What is tea?
What is tea made of?
Tea is made from the infusion of tea leaves. The most common tea is harvested from the ‘Camellia Sinensis’ plant. There are herbal teas made from various plants and herbal blends.
The history of tea, in brief
Tea has existed for several thousand years and has today become the most widespread beverage worldwide. The entire history of tea began in Asia, around China, and spread to the rest of the world. Initially, the drink was likely used more as medicine, whereas today, tea is more commonly used for relaxation and enjoyment. Read more about the history of tea.
What types of tea are there ?
There are mainly three different types of tea. One type of tea has four ‘true’ tea varieties and two ‘false’ ones that come from other plants. The four true tea varieties are from the same plant: the Camellia Sinensis plant.
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- White
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- Green
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- Black
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- Oolong
The two other tea varieties are:
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- Rooibos tea
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- Herbal-infused tea
The tea types referred to as “true” come from the Camellia Sinensis plant. The other tea variants are from different plants. If we want to be a bit categorical, there is originally only one tea bush, which is the Camellia Sinensis plant, from which all tea varieties originate. Perhaps one could say that there is actually only one original tea type, and that is Camellia Sinensis, tracing back to the origin of tea.
The four “true” tea types are:
White Teas
White tea is, in principle, the same type as green tea. The only difference is that white teas undergo shorter oxidation than green teas. This way, white teas retain many of the healthy compounds within them.
Green Teas
Green tea is probably the most widespread and well-known form of tea. It is the original tea from ancient times and comes in a multitude of variations, each with a distinct taste profile. Read more about green tea.
One of the more famous variations of green tea is Matcha tea. The green Matcha teas, primarily from Japan, are used in many religious ceremonies and are often associated with Buddhism. Matcha tea stands out from other green teas as it contains finely ground powder from the green tea leaves. This process retains all the components from the tea leaves, ensuring nothing is lost during production.
There is a variation of green teas that appear yellow. These are green tea leaves that undergo additional carbon drying in the processing phase.
Oolong tea
Oolong tea undergoes the same processing as green tea initially, but then the process continues with fermentation, or oxidation, of the tea leaves, known as an oxidizing process. As the tea leaves are crushed at this stage of the process, a chemical reaction takes place, occurring very rapidly. Oolong tea requires a shorter oxidation time compared to black tea.
Black tea
Black teas undergo the same manufacturing process as Oolong, but they are fermented or oxidized for a longer period in this delicate process. The oxidation of the tea leaves continues until the leaves turn dark. After oxidation, the tea is roasted again.
Black tea is widely popular worldwide and comes in countless variations. There are numerous different flavored black teas where the tea is infused with aromas from various fruits or flowers.
Varieties of ‘genuine’ tea types
The type of tea that is produced the most in the world is made from the Camellia Sinensis plant. However, there are other tea varieties that have naturally evolved and likely mutated over time, originating from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
For example, “Camellia sinensis var. assamica” has adapted to the local soil and weather conditions, particularly in places like India. “Camellia Sinensis var. japonica” has been cultivated for many years by monks in Japan. “Camellia Sinensis var. rubra” hails from the Fujian Province in China.
The tea plant has evolved and adapted to local conditions, leading to variations in taste depending on the region where the tea originates. The flavor of a green tea, for instance, is influenced by weather conditions, production methods, and the specific area it comes from. No two teas are the same.
Flavor variations in wine and coffee depend on the production method, terroir (soil), and processing. This also applies to tea. All these factors have an impact on the taste. Therefore, there are some teas considered high quality and others more common in quality, with prices varying accordingly.
The difference between white, green, oolong, and black tea lies in the processing of the tea leaves.
The two “imitation” tea varieties:
Rooibos Tea
Rooibos comes from the bush “Aspalathus linearis,” which grows in South Africa. Rooibos translates to the red bush.
Herbal tea
Herbal tea can be made from various herbs, fruits, and flowers. The term ‘herbal tea’ encompasses a wide range of different teas. More common herbal teas are produced from chamomile flowers, resulting in chamomile tea. There are many different tea blends incorporating various herbs and tea leaves.
Other “non-genuine” tea types
The “non-genuine” tea types are made with plants other than the Camellia Sinensis bush. It’s really a matter of personal preference—what one considers to be “real” tea. Aromatic drinks can indeed be extracted from various plants.
Generally, tea leaves from the Camellia Sinensis bush are perceived as true tea. However, many might consider a tea drink, such as chamomile tea, to be a real tea. Yet, chamomile tea is an herbal tea made from the infusion of chamomile flowers. There are numerous examples in tea production where herbs are blended with “real” tea leaves.
There can be incredibly many tea variations using herbs or flower infusions to make the tea. Rooibos is just one of many, but it is one of the more widespread examples.