The Best of Tea

If you’re like most people, at least in the U.S., your first experience with tea was likely with a tall glass of iced tea. But, as much of the rest of the world knows, there are a wide variety of teas to be enjoyed and experienced. Some are mild and soothing, while others can be bold and invigorating.

The word tea is generally used to describe any plant-based infusion, but real tea is derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis. The leaves of this small, evergreen shrub yield different tea flavors depending on the age of the leaves when cultivated and the method used to process them.

White Tea:

White tea is produced from the youngest tea leaves. And unlike the other types of tea, white tea is not left to ferment. After cultivation, it is quickly dried. This leads to a more subtle, almost sweet flavor.

Green Tea:

Green tea is allowed to ferment slightly after cultivation. It is then steamed or roasted depending on whether it it prepared in Japanese or Chinese tradition. This gives green tea to a slightly more intense flavor than white tea. Green tea has also been described as having a slightly grass-like taste.

Black Tea:

Black tea is the most familiar to those in the Western world. It is the tea that you’ve had if you’ve ever had iced tea. It is the most fermented or oxidized of the teas. This gives it a darker hue and a richer flavor than either white or green tea.

Oolong Tea:

Oolong tea falls somewhere between green and black tea in terms of fermentation and flavor. It retains a small bit of the grassy flavor of green tea, but is fuller-bodied like black tea. Typically found in Chinese restaurants, it is usually brewed to be strong.

Herbal Teas:

Herbal teas are not strictly teas, as they typically contain no leaves from the Camellia sinesis plant. They are instead infusions or tisanes. They may contain anything from mixtures of flower petals, to herbs, spices and fruits. In this category you will find Rooibos, and Mate.