet, earthy flavour with grassy undertones
Matcha Tea
Matcha Tea similarly to green tea, goes through steaming or pan-firing in order to stop the oxidation process but also before the harvest, it goes through a stage of growing in shade in order to retain the strong green color as well as its antioxidant potency.
Matcha tea is unique as it is consumed in powdered form. Consuming the whole leaf can deliver a lot more health benefits as well as an exquisite tasting experience.
Flavour profile
Rich, creamy and earthy flavour with floral undertones.
White Tea
White Tea goes through very minimal processing and have the least amount of oxidation. As soon as the leaves are harvested they are left outside to dry in natural sunlight. For white tea only the baby tea leaves are used from the top of the camellia sinensis plant.
Flavour profile
Floral, grassy and honey flavour with fruity undertones.
Oolong Tea
Oolong Tea goes through a medium level of oxidation. After harvesting the tea leaves are wilted, oxidised and then shaped by hand into small, tight balls before being dried and packaged.
Flavour profile
Sweet, floral and toasted flavour with grassy undertones.
Pu-ehr Tea
Pu-ehr tea is a fermented tea that is very similar to black tea. After the leaves are harvested they undergo a fermentation process. Pu-erh teas are high in caffeine and are minimally oxidised.
Flavour profile
Deep, rich, full body with earthy undertones.
Purple Tea
Purple tea is a relatively new type of tea and has been available only for a few years. Purple tea is produced similarly to oolong tea. After harvest, the leaves are wilted and partially oxidised before they are shaped and dried.
Flavour profile
Light body, mellow flavour with floral undertones.
Which ones have you tried and what is your favourite?
Our favourite is matcha! ;)
Check out the recipe for healthy matcha panna cotta here and our article on the 11 health benefits of Matcha here
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