Tea is one of the most-consumed drinks in the world, coming in just after water. It is an unavoidable part of the culture of many countries around the world. Even in countries where coffee is more common, drinking tea is becoming incredibly popular because of its multiple health benefits. To be exact, tea is made from infusing leaves of the Camellia Sinensis, a bushy plant. While other similar hot drinks exist that use other plants, they are known as herbal infusions. So, what are the most popular types of tea, and what sets them apart from each other? Here are the answers. Enjoy.

Popular Types of Tea - White Tea

White tea is subtle in flavor, delicate and sort of elegant on the tongue. But, white teas undergo the least amount of processing. The leaves are picked, withered, and dried. The finished tea leaves are a soft grey color, consisting only of the bud and two top leaves from the shoot of the plant. Most popular white teas include Silver Needle and Bai Mudan. The finest ones come from the Fujian province of China.

Green Tea

Green tea has an incredible color, thanks to its lack of oxidation. In order to prevent the oxidation, the leaves are heat processed. In China, this is usually done by pan-firing or roasting the leaves whereas the Japanese steam them. Chinese green teas are most commonly a bit bolder with citrus-like flavors. On the other hand, Japanese green teas are more delicate. The color of green tea can be anywhere from pale to dark green. Green tea is definitely one of the post popular types of tea.

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea. The production includes withering the plant under the strong sun and oxidation before curling and twisting. Almost all oolong teas involve unique tea plant cultivars that are specifically used for particular varieties. Oolong is especially popular with tea connoisseurs of south China and Chinese expatriates in Southeast Asia. The Fujian preparation of tea is known as the Gongfu tea ceremony.

Black Tea

Black teas are probably the most common tea nowadays. Darjeeling, Assam, Ceylon, and Keemun are just a few of the most well-known. These teas brew up strong, bold, and are often malty. Processed black teas are usually separated into a grading system. In general, the more crushed the leaf, the stronger the brew. Moreover, black teas serve as the base of popular scented teas including Earl Grey. In China, black tea is referred to as red tea because of its strong color.

Rooibos Tea

Rooibos is a naturally caffeine-free herbal tea. It’s also known as red bush tea and has a sweet flavor. It lacks bitter tannins and is naturally decaf. Furthermore, rooibos tea is made with needle-like leaves that are harvested during the summer. Oxidation enhances the flavor of the tea and turns the leaves from green to red.

Herbal Tea

Herbal tea, or tisane, is any drink made from the infusion of herbs and spices in hot water. It usually does not contain caffeine. These drinks are distinguished from true teas, as well as from decaffeinated tea. In many countries around the world, the word 'tea' can only be used for leaves of the Camellia sinensis. Therefore the phrase 'herbal tea' cannot be used. These beverages are therefore labeled as infusion or tisane. Of course, there are so many more teas, but this wraps our list of most popular types of tea. For many more interesting stories and facts about tea, make sure to visit Teabloom.