We do know black tea, green tea, and milk tea. But are you aware that there is more to tea than just these three colors? There is a whole lot of colorful teas available in different parts of the world. Some are varieties of the same tree plants but other colored teas are from different plants. Thus, those are not true teas but are infusions or concoctions or tisane. Below is a summary of these colorful tea types.
1. Black tea- This is the tea from the regular tea plant or Camellia sinensis. The tea leaves are processed by drying and oxidation and curled and twisted to form this tea powder. This is without milk or sugar. When milk is added it is milk tea.
2. Green tea- We are a aware of this tea thanks to the celebrity endorsement of it for weight loss. If is made from the same tea plant, Camellia sinensis. But the tea leaves are semi-oxidized. The processing is different and if yields green solution on brewing.
3. White tea- This also comes from tea plant, Camellia sinensis. But the leaves are minimally processed. The tea is white looking or pale yellow in color after brewing.
4. Yellow tea- This is special Chinese tea which hasa special processing and it is less processed compared to black tea. The origin of the leaves is from same tea plant, Camellia sinensis.
5. Purple tea- This is also from same tea plant, Camellia sinensis. But the variety is different. These plants grow most in Kenya. The leaves have a vibrant purple hue due to anthocyanins. This imparts the purple color to the resulting tea as well.
6. Oolong tea- This is also a special Chinese tea with different type of processing. Bug the leaves are from same tea plant, Camellia sinensis. There is flight difference in the variety of the tea plant.
7. Pu-erh or Pu'er tea- This is also uniquely processed tea leaves from same tea plant, Camellia sinensis. Popular in China and is a rare form of tea.
8. Pink tea or Kashmiri chai- This is a specialty of the Kashmir region of Pakistan. The tea leaves are derived from same tea plant, Camellia sinensis. But it is of a different variety. The reason for the pink color is that baking soda is added to the hot beverage and it is beaten vigorously. In this tea, milk and sugar is added and crushed nuts are layered on top.
9. Red tea- This tea is not from tea plant. Therefore, it is a tisane or infusion made from leaves of the shrub called Aspalathus linearis. The infusion is red in color and also called Rooibos.
Read more: Forgiveness can never be universal!
10. Blue tea- This is not a tea technically. It is not from the tea plant. It is an infusion made from the dried petals of the flower of the plant Clitoria ternatea L. This gives it the blue color.
Comments
Post a Comment