Cooking Article

Tea is one of the most popular after food drinks in the world
but still very few people are aware that there are four inherently different flavours and types of tea one can find in every supermarket. Each tea is made out of different ingredients and each tea has its advantages and disadvantages. I will explain.

What you should always remember is that there are only four types of tea.
1
Black tea
2
Green tea
3
White tea
4
Oolong tea

All these are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis
also known as the tea plant. Other herbal infusions such as chamomile tea
ginger tea or red tea made of rooibos leaves are disqualified as types of tea since the tea plant is not involved in their making. The difference between the four tea variations lies in the process of making them. In addition
each type of tea has another flavor and various health benefits.

1
Black Tea
The strong flavored burnt Sienna colored hot beverage is the most popular type of tea in the West. Either served with a squeeze of lemon or added milk and a cube of sugar
the cup of black tea is part of daily tea ceremonies that take place worldwide. Black tea is made of heavily oxidized Camellia sinensis leaves. When served plain
it contains no calories
carbohydrates
or fats. A cup of black tea contains more caffeine than any other types of tea but less than in any cup of coffee.

2
Green Tea
The lightly oxidized tea has been popular in China
Japan and Korea for centuries. Recently
rumors on its health benefits increased its popularity in the West as well. It has been proven that drinking green tea can lower cholesterol
prevent cancer
increase metabolic rates and be helpful in variety of other conditions and illnesses. The green tea is lightly oxidized
dried
but not fermented. It is usually served plain
without sugar or milk. Since some of the green tea variants taste a bit bitter
it should be brewed in lower temperature than the boiling point.

3
White Tea
White tea is rarer and more expensive than the other types of teas mentioned above. Originated in the Fujian province of china
the white tea is made of young Camellia sinensis leaves
which go through a long process of steaming or frying
inactivate fermenting and drying. Since the leaves are harvested while the buds are still covered by white hair
it is called white tea. White tea has the most delicate
sweet taste than the other types of tea. Moreover
it contains the smallest amount of caffeine and the largest amount of antioxidant that help prevent cancer.

4
Oolong Tea
The traditional Chinese tea is the common companion of Chinese foods such as dim sum and chop suey in American Chinese restaurants. The oolong tea
black dragon in Chinese
got its name after its long
dark distinguished leaves that look like wild black dragons when brewed. The unique taste of the oolong tea is achieved by a long process that includes sun drying of the Camellia sinensis leaves
light oxidization
cooling and drying processes. The result is a lighter flavor than the popular black tea and stronger than the delicate green tea.