Types of Tea to Choose from
March 21, 2011
Although there are different types of tea around, you might think that it comes from different sources. The truth is that all teas come from a single source, namely the evergreen of the Camellia family. The main factor that affects their own flavor is the processing methods used on them the climate of their habitat, the region from where they are gathered, soil condition, and so on. With that said, there are thousands of different kinds of teas around the globe. There are even teas blended with different kinds of leaves, herbs, flowers, and even oils.
Types of Tea
As mentioned there are thousands of different Kinds Of Tea with their own unique flavor. If however you’re looking for a way to learn the basic four types of tea, all you have to remember is that there are White, Green, Black and Oolong teas.
White Tea
Among the four types of tea, white tea is the least processed one. Most commercially prepared white teas come from China or Japan during the spring time. This type of tea has a pretty light and mild flavor to it with a bit of sweet and malt taste. Also, this tea is known to have the least amount of caffeine among the four types of tea containing just around 15 mg of caffeine per cup. What’s more is that you can even decaffeinate the tea yourself. To make things even more interesting, you could add a twist of lemon if ever you’re looking for a more citrus taste.
Green Tea
This type of tea is also known as the unfermented tea. This is so because once the tea leaves are picked and dried, they are heated thus making sure fermentation doesn’t take place. This particular type of tea has several health benefits that come with it and it is by far one of the more popular types of tea around. It has a pale green color to it and you’ll notice that it has an herb like flavor that tastes fresh and mild. In terms of its caffeine content, it has low content, but still it has more compared to white teas. You’ll get an average of 20 mg of caffeine per cup. If you want to make tea latte, you could add a bit of milk in order to do so.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is probably the most sophisticated among the four types of tea. Good oolong teas can cost a bit much compared to the common teas mainly because of the strict processing required. Also, you can experience the smoothest flavor any tea can offer if you brew the tea correctly. Oolong tea can be considered something as a middle tea to the herb flavored green tea and the strong black tea. In terms of caffeine content, you’ll get around 30 mg of caffeine per cup.
Black Tea
This is the most complex type of tea and its strong flavor is also a very notable characteristic. The tea’s color is brown to red in color. Its flavor is very bold and to some people, things can get quite bitter. In order to get a better mix, you could add a bit of milk to it thus getting rid of the bitterness, or at least lessening it to an extent. Also, note that this type of tea has the most caffeine content per cup, averaging to a substantial 40 mg per cup.
There are different things to consider when choosing your tea. Among the types of tea to choose from, you’ll have to consider their caffeine content, availability, price range, flavor, and so on. Also, note that the flavor of the tea can make it perfect for certain types of dishes and cuisines as well.
The Organic Herbal Tea
March 14, 2011
More and more people are making drinking tea part of their lives. Of course, with the wide range of benefits tea offers, it’s an understandable thing. Not only do you have some really neat health benefits, you also have fun with your friends or your family and it helps to wash down the aftertaste of your meal. Of course, there are different types of teas and among the particularly interesting ones are the herbal teas.
Herbal Teas
As like commercially prepared teas, there are also other types of herbal teas around. You’ll be able to enjoy herbal white, green, black, and oolong teas. Herbal teas also give you the full benefits of regular tea, if not better. You’ll also reduce health risks when drinking herbal teas instead of the regular ones. Also, it is nice to know that herbal teas are prepared in a manner that is eco friendly since they don’t use all the harmful chemicals in the process of growing and caring for them.
Why Switch to Herbal Teas
More and more people tend to switch to the more organic herbal teas because of many reasons. First off, it can be a lot more affordable than the commercially prepared tea bags you find on your grocery store. Of course, there are more expensive herbal teas around however you’ll be able to fully experience the freshness of the tea you’ll be preparing. If you’re the type of person who has a passion for the freshness of things, then you’ll definitely love herbal teas. Another reason why people go for herbal teas is that you can store it for a longer period of time. Also, the leaves don’t lose their freshness to easily as well. Besides, the herbal teas usually deliver a much better taste, color, and aroma that you’ll be sure to love.
Another good reason to switch to herbal teas is that they don’t use harmful toxins and chemicals as opposed to the commercially available teas. Most tea is grown in China and India, and the handling of toxins in these environments isn’t too strict and there is a chance that these chemicals may contaminate the tea and it could pose health risks to the consumers.
Infusing Herbal Tea
All you have to do is to put 1 or 2 tablespoons of the natural materials into a brewing utensil and place it in a cup. Then you’ll pour in about 6-8 ounces of boiling water and wait for it to steep for several minutes. If you’re after the medicinal properties of the tea, you could wait for around 15 minutes or so before you drink it.
If you’re a tea lover, you’ll be able to distinguish the difference in the taste of herbal teas compared to the commercially grown tea bags. The taste of herbal teas are superior to the commercial ones and aside from the better quality, you’ll be able to rest assured that the teas aren’t contaminated by harmful toxins such as pesticides. There is nothing more satisfying than a cup of fresh tasting hand crafted herbal tea. Whether you’re starting your day during the morning, relaxing during the afternoon, or enjoying the comforts of your own home during the evening, herbal tea is the perfect companion for you.
Some Facts about the Oolong Tea
March 7, 2011
A lot of people nowadays drink tea on a daily basis. This is most true on Asian countries such as China or Japan. There are four Kinds Of Tea for you to choose from and one of which of course is oolong tea. Good oolong tea can be more expensive than the other types of tea since it needs strict processing in order to bring out the best in it.
The Processing Method
Like teas of all kind, oolong tea also comes from the evergreen of the Camellia family although most commercially used oolong tea usually comes from either China or Taiwan. Oolong tea is a semi fermented tea that uses whole tea leaves that are bruised. Once the leaves are plucked, they are immediately dried. In order to bruise the leaves slightly, they are put together in a basket and they are shaken after which they are exposed to heat. Once ready, they are rolled into balls. There are also variations in the processing method of oolong teas however they generally stick to the basic method of preparing the tea.
Oolong Tea Characteristics
Oolong tea has a very smooth flavor to it, but the actual taste of the tea varies differently due to several factors such as climate, soil conditions, processing method, and so on. Oolong tea can come in sweet, semi sweet, fruity, nutty, or even flowery flavors. A cup of oolong tea comes with 30 mg of caffeine which is less than the strong black tea and more than the soft green tea. This gives oolong tea a very distinct flavor that is somewhere in between of black tea and green tea. Oolong is a tea that can’t be simply defined through its color mainly because oolong tea comes in different shades of green. You’ll be able to see oolong tea with the standard green color up to the darker shade of it.
Oolong Tea with Food
If you’re wondering what types of food goes well with oolong, you’ll want to pair oolong tea with savory foods containing meat or fish. You can even pair it with spicy foods as well since the average bitterness of the tea helps to wash down the intense flavor of most foods. Also, you’ll be able to choose from several types of oolong tea such as the Wu Yi leaves, Iron Goddess of Mercy, Kwan Yin, and more.
Health Benefits of Oolong Tea
Like most teas, oolong tea also has some neat healthful advantages as well. Oolong tea is rich in polyphenol which can aid in combating diseases. This will help you steer clear of cancer and other heart ailments as well and it will also help you lose weight.
Overall, oolong tea is indeed a nice addition to anyone’s day. A good idea is to allocate a certain portion of your time to drinking oolong tea with either your friends or your family. This will not only tighten the bond between each other, but it will also let you have better chances of avoiding certain diseases as well.
