Different Types of Tea
Black, green, white, red, oolong, and pu-erh teas all come from the same plant, camellia sinensis. The difference between these teas is how they are processed. Tea has a long history and a variety of ways that it is processed to create this incredible beverage. A deep dive into how teas are made is a fascinating journey, but it is a bit beyond what this site offers. At its most basic level, the oxidation process is the key to differentiating between types of tea. Black teas are fully oxidized, oolongs less so, green teas are practically unoxidized, and white teas are young leaf buds that are completely unoxidized. Pu-erhs and true Chinese black teas go through a fermentation process. Anything made from any other plant is not actually tea; it is a tisane, herbal infusion, or some other type of leaf/flower/plant that is dried and then steeped in hot water to drink. Many of these still use the word ‘tea’ in their names, and while that is technically incorrect, it is accepted by tea drinkers because those beverages fit nicely into the world of tea.
Teas can vary in flavor depending on the base and the flavor profile. Green teas will differ from black teas, and rich teas will differ from fruity teas. On that same note, fruity green teas will differ from fruity black teas. There's also a big difference between a high quality single-origin tea and a fun tea blend.
Black tea
Black teas are probably the most well-known and popular in the States. If you usually buy plain Lipton tea, it may be time to expand your horizons and try something new. Good black teas are dark and robust, like the coffee of the tea world. It is worth it to try a single-origin, loose-leaf black tea and to experience its complexities. Flavored black teas are also tasty, especially first thing in the morning, like an earl grey or a black tea with vanilla or fruit. Spiced chai is another common type of black tea. Let's look into the different kinds of flavored black teas.
Flavored black teas
Fruity
Fruity black teas can come in many varieties. Citrus, berries, tropical fruits, all blend well with black tea. Black is probably the most versatile of all the tea types when it comes to blending. One of the most popular black tea blends is Earl Grey which is a black tea with bergamot oil, giving it a light citrus note.
Rich
Rich flavors are more common in black teas than the less oxidized teas. With black teas, you’ll find more vanillas, caramels, and chocolate type flavors than you will with green, white, or oolong teas.
Floral
Floral flavors can be very light when the blend uses the actual flower in the ingredients, so while black tea blends often add floral bits, they are less often the central flavor. When the floral is the base flavor of the tea, it is often made with artificial flavor, unless they use a very potent flower, such as lavender.
Mint
Mint is a flavor category all its own because it’s such a unique flavor. While mint is more common in green tea blends, it does appear in black tea blends as well. A strong black tea with peppermint and chocolate is always a wonderful treat during a chilly evening.
Chai
The word ‘chai,’ and various versions of the word, means ‘tea’ in many languages. To say ‘chai tea’ is redundant and incorrect. In the US, the word ‘chai’ often refers to a black tea with spices, and the popular chai latte is a spiced black tea made with warm milk and sugar. The numerous ways to make chais are unending, and much more than can fit into a small paragraph. However, chais are amazing and worth the time and effort to research how to make an authentic chai latte.
Green Tea
Green teas are healthy and light. A strong green tea can have a really grassy flavor, which the tea snobs like myself call a ‘vegetal’ flavor. However, the range of flavor profiles and notes in pure, high-quality green teas is surprising and worth exploring. Of course, there are also many green tea blends out there to expand the flavor profile even further.
Japanese green teas, like Sencha green tea, tend to have sweeter, and stronger vegetal notes than most other green teas. This is also why Japanese matcha, a powdered green tea, is so good in a latte.
Chinese green teas vary greatly in the flavor profiles, from vegetal to earthy and sweet to bitter.
Flavored green teas
Fruity
Because green teas are lighter than black teas, they can be easily overwhelmed by added flavors. A good green tea blend doesn’t overdo it on the added fruits or use extremely strong fruits that will overpower the green tea flavor. Of course, if you’re just looking to get the added health benefits of green tea without that green tea flavor, then those stronger added flavors are just what you’re looking for.
Rich
Rich flavors are less common in green teas than black teas because they are so much lighter in flavor. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some excellent rich and sweet green tea blends out there.
Floral
Florals and green teas go together splendidly. Florals are light and complement the slight vegetal flavor of the green teas so well. If you are a fan of floral teas, green teas are the way to go.
Mint
When mint is added to a green tea, it is usually spearmint, as it has a much less potent flavor and scent than peppermint does. It’s also a little sweeter, which can make for a lovely tea blend.
Oolong teas
Oolong is the pinnacle of quality in the tea world. The Ferrari, the Kobe beef of teas. Oolongs are made of excellent quality leaves, oxidized less than black but more than green tea, giving them an incredible flavor profile. Oolongs tend to cost more, so they aren’t often used in blends, nor should they be. Some of the best oolongs out there are grown in Taiwan and are best served out of a gaiwan or small yixing teapot.
White teas
White teas are made of the young leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. They are delicate, light, and quite tasty. Most white teas are drunk pure, but the blends that do exist include other light and refreshing flavors. Some of the most common white tea blends include peach, apricot, or rose.
Rooibos or Red Bush tea
Rooibos tea is a plant grown in South Africa. It is known for its sweet and unique flavor and is often used as a non-caffeinated substitute for tea in many blends.
Herbal tisanes
The phrase 'herbal tea' is a misnomer. Teas come from the camellia sinensis plant, so when you steep peppermint or chamomile, you are actually making an herbal tisane. However, it has become commonly accepted to call them 'herbal teas,' so feel free to call them that as well!
The beauty of herbal tisanes is the fact that you can make tea out of nearly any edible plant. There are also many health benefits to certain herbal teas. There are too many out there to list, but some of my favorites include peppermint, rose, ginger, and lavender.