NCP Blog: From Leaf to Cup: All About Tea

I love starting my mornings with a good cup of coffee, but in the evenings, there’s nothing better than unwinding with a soothing cup of tea while catching up on my favorite shows (because let’s be honest, I’m always behind!). I keep a variety of herbal teas on hand, each with its own purpose—whether it’s for digestion, relaxation, immunity, and more.

 

What is Tea?

 

Tea is a beverage made by taking leaves from the Camellia Sinensis plant and steeping them in hot water. The leaves and buds of this plant are carefully harvested to create a diverse range of teas, each with its own unique flavor and characteristics.

 

Types of Tea

 

Let’s explore some of the different types of teas as shared by teaforte.com.

 

Black Tea is the most familiar type of tea in North America and Europe, with popular varieties like Earl Grey and English Breakfast. It undergoes the most intensive processing, allowing the leaves to fully oxidize before drying. This gives black tea its distinctive dark color.

 

Green Tea is an unoxidized tea and is best known for its grassy vegetal notes (aromas) and greenish leaves. Because it doesn’t undergo oxidation, green tea requires careful steeping. Too much heat or steeping time can make it taste bitter.

 

White Tea is the least processed of teas, made exclusively from the buds and very young leaves of the tea plant. Despite being minimally processed, it is slightly more oxidized than green tea.

 

Oolong Tea falls between black and green tea, and is only partially oxidized. While its appearance leans more toward black tea, its flavor is closer to green tea, offering a smooth and well-rounded taste.

 

Herbal Teas include a wide variety of infusions made from herbs, flowers, berries, spices, roots, fruits, and other flora sources. Herbal teas have been used for centuries for their soothing and medicinal benefits.

 

 

 

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