Types of Tea
Tea color is based on oxidation
- White Tea : Least processed of all teas; leaves are simply plucked and dried; not oxidized.
- Green Tea : After plucking, the leaves are heated briefly, steamed or pan fired; drying completes the process.
- Oolong Tea : Freshly plucked leaves are gently bruised and allowed to oxidize partially. Drying halts the process of oxidation at an intermediate level.
- Black Tea : Leaves are withered, rolled, fully oxidized and dried.
- Scented Tea : Lightly infused with flavors.
- Decaffeinated Tea : Tea that has had most of the caffeine content removed.
- Organic Tea : Teas produced under regulations requiring that no chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used.
- Herbal Infusions : (Also called tisanes) - These infusions are made from flowering plants that do not have woody stems. These infusions contain no caffeine.