Tea Types 101
A Beginner’s Guide to the World of Tea
All true tea comes from a single remarkable plant: Camellia sinensis.
Whether you’re sipping a delicate white tea, a robust black tea, or something in between, it all begins with the same evergreen shrub.
What makes each tea type different is not the plant itself, but how the leaves are harvested, processed, and sometimes even aged.
Through methods like withering, steaming, rolling, oxidizing, or fermenting, tea makers bring out an incredible spectrum of flavors, aromas, and colors.
Tea has been enjoyed for thousands of years, originating in China and spreading across Asia before captivating the world.
Today, it is second only to water as the most widely consumed beverage on earth.
Beyond its rich cultural history, tea is also cherished for the way it connects people, whether in a mindful ritual, a social gathering, or simply a quiet moment of pause.
White Tea
Common flavour Notes: Honey, melon, floral, apricot, fresh hay
Mood: Gentle, calming, light - like a soft morning breeze; perfect for quiet reflection or unwinding.
About White tea: White tea is the least processed of all teas, prized for its subtlety and natural sweetness.
It is made from the young leaves and unopened buds of the tea plant, which are carefully plucked and then left to wither and dry under natural conditions. Because it undergoes minimal oxidation, white tea retains more of its delicate flavor compounds and nutrients.
Its taste is often described as light, floral, and slightly sweet, with gentle hints of honey or apricot.
White tea is lower in caffeine, making it an ideal choice for those who want a calming, soothing cup that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
Beyond its taste, white tea is rich in antioxidants, which may help support overall wellness and skin health, making it as nourishing as it is refreshing.
Green Tea
Common flavour Notes: Grass, seaweed, chestnut, spinach, sweet pea
Mood: Refreshing, clean, energizing — it sharpens focus and clears the mind without overwhelming stimulation.
About green tea: Green tea is celebrated for its fresh, vibrant flavors and health benefits.
The leaves are picked and immediately heated through steaming or pan-firing to prevent oxidation, which preserves their green color and natural compounds. This process creates a tea that is lighter than black tea but more flavourful than white tea.
Green tea can have a variety of tastes depending on the region, cultivar, and processing method: some are grassy and vegetal, others subtly sweet, nutty, or even floral.
Green tea is well known for its high antioxidant content, particularly catechins, which are believed to support metabolism, heart health, and mental clarity.
With a moderate caffeine content, it provides a gentle lift, making it perfect for morning or afternoon refreshment.
Matcha
Common Flavour Notes: Umami, creamy, earthy, sweet, vegetal
Mood: Focused, uplifting, mindful - a smooth energy boost that feels grounding yet invigorating.
About Matcha: Matcha is a unique type of powdered green tea, and due to its growing popularity and cultural significance, we’ve decided to dedicate a special paragraph to this exceptional tea here.
This powdered green tea that comes from shade-grown leaves called tencha. The leaves are carefully de-veined and ground into a fine, bright green powder.
Unlike traditional teas, where you steep and discard the leaves, matcha is whisked directly into hot water, so you consume the whole leaf. This results in a more concentrated flavor and a higher caffeine and antioxidant content.
The taste of matcha is rich and umami-forward, with a creamy texture and subtle sweetness. It has a vibrant, earthy aroma that makes it ideal for mindful tea rituals, meditation, or as a natural energy boost.
Beyond traditional preparation, matcha is also popular in lattes, smoothies, and baking, allowing its unique flavour and health benefits to shine in creative ways.
Oolong Tea
Common Flavour Notes: Orchid (floral), stone fruit (peach, plum), creamy/buttery, toasted nuts, honey
Body Feeling / Mood: Comforting, balancing, luxurious - brings a sense of centeredness and warmth, perfect for slow sipping.
About Oolong tea: Oolong tea is a fascinating category that bridges the gap between green and black teas.
The leaves are partially oxidised, which allows for a complex flavour profile that can vary widely depending on the production style.
Some oolongs are lightly oxidised, resulting in a floral, creamy, and lightly sweet cup, while others are more heavily oxidised, offering rich, roasted, and nutty notes.
Oolong teas are often prized for their ability to be re-steeped multiple times, with each infusion revealing new layers of aroma and taste.
Traditionally, oolong is central to Chinese gongfu tea ceremonies, where the slow brewing process allows drinkers to savour its evolving character.
Its moderate caffeine content and nuanced flavors make oolong a versatile tea for both casual drinking and focused tasting sessions.
Black Tea
Common Flavour Notes: Malt, caramel, dark chocolate, dried fruit (raisin, fig), spicy (clove, cinnamon)
Body Feeling / Mood: Bold, awakening, energizing - gives strength and stamina, like a morning hug in a cup.
About black tea: Black tea is fully oxidised, giving the leaves a dark brown to black color and creating a bold, robust flavour.
The oxidation process intensifies the natural compounds in the leaves, resulting in a tea that can range from malty and sweet to strong, brisk, and even slightly astringent. Black tea is versatile—it can be enjoyed plain, with milk or cream, sweetened with sugar or honey, or spiced with flavors such as bergamot (in Earl Grey) or chai spices.
It contains more caffeine than most other traditional teas, making it a popular choice for energising morning cups or afternoon pick-me-ups.
Beyond taste, black tea is rich in antioxidants and compounds like theaflavins and thearubigins, which are associated with heart health and digestive benefits.
Its bold flavor and wide variety of styles have made black tea a staple in cultures around the world.
Pu'er and Dark Tea
Common Flavour Notes: Earthy (forest floor, damp wood), leather, mushroom, dates/prunes, smoky
Mood: Grounding, restorative, deeply calming - almost meditative, great for digestion and slowing down.
About Pu'er and Dark Teas: Pu’er and other dark teas are unique for their post-fermentation process, which sets them apart from traditional teas.
After the initial oxidation, the leaves are aged and fermented over months or even years, sometimes decades. This process creates deep, earthy, and mellow flavors that can be reminiscent of leather, wood, dried fruit, or mushrooms.
Some pu’er teas are classified as raw (sheng), offering more vibrant and slightly astringent notes, while ripe (shou) pu’ers are darker, smoother, and richer in body.
Dark teas are often appreciated for their digestive and metabolic benefits and are traditionally consumed after meals in Chinese tea culture.
The aging process means that, like fine wine, the flavour develops and deepens over time, creating a complex, layered tea-drinking experience.
Herbal Tea
Common Flavour Notes: Citrus, Floral, vanilla, spicy, warming
Mood: Nurturing, soothing, flexible - each herbal tea sets a different mood, from relaxing before sleep to warming during cold days.
About herbal tea: Herbal teas, also known as tisanes, are not technically teas because they do not come from the Camellia sinensis plant.
Instead, they are infusions of herbs, flowers, fruits, or roots. Popular examples include chamomile, peppermint, rooibos, hibiscus, and ginger.
Herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free, making them a soothing choice for evening relaxation or for those avoiding caffeine entirely. Each herbal tea offers unique flavors and potential health benefits: chamomile for calming, peppermint for digestion, rooibos for antioxidants, and hibiscus for a tart, refreshing note.
The diversity of herbal teas means there’s truly a blend for every taste, mood, and wellness need, from fragrant floral cups to spicy, warming infusions.
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