Types of tea

WRItING AND ARt by mANDy mAH

Matcha. Earl Gray. English Breakfast. These names resonate throughout cafés, restaurants, and lounges. With the various types and flavors of tea, some may not understand the differences between them. All tea leaves come from the same plant: Camellia sinensis. Tea can be sorted into six basic categories. The main differentiating factor between the categories is the amount of oxidation and the processing method for each.

White Tea

White tea is the least processed type of tea. The majority of white tea leaves are plucked, withered, and then left to dry.

Green Tea

Green tea is plucked, withered, heated to prevent oxidation, and then rolled or pressed for flavor.

Yellow Tea

Yellow tea undergoes a similar process used to develop green tea, but with an additional step called wrapping (also known as heaping or yellowing, it is a deenzyming process)

Potential Benefits: Reduces risk of heart disease, improves dental health, reduces risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, slows skin aging

Examples: Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen), White Peony (Bai Mu Dan), Longevity Eyebrow (Shou Mei)

Potential Benefits: Improves brain functioning, prevents cell damage, prevents Type 2 diabetes

Examples: Sencha, Matcha, Dragon Well (Long Jing)

Potential Benefits: Keeps arteries healthy, strengthens bones, helps treat inflammatory bowel disorders

Examples: Jun Shan Yin Zhen, Huo Shang Huang Ya, Meng Ding Huang Ya

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is partially oxidized via processes that promote oxidation (such as leaf bruising) before heating to stop oxidation.

Black Tea

Black tea is withered, rolled or cut for a faster oxidation process, and then fully oxidized.

Dark Tea

Also known as post-fermented tea, dark tea is processed similar to green tea initially, but then goes through microbial fermentation and is aged for months or years.

Potential Benefits: Reduces risk of diabetes, improves heart health, boosts metabolism

Potential Benefits: Improves gut health, improves heart health, improves focus, helps prevent cancer

Potential Benefits: Improves digestion, lowers blood pressure, reduces cholesterol levels in blood

Examples: Phoenix Tea, Iron Goddess of Mercy (Tie Guan Yin), Wuyi Oolong Tea (Da Hong Pao) Examples: Assam Black, Darjeeling Black, Keemun Black Examples: Pu’er, Golden Flower Brick Tea (Jin Hua Fu Cha)