Tea

Tea

Tea is basically the dried and processed leaves of only one species of plant called camellia sinensis. Interestingly enough, herbal teas or herbal infusions are not really teas, but simply dried leaves and/or flowers from various other plants and herbs. Sometimes, teas can also be flavored with oils or scented with flower petals during the processing stage. They can also be combined with fruits and spices.

Types of Tea

White Tea

• The least processed
• Taste like fresh leaves or grass
• Lower amount of caffeine
• Highest antioxidant properties

 Green Tea

• minimal oxidation
• closer to white tea, taste like fresh leaves or grass
• Lower amount of caffeine
• Highest antioxidant properties

 
Oolong  Tea(wu long)

• Between green & black tea
• Partially oxidized

 

Black Tea

• Highest caffeine
• Not much antioxidant
• Full oxidation

Chai Tea

Black tea with spices, milk and sugar

 

Flavored / Scented Tea

Tea with flower petals /blossoms, herbs or fruit peel.

 An herbal tea, tisane, or ptisan is an herbal infusion made from anything other than the leaves of the tea bush (Camellia sinensis). Herbal infusions look like tea and are brewed in boiling water like tea. Herbal teas can be made with fresh or dried flowers, leaves, seeds or roots, generally by pouring boiling water over the plant parts and letting them steep for a few minutes. Seeds and roots can also be boiled on a stove. The tisane is then strained, sweetened if so desired, and served. Many companies produce herbal tea bags for such infusions.

Examples:

Flower Tea:

• rose, chamomile, lavender, jasmine, Chrysanthemum, osmanthus, ginseng flower, honeysuckle flower, carnation etc

Herbal Tea:

• Leaf: lemongrass, French verbena, mint
• Seed: fennel, cardamom, pumpkin seed
• Bark: slippery elm, cinnamon, willow bark
• Root: chicory, ginger, turmeric
• Fruit: apple, peach, blueberry