Few people know that four of the most popular types of tea all come from the same plant: Camellia Sinensis. Tea is a little bit like wine in this way. The majority of wine is made from grapes. However, like wine, tea can be made from other plants as well. There is cherry wine, dandelion wine, pear wine… You can make wine out of pretty much anything. Same for tea. You can make tea from pretty much any plant.
The Four main Types of Tea
The four main types of Tea that all come from the Camellia Sinensis plant are Black, White, Green and Oolong. What differentiates these teas are three major factors: the variety of this plant used (small leaf, large leaf), where the plant is grown (soil, elevation, sun, water) and how the leaves are processed (harvesting, drying).
One of the main factors that differentiate the tea is how the leaves are processed – especially the level of oxidation they are put through. Green teas are not oxidized. The leaves are simply steamed or kiln dried immediately upon picking.
Black tea leaves, on the other hand, are heavily oxidized by rolling and crushing the leaves after picking such that the juices are all exposed to oxygen. This process turns the leaves from green to a coppery red. These leaves are also then dried through a process of baking or “firing”.
For Oolong tea, the leaves receive a slightly less intensive workout. The leaves are shaken in baskets to bruise and oxidize them but are left whole. These leaves are also “fired” to dry.
White tea is the most fragile of the teas. Usually only the most tender tips of the leaves are used to make white tea. It is only lightly oxidized by withering the leaves, and is naturally dried in order to preserve its more delicate flavour.
What About Rooibos?
Red Tea, a common nickname for Rooibos Tea, comes from a different plant – primarily found in South Africa. The Rooibos bush starts out a vivid green colour, but after the leaves are put through a fermentation process, become that familiar red colour. Rooibos is the only caffeine-free tea in the in this bunch, as the plant is completely different and does not contain caffeine.
What is Your Favourite?
Which tea do you prefer? Do you have a go-to? Or does it depend on what mood you are in. Much like wine, tea can be paired with different meals or different events to project a completely different type of mood or setting. If you don’t yet know what you like when, there is always time to explore.
At Teas and Weaves we sell bulk teas from all over the world. Each has their own unique history, and therefore taste. We sell smaller sample packs so that you can pick up a collection of a number of varieties and sample them all until you find the combinations you most enjoy. Come in and visit us soon!