Explore the Wonderful World of Tea

Like learning any new language, craft or skill, sometimes the bombardment of information can be overwhelming at first. As a new tea enthusiasts, I found myself trying to research all the different types of teas, loose verses prepackaged, black tea verses white tea. To make it easier on myself I broke it down into 2 main categories: Light and Dark tea. Part one will focus on White and Green teas, while part 2 will focus on Oolong and Black teas.

White Tea

While coming from the same plant, “camellia sinensis”, white tea is made with leaves that are processed where they are left to wilt to some extent while they are undergoing oxidation. During this process, the tea is said to lose the “grassy” taste that green tea is said to have. White tea is harvested before the leaves fully open and the buds are still covered with very fine white hairs. White tea can be a little bit on the pricier side, due to the quantity of this tea available. White tea is shown to be one of the best teas out there for the body. Studies run showed that white tea had high anti-inflammatory, has tons of anti-oxidants, anti-collagenase, and anti-elastase properties. The benefits of drinking white tea means it could help potentially reduce the signs of aging (by slowing down the enzyme that breaks down elastin and collagen); reduce risks or heart disease, some cancers. Not only is it delicious, but it’s great for you!

Green Tea

Made solely with the leaves of the “camellia sinesis” plant, green tea undergoes minimal oxidation. Originating from China, green tea is very common across the countries. The tea gets its name from the color of the liquid after it is brewed. The natural flavor of the leaf stands out. Flavor wise, green tea can range from a floral flavor to almost a grassy flavor. While extensive studies are being done to prove the health benefits of green tea, researchers are saying that green tea drinkers have much lower changes to develop heart disease and other certain types of cancer. Also, green tea is also linked to weight loss. Compared to the other teas, green tea is considered to have a lot less caffeine.

PART 2: DARK TEAS (OOLONG AND BLACK)

While Part 1 discussed the process of making a lighter tea (White and Green) from plant to cup, Part 2 discusses my favorites, Oolong and Black teas. I first started getting hooked on teas when we went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. Just having the little cups of tea, sipping and sharing family stories hooked me. I love many types of teas, but Oolong and Black are at the top of the list.

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is allowed to somewhat or partially oxidize and sits on the color scale between green and black. Depending on how oolong is produced, it can end up being more like green tea or more like black tea. Traditionally, oolong tea is the tea of choice for most people of Chinese and Japanese decent. Oolong has a taste that is more comparable to green tea than to black tea, but the color can range from a greenish yellowish to dark amber. Oolong is also said to have benefits in controlling obesity and has benefits to help prevent some cancers.

Black Tea

Allowed to fully oxidize, black tea is dried and has undergone many chemical reactions causing the tea to take on the black color. Black tea normally possesses a stronger flavor and has a higher concentration of caffeine. Generally unblended teas are named after the region they are produced. Black tea is normally graded on one of four scales of quality. Whole leaf teas are highest quality followed by broken leaves, fannings, and dusts. Whole leaf teas are considered more valuable, especially if they contain leaf tips. Hence, the more valuable the tea, the higher the price tag. Some of the black, unblended teas you’ll come across are: Keemun, Dian Hong, Tibeti, Assam, Darjeeling, and Ceylon.