Are you a fan of sophistication and hoity toity fanciness? Well, then you need to venture into the world of tea because tea is fancy as hell. I mean, if you don’t believe me, watch any British movie or tv series. They look so sophisticated having tea parties and drinking tea all the time. 

Venturing into the tea world isn’t going to be easy, my love. You will be flooded with millions of different types of tea, different flavours of tea and there are so many brewing techniques. Don’t get culture chock and try and leave because Goody is here to help you out with a guide to tea for beginners. 

Here are the different types of tea:

1. True Teas

Did you know that there are only five true teas in the whole wide world? The five true teas are white tea, green tea, oolong tea, black tea, and pu-erh tea. What makes them true teas is that they are made from the leaves of the tea plant known by its scientific name Camellia sinensi. 

But if they are all made from the same plant then how come they all have different flavours? Well, this happens in the production process which affects their colour, flavour, and aroma. Let’s find out more about these five true teas:

+ White Tea

This is the least processed tea made from the youngest buds and leaves of the tea plant. After harvesting, the leaves are dried in direct sunlight before being sorted, graded, and packaged for sale.

White Tea helps in weight loss, increases energy & alertness, helps reduce inflammation, improves digestion and is great for the heart.

The best time to drink white tea is in the morning as it helps wake you up or after ever meal as it aids digestion. However, do not drink more then three cups a day.

To brew White Tea, use 1 to 2 teaspoons for every 240ml of water and steep for 1 to 5 minutes. 

+ Green Tea

The production of this tea includes an additional step compared to white tea. The harvested leaves are either pan-fried or steamed before being shaped, sorted and packages.

Green tea has recently risen to fame due to the many health benefits it contains. Here’s an article about 10 benefits of Green Tea with evidence. 

You should drink green tea in the morning or before workout sessions as green tea contains caffeine and L-Theanine which wake you up and helps you concentrate better. Do not have more than 2 or 3 cups a day and NEVER drink green tea on an empty stomach.

To brew, steep one teaspoon of green tea leaves for every 240ml of water for 3 to 5 minutes.

+ Oolong Tea

The difference between oolong tea and the other pure teas is that they are semi-oxidized teas. After harvesting, the leaves are gently bruised to release the enzymes in the tea so that they can interact with oxygen. Then they are dried in direct sunlight before being shaped, sorted, and packaged.

Just like the other teas, the best time to drink oolong tea is in the morning or before workouts. You can also find out about the benefits of oolong tea here. 

To brew oolong tea use 1 teaspoon or 2 grams of oolong tea for 240ml and let it steep for 1 to 5 minutes.

+ Black Tea

This tea undergoes the most production processes. After harvesting, and drying using either direct sunlight or air, they are processed using either the CTC method – crush, tear, curl, or the orthodox method – where the leaves are fully oxidated. 

Here are 10 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Black Tea. The best time to enjoy a nice hot cup of black tea in anytime during the day as it does contain caffeine and also after meals as it helps you to digest your food. 

To brew black tea, use 1 teaspoon of black tea leaves for every 240ml ounces of water and steep for 3 to 5 minutes.

+ Pu-erh Tea

This tea is a post oxidized tea meaning that their oxidation process is more like an aging process. For raw pu-erh, the harvested leaves are pan-dried and oxidized for 1 to 50 years. For ripe pu-erh, they are aged using micro bacteria. 

Pu-erh tea increases energy, promotes a healthy heart, cleanses toxins, protects bone health, aids weight loss, and reduces stress. The best time to drink it is after every meal so that it can remove excess grease and help your body eliminate unwanted and hard-to-digest fat. 

To brew, use 1 teaspoon for every 240ml of water and steep the leaves for 2 to 4 minutes.

2. Herbal Tea

Herbal teas are made from plants that are not the tea plant such as flowers, herbs, spices and roots. Also, herbal teas are caffeine-free, so you can enjoy them anytime you like.

To brew them, add boiling water and let it steep for a few minutes. They can be paired with true teas or sweeteners too!

Some of the examples of herbal tea are:

+ Chamomile – helps you to calm down so it is best to drink before bedtime & pairs well with honey and lemongrass.

+ Peppermint – boosts relaxation and is perfect for when you’re having a slight flu or cough.

+ Ginger tea – help when you have digestion discomfort (angin) so enjoy after your meals. 

3. Flavoured Teas

These teas are actually true teas that are infused with other flavours such as spices, herbs or citrus fruits. It is brewed the same way herbal tea is brewed, just add boiling water and let it steep for a few minutes.

Here are some examples of flavoured teas:

Earl Grey – black tea leaves infused with bergamot orange rinds.

Masala Chai – black tea leaves with black pepper, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon.