There are a variety of beverages that call themselves teas, but true teas all originate from the same plant, camellia sinensis. The tea plant originated in southern China thousands of years ago, and has been cultivated and consumed ever since. Camellia sinensis is divided into two main varietals: The first is camellia sinensis var. sinensis, which is grown primarily in China, and other East Asian countries like Korea, and Japan. The sinensis varietal has a mild, mellow taste. It’s close kin, camellia sinensis var. assamica, is primarily grown in India and the surrounding regions, and features a more hearty, robust flavour.
All the most popular tea types, black, green, white, oolong, and purple teas come from the camellia sinensis tea plant. Each tea develops its unique characteristics via a variety of different harvesting and processing methods. If you want to sample some of the best examples of the many tastes available, look no further than Teavision, a leading purveyor of fine tea in Australia. Tea has now spread all across the globe to become the most popular beverage on Earth.
Some of the most popular teas are:
Black tea – This is the type used in name-brand teabags at the grocery store. Breakfast blends like English Breakfast and Irish Breakfast are popular black tea products. Black teas are high in caffeine, containing about half as much as a cup of coffee. Like their name, they are a dark-coloured brew, and feature a strong, robust flavour. Black tea is very popular in the West.
Green tea – This type of tea makes a light green or yellow-coloured brew, with a lighter body and milder taste. Green teas contain about half the caffeine as black tea. Green tea is the main tea of choice in Asia.
Orange honey tea – This type of tea is a delightful infusion that combines the tangy sweetness of oranges with the rich, comforting taste of honey. This aromatic beverage offers a refreshing burst of flavor and a soothing warmth that is perfect for any time of day.
White tea – This minimally processed tea has a light body and quite a mild flavour with a crisp, clean finish. White tea is low in caffeine and is considered a speciality sought after by connoisseurs.
Oolong tea – is somewhere in between black and green teas, brewing a pale yellow to rich amber. Oolong tea is an Asian favourite, and is the tea most commonly served in Chinese restaurants.
Purple tea – is a newcomer to the tea world, made from a purple-leaved tea plant found growing wild in the Assam region of India. Most purple teas are now produced in Kenya, Africa.
