subject: Types of Tea to Choose from [print this page] Types of Tea to Choose from Types of Tea to Choose from
Although there are different types of tea around, you might think that it comes from different sources. The truth is that all teas come from a single source, namely the evergreen of the Camellia family. The main factor that affects their own flavor is the processing methods used on them the climate of their habitat, the region from where they are gathered, soil condition, and so on. With that said, there are thousands of different kinds of teas around the globe. There are even teas blended with different kinds of leaves, herbs, flowers, and even oils.
Types of Tea
As mentioned there are thousands of different kinds of tea with their own unique flavor. If however you're looking for a way to learn the basic four types of tea, all you have to remember is that there are White, Green, Black and Oolong teas.
White Tea
Among the four types of tea, white tea is the least processed one. Most commercially prepared white teas come from China or Japan during the spring time. This type of tea has a pretty light and mild flavor to it with a bit of sweet and malt taste. Also, this tea is known to have the least amount of caffeine among the four types of tea containing just around 15 mg of caffeine per cup. What's more is that you can even decaffeinate the tea yourself. To make things even more interesting, you could add a twist of lemon if ever you're looking for a more citrus taste.
Green Tea
This type of tea is also known as the unfermented tea. This is so because once the tea leaves are picked and dried, they are heated thus making sure fermentation doesn't take place. This particular type of tea has several health benefits that come with it and it is by far one of the more popular types of tea around. It has a pale green color to it and you'll notice that it has an herb like flavor that tastes fresh and mild. In terms of its caffeine content, it has low content, but still it has more compared to white teas. You'll get an average of 20 mg of caffeine per cup. If you want to make tea latte, you could add a bit of milk in order to do so.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is probably the most sophisticated among the four types of tea. Good oolong teas can cost a bit much compared to the common teas mainly because of the strict processing required. Also, you can experience the smoothest flavor any tea can offer if you brew the tea correctly. Oolong tea can be considered something as a middle tea to the herb flavored green tea and the strong black tea. In terms of caffeine content, you'll get around 30 mg of caffeine per cup.
Black Tea
This is the most complex type of tea and its strong flavor is also a very notable characteristic. The tea's color is brown to red in color. Its flavor is very bold and to some people, things can get quite bitter. In order to get a better mix, you could add a bit of milk to it thus getting rid of the bitterness, or at least lessening it to an extent. Also, note that this type of tea has the most caffeine content per cup, averaging to a substantial 40 mg per cup.
There are different things to consider when choosing your tea. Among the types of tea to choose from, you'll have to consider their caffeine content, availability, price range, flavor, and so on. Also, note that the flavor of the tea can make it perfect for certain types of dishes and cuisines as well.
