An ancient beverage with a rich history, tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages around the world. According to legend, the legendary Chinese ruler Shenong accidentally discovered tea when the leaves of a nearby plant fell into the water he was boiling.
The nutritional benefits of tea, including its antioxidant properties that help strengthen the immune system, have been consumed for thousands of years. It has become an integral part of cultural rituals and is loved as much for its taste as for its medicinal properties. Tea is now a $10 billion industry in the United States and a $38.8 billion industry worldwide.
Although there are many different types of tea, they all stem from five basic classifications: black, green, white, oolong, and pu-erh. According to Fresh Tea, a tea information organization, varieties depend on how the leaves are treated after picking. Following are some of the popular types of tea.
Darjeeling: This is a black tea with a mild, nutty taste and floral aroma. It is lighter than other types of black tea.
Earl Grey: Another black tea, Earl Grey, gets its flavor from the addition of bergamot, an orange extract.
Oolong: Da Hong Bao, Dong Ting, Taiguanyin, Baozhong and Jin Chua are some of the most popular varieties of Oolong. Oolong is semi-oxidized, so it falls between green and black teas in terms of its flavor strength.
Silver Needle Tea: This is the most expensive white tea in the world. It was a favorite of various Chinese dynasties.
Assam: While many teas originate from China, Assam is a black tea originating from Assam, India. It has a full-bodied taste and a lively taste.
English Breakfast Tea: This is a traditional blend of black teas from Assam, Ceylon and Kenya. It has a relatively high caffeine content, so it is energizing and strong.
Masala Chai: Chai is the Hindi word for tea. Recipes for masala chai vary, but typically the tea is made from an Assam or another black tea mixed with cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, cloves, fennel, ginger and peppercorns. The tea is mixed with milk to make a creamy, spicy brew.
Matcha: This is a traditional Japanese green tea powder made by grinding green tea leaves. The flavor is stronger than other green tea brews because the powder is steeped rather than mixed with water.
Bubble Tea: Bubble tea originated in Taiwan. It is mixed with black tea or matcha with milk and tapioca balls and served over ice.
Bu-er: A unique fermented black tea traditionally produced in China’s Yunnan province. Pu-erh can be left to age, which helps to mellow the flavor.
