The Teahouse

*~There are Many Different Kinds of Teas~*

"True" teas come from the leaves of the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis, and the differences between them arise from processing and geography. The main categories of "true" teas are Black, Oolong, Green, and White.

Black teas are the most popular teas in the West. They are withered in the sun and go through the most oxidation processing. Black teas have the highest caffeine of the true teas, and the strongest flavors. Varieties include Ceylon, Assam, and Darjeeling. Pu-erh is an aged black tea with a very deep flavor.

Oolong is dried in the sun and then goes through an oxidation process that is less than black tea but more than green tea. The taste of oolong teas vary greatly among themselves.

Green tea is the most popular tea in Asia. It is withered slightly and goes through minimal oxidation processing. The taste of green teas can vary between grassy and earthy. Varieties include Dragon Well, Gunpowder, and Sencha.

White tea comes from the buds and young leaves of the tea plant, and is known as the tea of the Chinese Emperors. These teas don't go through oxidation processing and have the least caffeine of the "true" teas. Their flavor is very subtle and slightly sweet. Silver Needle is the most prized and expensive variety, since only the downy buds of the tea plant go into it.

Then there is the huge diversity of "teas" that come from plants other than Camellia Sinensis, and these are more accurately called "herbal infusions."

As for myself, I'll call any plants steeped in water a "tea."

Rooibos, otherwise known as "red tea," comes from a bush that grows only in the shrubland of South Africa. It contains no caffeine, but has many health benefits, including trace minerals and rare antioxidants. Rooibos flavor is smooth and sweet. It comes in the oxidized red and the non-oxidized green varieties, the latter of which retains more nutrients.

Yerba Mate, or simply Mate, comes from a species of holly native to South America. It has a strong grassy flavor and packs a healthy energy boost from several potent stimulants. Unlike coffee, the caffeine in Mate is much less likely to make you crash.

Tulsi, or Holy Basil, is lovingly called Queen of Herbs in India. It helps to relieve stress and is noted in Ayurveda and the sacred Indian scriptures for its healing effects. It tastes a bit like spicy mint, and feels very purifying.

You can file all the other "teas" here, including infusions of Chamomile, Mint, Ginseng, Hibiscus, Honeybush, and Fruit. Many people enjoy mixing and matching various herbs for flavor and health benefits, and they can also be mixed with the "true" teas.

*~Tea Culture from Around the World~*