How and Where You Can Buy the Best Teas

Most people have strong opinions on how they like their tea, but fewer people know how or where to buy the teas they enjoy the most. With hundreds of tea companies, some of which offer staggering catalogs, how does one know what to buy? Even going to the supermarket to purchase teabags, one is presented with a huge variety, and when ordering loose tea by mail-order, the selection can be even more overwhelming.

Learn styles and varieties of tea

Tea comes in many different varieties, and learning which of these styles you enjoy most is a good starting point to finding out what you like best. Tea is broadly broken into the categories of black, green, oolong, white, and pu-erh. A few popular black teas include English breakfast, Irish breakfast, Assam, Ceylon, Keemun, and Darjeeling. Pu-erh is available in ripe (black) and raw (green) forms. Similarly, gunpowder, dragon well, and sencha are a few popular green teas. Tie Guan Yin (Iron goddess of mercy) and Bai Hao (Oriental beauty) are two popular oolong teas. White teas include silver needle, white peony, and shou mei. These are only a few of the hundreds of named varieties of tea. Pay attention to what you are drinking - the particular style you are drinking can often be more important than brand, in terms of how much you enjoy a tea.

Learn tea-producing regions

The flavor, aroma, and overall quality of tea is greatly influenced by where it is grown. Even within a country like India, different regions (such as Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri, or Sikkim) produce teas with broadly different characters. China's provinces are similarly diverse; Yunnan, Zhejiang, Fujian and Anhui are only a few of the major tea-producing provinces. Other important countries include Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Japan, Kenya, and Taiwan (Formosa).

When you find a company you like, try many of its teas

Tea companies are not created equal. Different brands sell similar teas at vastly different prices, and most companies do a better job of sourcing certain types of teas than others. Shop around a bit to get a sense of prices, but when you find a company whose products and prices you like, consider trying more teas from that company.

Form your own opinions by trying as much tea as possible

Many companies offer sample sizes: buy them. Trade teas with your friends, and whenever you are served tea, ask what it is that you are drinking. Keep a journal, create a tea blog, or use an interactive website to keep track of what you are drinking. Read online reviews and look at ratings, but take them with a grain of salt: each person has unique taste; just because a tea is someone else's favorite doesn't mean you will enjoy it.

The Different Varieties of Tea

Iced tea is my beverage of choice and I prefer it black and unsweetened with lots of ice. Apparently, I am not alone in my love of tea, because tea is second only to water in world-wide consumption. One of the lovely aspects of tea is the immense variety of types, flavors and serving methods which can prevent boredom from setting in. When you visit a grocery store, the tea selection can be quite overwhelming and it is quite amazing to learn that all true teas are harvested from a few different varieties of one plant, the Camellia sinensis.

It is how the tea leaves are processed after harvesting that determines whether they will be classified as one of the four most common varieties of tea: black, green, white, or oolong. Black and oolong teas are allowed to oxidize, which is the enzymatic process by which chlorophyll breaks down, causing the leaves to darken (black tea is oxidized longer than oolong tea). Once the leaves are oxidized as desired, they are heated and dried. Green tea, on the other hand, is heated soon after picking to prevent the oxidation process from occurring. White tea is made from young leaves or buds that are harvested in the early spring and they have little or no chlorophyll in them which causes the finished product to have a silvery appearance after processing. The resulting brewed beverage is paler than that of black tea and is delicately flavored.

Some black varieties are named after the region in which they are grown. Some examples are Assam, Darjeeling (grown in India), Ceylon (grown in Sri Lanka), and Lapsang Souchong (grown in China). Flavored tea beverages are created by either blending different varieties with each other or with flavoring agents. One of my favorite beverages is Earl Grey which is black tea flavored with bergamot oil (bergamot is a type of citrus fruit). English Breakfast tea is made from blending different varieties of black tea together (typically Assam, Ceylon and Kenyan, but the mixture can vary). Another flavored beverage that has become popular in the U.S. in recent years is masala chai which originated in India. Chai is black tea brewed with one or more of the following spices: cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, star anise, peppercorn, and cloves with cardamom being the dominant flavor and then combined with milk and sugar. Another of my favorite teas is jasmine tea which is created by combining jasmine blossoms with either white or green tea (black tea is too overpowering for the delicate flavor of the jasmine).

Six Categories of Tea

Everyone drinks tea once in a while. Tea can be grouped into six categories which are Green Tea, White Tea, Yellow Tea, Red Tea, Black Tea, Oolong Tea, and Pu Erh which all made from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Each category is based on individual quality, taste, tea color, and production as well as processing techniques.

Green Tea is non fermented tea. Well known green teas include Long Jing from the West Lake, Bi Luo Chun from Suzhuo, Jiangsu Province and Sencha from Japan.

White Tea is quite rare teas made from the very young leaf buds of the tea bush. Typically such teas are covered with fine hairs of the tea bud, and have a whitish appearance in the dry leaf, which produces a sweet and delicately flavored pale infusion. Examples of White Tea are White Peony and Shou Mei Wang.

Yellow Tea is mildly fermented type and processing is quite similar to Green Tea, apart from the additional steps taken to turn the tea leaves yellow. One famous known Yellow Tea is Yin Zhen or known as Silver Needle.

Red Tea is the late fermented type. The raw green tea leaves turn black after being piled up for fermentation. Red Tea leaves are usually used as raw ingredient for many types of compressed tea.

Black Tea is 100% fermented tea. It is described based on the color of the liquor the tea produce. Black Tea is often taken with the addition of milk and or sugar. Lapsang Souchong, Earl Grey and Darjeeling are famous Black Tea.

Oolong Tea is somewhere between green and black teas in their production methods, and are consumed without milk or sugar. Oolong Tea is a partially fermented tea. These teas are extremely flavor some and highly aromatic, yet contain no additives. Tie Guan Yin and Da hong Pao are famous Oolong Tea.

Pu-Erh is the general name given to a class of non-fermented green tea and red 100% fermented tea. There are two types of Pu-Erh raw and cooked. Many Pu-Erh teas are compressed into disc, bowl or other shapes and then dried.

All teas have their own health benefits; you can read more at Teacuppa's Library link at their website. How about infusions? They are not considered true teas because they are made from dried herbs and do not contain tea leaves for examples, Herbal infusion, Fruit mélange infusions, Rooibos and Maté.

Herbal teas are caffeine-free and low in calories; they are popular for their medicinal and calming qualities. Lavender is said to relieve stress and reduce fatigue. As for Rosebuds, they add sparks to women beauty, relieve menstrual pain and ease stomach bloatedness.
Characteristic – Varies widely in appearance and tasted
Taste – Mild and refreshing
Body – Light to medium
Serving Method – Honey or sugar can be added to enhance the flavour
Caffeine - Caffeine-free
Examples – Lavender, Jasmine, Rosebuds, Kuding

Fruit mélange infusions contain no caffeine, artificial preservatives, flavouring, and colouring. It is soothing, relaxing and calming making it a great drink to be taken at anytime of the day. Definately, a hit among children. Rich in Vitamin C and iron, Fruit Mélange Infusion is an ideal dietary supplement for promoting health and preventing diseases. All Fruit Mélange Infusions contain rosehips and/or hibiscus.
Characteristic – Generally, fruit mélange infusion produces a red or deep red liquid
Taste – Refreshing, aromatic, sweet and sour
Body – Medium to full
Serving Method – Honey or sugar can be added to enhance the flavour
Caffeine - Caffeine-free
Examples – Red Orange, Woodberries, Biedermeier, Fruit Garden, Peach-Apricot, Happy Day, Fruit Punch

Rooibos or red bush, or also known as red tea only grows in South Africa. It relieves depression, stress, constipation, and other problems such as colic. It is also good for people with insomia problem as it helps to relax during bedtime.
Characteristic – Rooibos resembles strong black tea in appearance
Taste – Strong and aromatic
Body – Medium to full
Serving Method – Rooibos can be served plain or with milk
Caffeine - Caffeine-free
Examples – Rooibos, Rooibos Green, Rooibos Lemon

Maté is a popular beverage in South America. In several countries in South America, maté is considered a national drink. It is commonly used as a tonic, diuretic, stimulant to reduce fatigue, and as an appetite suppressant. Sugar, lemon juice or milk is ussually added to Maté to enhance the flavor. Maté is gaining is popularity from time to time.
Characteristic – Maté produces a brown liquid
Taste – Strong aromatic drink
Body – Medium
Serving Method – To be served plain or with milk and sugar
Caffeine - Caffeinated tea
Examples – Maté green, maté lemon

Types of Tea

What are the different teas and how do I brew them?

GREEN- Green tea is made from the unfermented leaves of the camellia sinesis plant. Green tea leaves are withered, fried, rolled, and dried to produce their unique taste. Green tea tastes similar to white tea (sun-sweetened leaves) but a bit more robust. Green tea has a moderate amount of caffeine and anti-oxidants. Green tea is delicious hot or cold. To brew: Bring water to 160 degrees F and steep for 1-3 minutes.

BLACK – Black tea is made from the fully fermented tea leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. They produce a strong-flavored dark tea. Black tea is delicious hot or cold, plain or with cream and sugar. Black tea has the highest caffeine content of the teas. Black tea also has some anti-oxidants. To brew: Bring water to a boil and steep for 3-5 minutes.

WHITE- White tea is made from the unfermented leaves of the camellia sinesis plant. White tea has a very delicate flavor, similar to sun-sweetened leaves. White tea has the smallest amount of caffeine and the highest amount of anti-oxidants. White tea is delicious hot or cold. To brew: bring water to 180 degrees F and steep for 4-8 minutes.

ROOIBOS- Naturally CAFFEINE-FREE, this leaf is grown in South Africa. Recent years have shown that roobios is a popular decaffeinated alternative to green, white and black tea. It is full of vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants. Rooibos has a red leaf that produces a sweet red infusion. Rooibos is delicious hot or cold, plain or with milk and sugar. To brew: bring water to a boil and steep for 7-10 minutes or to taste.

YERBA MATE- Yerba mate comes to us from Brazil. The flavor of brewed yerba mate is strongly vegetal, herbal, and grassy, reminiscent of some varieties of green tea. It has a slightly less potent stimulant than coffee, and is much gentler on the stomach. Yerba mate can be reinfused and does not grow bitter with over- steeping. To brew: Bring water to 150 degrees F and steep to taste.

HONEYBUSH- Honeybush is naturally CAFFEINE-FREE. This herbal red tea from South Africa, and is naturally sweet and mellow, like a mild honey. It is very similar to rooibos tea in its health benefits and nutrients (including Vitamin C, potassium, and calcium). It makes for a mildly sweet iced tea or a delicious hot infusion. To brew: bring water to a boil and steep for 7-10 minutes or to taste.

Varieties of Tea

This article will focus on three popular varieties of loose leaf tea--black, white, and green. All three teas offer excellent health benefits to varying degrees. Let’s take a look at the differences.

Black Tea
This tea can be the boldest in flavor. It can be sweet, spicy and very fragrant. Black tea is best known for it's digestive benefits. Because of it's high level of tannins, it can have an anti-diarrheal effect. The theophylline in tea helps to lower cholesterol, expand the airways allowing us to breathe easier, and prevent tooth decay. Some recent studies indicate that black tea may even kill certain viruses that live on our skin and in our mouth!

Green Tea
Green tea is rapidly becoming popular due to its emerging known health benefits. Like black tea, it can lower cholesterol, fight infection and tooth decay, and can boost the immune system. Green tea contains EGCG which is a very powerful antioxidant also found in wine. There is more EGCG in green tea than in black tea.

White Tea
This tea is made from immature leaves that are picked before the buds are opened. It's pale in color and sweet in taste. It is now believed that white tea is the healthiest tea of all because it contains more antioxidants than green tea. This tea is usually also the most expensive to buy.

All three teas offer health benefits to anyone who chooses to drink them regularly. Because tea contains less caffeine than coffee, they are able to increase blood flow to the brain without increasing the heart rate. It is believed that this can enhance mental clarity.

If you're unsure about trying loose leaf tea, visit a tea merchant and sample a few varieties. These stores are fantastic. The sales associates are experts and can point you in the right direction. The price of tea varies dramatically. A good merchant will sell you quality tea without destroying your budget.

Five Types of Tea

The are five major categories of tea. White, green, Oolong-style (brown), and black teas come from the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis. Herbal teas are made from herbs, spices, fruits, flowers, and bark, and contain no tea leaves. Similar to wine varieties, sometimes the name of a tea indicates the region in which it is grown, which affects it's flavor. Examples of these names would be: Ceylon, Darjeeling, Assam, Lapsang Suchong. Some teas, such as Jasmine, and Earl Gray, are tea leaves with added flavors. Orange Pekoe does not refer to adding orange flavor to the tea, but rather refers to the size of the leaf and it's grade.

Green tea is made from tea leaves which are steamed or pan-fried to prevent fermentation (oxidization). This gives it a delicate flavor. Green tea is very high in anti-oxidants and studies have shown it prevents tooth decay and gum disease. Green teas are particularly characteristic of Japan.

White tea is grown in the Fujian region of Eastern China. White tea contains the white buds of the tea plant, and like green tea it is unfermented and has a delicate flavor. White tea has a very pale color when brewed.

Oolong-style (brown) teas are teas that have been semi-fermented, meaning the leaves are slightly oxidized and turn brown in color.












Black teas are fully fermented tea leaves. Darjeeling, Russian Black Tea, Lapsang Suchong, and English Breakfast, are examples of fully fermented tea. Darjeeling has a mild flavor, and breakfast teas, Russian teas and Lapsang Suchong have a strong taste and are very stimulating.

All teas contain polyphenols, though black teas contain less polyphenols than other varieties. Polyphenols are a type of anti-oxidant that inhibits inflamation and may discourage the effects of aging.

Many Kinds of Tea

Ask for a cup of tea in a restaurant and you'll likely end up with something black - probably an Orange Pekoe or an English Breakfast. Most people are familiar with black teas (they're also used to make iced tea, the kind you'd also get if you ordered one in a restaurant) and have probably tasted one or two, but did you know that there are at least 6 other kinds of tea out there?

Obviously Green Tea is another popular kind, widely known for its antioxidant health benefits, but if you'd like to branch out into the tea world, here are some other kinds and what to expect when you uncover them.

1. Oolong Tea. All tea comes from the same Camellia sinensis, but this tea in particular is very fragrant. If you've had tea in a Chinese restaurant before, this is likely what you were served. It's generally brewed on the stronger side and has a relatively sweet aftertaste. Oolong tea is closer in flavor to a green tea than a black tea, but it offers less of a grassy-type flavor than green. Oolong tea provides about 15% of the caffeine content you'd find in a cup of coffee.
2. White Tea. White Tea is the least processed tea of the all. Referred to as the purest tea, this tea also has the highest level of antioxidants. If you like a tea with less of a caffeine kick, this one is for you because it's very low in caffeine content. Delicate and naturally sweet, this tea is subtly complex.
3. Mate Tea. Mate tea is uniquely flavorful infusion, and contains a stimulant other than caffeine that reacts differently in the body from other stimulants. Often referred to as the "diet" tea, this tea can act as an appetite suppressant and is made from a wild shrub in Argentina called yerba mate.
4. Rooibos Tea. Also referred to as "red tea," this tea is made from an infusion of the South African red bush. Rooibos tea is naturally caffeine free and very beneficial to your health. It can occasionally contain pieces of fruit, causing it to be high in Vitamin C. It is also said to alleviate allergies.
5. Green Tea. Everyone has heard about the antioxidant benefits of green tea, but did you know that green tea can also be beneficial against gingivitis and cavities? Not only that, but it also works to regulate your blood sugar! Green teas range in flavor from fruity (when infused with these flavors) to a traditional grassy taste.
6. Herbal Tea. Herbal teas are different in that they are not made from the same Camellia sinensis plant, but rather they are an infusion of flavors from different fruits and herbs. Also known as herbal infusions, they are naturally caffeine free and each provides a unique health benefit based on the herb(s) being infused. Flavors range from fruity and light to heavy and fragrant. Cammomile tea has been used for centuries as a sedative and to aid in weight loss.
7. Black Tea. Of course, we still need to mention our most popular tea here in the west. Black tea provides 20% of the caffeine of coffee and often has a stronger flavor than other teas. Many people drink their black tea with sugar or cream. Medical research suggests that black tea may aid in lowering cholesterol!

Green Tea is better Than Other Types of Tea

Green tea has enjoyed considerable attention in western countries lately due to its claimed health properties. This attention doesn’t come as a surprise to people living in Asian countries like China and Japan who have been enjoying the benefits of green tea for more than 4000 years.

However many companies have recognised the interest in green tea health benefits and created a range of green tea related supplements. Sometimes these companies make unproven claims about the health benefits of their products.

How is green tea better than other types of tea?
There are 3 main types of tea:
• Black Tea – made by exposing the tea leaves to air, heat, crushing and light
• Green Tea – Leaves are steamed or heated quickly to stop them oxidizing
• Oolong Tea – This is in-between, is not processed for as long as black tea but more than green tea

Because Green Tea hasn’t oxidized as much as other teas and it’s subjected to less fermentation and processing it usually contains higher levels of antioxidants and other health giving properties. However there are different grades of green tea and the levels of antioxidants present in the finished product depend on how, where and when it was picked.

What are the main benefits of green tea?
The main reason green tea provides health benefits to drinkers is the high levels of powerful natural antioxidants, called ‘Polyphenol’. Green tea is loaded with particular a type of Polyphenol called ‘Catechins’.

There is no doubt that there are many green tea benefits, however there have not been enough quality scientific studies to prove all claimed benefits beyond doubt. Depending on your views on conventional western science verses traditional Chinese medicine, some of the benefits below may be seen as potential benefits.

Green tea benefits include:
• Reducing cholesterol levels
• Aiding weight loss
• Helping to stabilize diabetes
• Slowing down the ageing process
• Improving levels of healthy bacteria
• Improving mouth and dental health
• Replenishing skin

It is the same chemical, the catechins, which provide all these green tea benefits. The antioxidants in green tea are able to eliminate and neutralize dangerous free radicals (caused by oxidzination) present in the body. People are more exposed to free radicals in modern, polluted environments.

Another benefit of green tea is its ability to increase the rate of the bodies’ metabolism, which in turns speeds up fat oxidation - this encourages weight loss.

How much green tea do I need to drink?
Most of the studies have shown that you need to drink approximately 3 cups of green tea a day to get enough antioxidants to achieve the health benefits above.
Where should I buy green tea?
Don’t just go for the cheapest tea from your local supermarket. It’s often been grown in less than perfect conditions and may provide less health benefits. Buy loose tea from a specialist tea/coffee store or online shop. These people are experts and understand the different varieties of green tea available.

Types of Tisane and Tea

The great appeal of tea reveals itself through the vast array of options available to you in your local grocery store or any online distributor. Although many hot beverages call themselves tea, there are in fact several variations and not all of them are based on the true tea plant.

True tea is created from the leaves of a plant called Camellia sinensis. These teas include white, green, oolong, and black tea. The list may seem longer because there are different varieties of these teas and sometimes they are flavored by adding other plants, spices or oils to them.

Flavored teas include Earl Grey, which is made of black tea and bergamot, and Jasmine, which is usually green tea and jasmine flowers. Other types of teas include Assam and Ceylon, which are black teas and Matcha and Sencha, which are green teas. These, of course, are just a few of the several varieties available on the market.

Herbal tea and tisane, on the other hand, happen to be one in the same but completely different than true teas from the tea plant. They originate from dried leaves, flowers or roots that are not from the Camellia sinensis plant. It seems almost any leaf or flower that is steeped in hot water is called tea. Although in some countries the word tea is legally restricted to beverages that are made using the true tea plant.

Whether it is a true tea or an herbal tea most "teas" appear to have health benefits. Real teas, like oolong and green, have been included in more research studies and appear to offer the biggest health gain, although herbal teas have shown benefits too.

The herbal tea that seems to be showing the most studied benefit seems to be rooibos. It has a high level of antioxidants, somewhat similar to green tea, but because it isn't made with tea leaves it doesn't contain the caffeine. In recent studies rooibos, also known as red tea has shown liver protecting abilities as well.

Aside from the question of tea or tisane you may also ask tea bag or loose leaf? Tea bags are great for convenience and the triangular tea bags are great for convenience with a little better flavor; but to truly enjoy the flavor a quality loose leaf tea is the best. The loose tea allows water to circulate around the leaves better to help draw out the flavor.

Classification of Tea

Tea can be classified into three types:
1. Green tea
2. Oolong tea
3. Black tea

Green tea is produced by inactivating polyfenol oxidation enzyme from fresh tea leaves. This inactivation method can be done by heating and evaporating.

Oolong tea is produced by heating the leaves in the short time after rolling the leaves. Oxidation process stopped when heating process occurs. Oolong tea also called as semi-fermentation tea, and the characteristics are between green tea and black tea.

Black tea is produced by oxidizing the catechin from fresh tea leaves using polyfenol oxidation catalyst. This process also called as fermentation. During fermentation process, the catechin is transformed to be more complex and concentrated molecules.

The main difference among green tea, oolong tea, and black tea is the content of catechin. The highest content of catechin is in green tea, with 16% - 30% of catechin. The lowest content of catechin is in black tea.