What kind of tea

ArtfulTea

Types of Tea: A Comprehensive Guide

May 30, 2022 Margaret Wack

The primary types of tea are black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea, pu-erh tea, purple tea, and herbal infusions.

If you’re new to tea, the many different types and varieties of tea can seem confusing and overwhelming. What exactly is the difference between black tea and green tea? What about herbal tea and rooibos? Can you tell your whites from your oolongs, your purples from your pu-erhs?

Here at ArtfulTea we carry almost a hundred different kinds of tea, so we know a thing or two about breaking tea down into more manageable, easy to understand categories. We love guiding our customers through their tea journey, whether they’re new to tea or are experienced tea drinkers. Our handy guide to types of tea can help beginners and experts alike learn more about the world of tea!

Tea Made from the Camellia Sinensis Plant

All types of “true” tea actually originate from the same plant. The botanical name for the tea plant is camellia sinensis. This plant originated in southern China thousands of years ago, and has been cultivated and consumed for hundreds of years. Camellia sinensis has two main varietals: camellia sinensis var. sinensis, which grows primarily in China and other East Asian countries and has a milder, mellower character, and camellia sinensis var. assamica, which grows primarily in India and is generally heartier and more robust.

Black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea, pu-erh tea, and purple tea are all made from the camellia sinensis tea plant. Each of these teas develops their unique characteristics through different harvesting and processing methods. Some teas are steamed, some are pan-fired. Some are allowed to oxidize and some aren’t. Some tea leaves are hand-formed into tightly rolled balls, while other tea leaves are roughly chopped, or left to air-dry in their natural shape. Some teas are harvested in the first weeks of the spring season, while others are harvested in the summer and fall.

There are so many different factors that influence the appearance and flavor of tea, and specific tea processing methods have been developed over hundreds of years. Today, there are six main categories of tea, each with different signature characteristics and processing methods.

Types of Tea

TYPES OF TEA: A USER-FRIENDLY GUIDE

The beauty of tea is its nuance and contradictions. Tea is complicated, its secrets are not immediately revealing, and there are very few direct or simple answers. The information below is intended for education rather than persuasion, so we apologize if it gets a bit geeky. We hope this brings some clarity to understand and further enjoy the different types of tea you may encounter.

What is tea?

Why are there so many different kinds of tea?

Since all tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, the differences between the types of tea are primarily due to how they are processed after the leaves are picked. In theory, any tea plant growing anywhere can have its leaves made into any kind of tea, but this is not done in practice because geography, growing conditions, and local expertise are critical factors to proper tea production.

Does tea contain caffeine?

Yes, because all tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, it all contains (roughly) the same amount of caffeine. The biggest determining factors of how much caffeine will be in your cup is how much leaf you use, how hot you steep it, and how long you steep it.

“Herbal teas” are not from the Camellia sinensis plant and because of this the vast majority of them are caffeine free. These include chamomile, rooibos, ginger, hibiscus, fruit tisanes, and other non-camellia sinensis beverages that are steeped similar to tea.

Loose tea vs. tea bags?

We advocate for using loose leaf tea because it’s the most direct method of doing tea. It offers versatility, variety, customization, clarity, and the best bang for the buck (even if that means a lot of bucks). Tea bags offer convenience. In theory, you can offer the same tea you would buy as loose tea in a tea bag (might have to be a pretty large bag), but the constraints of leaf size, manufacturing/marketing costs, and other factors often prevent this.

What is green tea?

Simply put, tea leaves have a green appearance. To keep that green appearance, the leaves for green tea are “fired” as the first step after they are picked off the plant. “Firing” will prevent oxidation from happening. Oxidation is a natural chemical process that turns fresh tea leaves into black tea (the same process that causes an apple to turn brown after cutting it open). A tea is “fired” by subjecting the tea leaves to a brief period of high heat to neutralize the enzymes that enable oxidation. Other types of teas go through the firing process, but green tea is the only one that goes through it as the first step.

Green tea is primarily a product of China and Japan. Chinese green teas are “pan-fired” (meaning dry heat) to prevent oxidation while Japanese green teas are “steam-fired.” These two techniques produce wildly different results and are central to each country’s signature styles. Other countries produce green teas (not all of which are bad), but they usually lack the skills that come with China and Japan’s long traditions of green tea manufacturing.

The common cup characteristics of green tea tend to be a light body with mild astringency and a vegetal/grassy flavor, but these will vary with each particular style. Green tea is often noted as having less caffeine than black tea, but this is not exactly accurate. Green tea has a tendency to become bitter and astringent, so it is usually suggested to be steeped for shorter times and at lower temperatures than black tea (which is not bad advice). This lighter steeping method will produce less caffeine in your cup. If green tea is steeped the same way as black tea, you will get as much (or more) caffeine in your cup.

What is matcha tea?

Matcha teas are a distinct style of Japanese green tea that is different in every aspect to all other teas. Matcha tea is shade grown tea (e.g., Gyokuro, Kabusecha), with the leaf matter removed from the fibrous veins and stems. This leaf material (called Tencha) is then milled between two stones until it is a fine powder called Matcha. The Matcha is then whisked into hot water where the liquor and leaf are both consumed. It is not steeped and removed from the water like traditional teas. Matcha is the tea served during the famous Japanese tea ceremony, but culinary grades are now used for all kinds of more casual purposes such as smoothies or baking.

What is black tea?

Black tea is tea leaves that have been quickly and heavily oxidized. This gives the leaf a dark appearance and significantly changes the aroma and flavor. Oxidation is the natural chemical reaction carried out by enzymes within the leaf that begin once they are exposed to air (like an apple does after being cut open). Though all teas (other than green tea) go through some degree of oxidation, black tea is the only one that is defined by its high level of oxidation.

Black tea originated in China, but its popularity in the west has made most of it destined for export. Countries that were once British colonies – mainly India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya – make almost exclusively black tea and in a style geared towards western tastes and purposes. Because of this the flavor profile tends to emphasize a strong, brisk, full-bodied cup (often with milk and sugar in mind) with varying degrees of fruitiness or maltiness. However, regional styles create such large distinctions that there is no universal black tea flavor. It’s also the most commonly used tea for blending with other ingredients into classic styles such as earl grey or masala chai.

Black teas are frequently mentioned as having the most caffeine, but that is because of the common instruction to steep with water brought to a full boil and for an extended time of up to five or six minutes. Any tea made like this will deliver a lot of caffeine in the cup.

What is a Breakfast Tea?

To be clear, you can drink any tea you want at breakfast (there are no rules to this), but most teas labeled “Breakfast Tea/Blend” are black teas of small particle size that steep up quick, strong, deliver lots of caffeine, and can take cream and sugar without turning into watered down skim milk. It’s like your morning coffee if you don’t like coffee. These blends often feature teas from the Assam region of India, Ceylon teas (Sri Lanka) and African teas since they tend to have brisk, earthy characteristics. The small particle size will make sure the cup steeps up strong and full-bodied quickly and deliver as much of its caffeine into the cup as possible.

What is chai tea?

Masala chai (or more casually shortened to “chai” in America) is the traditional drink of India and defined as a blend of black tea, milk, sugar, and spices. There is no exact recipe for how to make this, but all include those four ingredients. The word “Masala” means “blend of spices” and the ones most commonly used are ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and clove (though there are many others that might be included). In its most traditional form, the black tea, sugar, and spices are boiled in water. Then milk is added, boiled again, strained and served.

What is wulong (oolong) tea?

Wulong (oolong) tea defies a fixed definition. It is typically described as “partially oxidized tea”, which is not wrong, but it’s not a complete picture. The oxidation level does not distinguish it as “wulong” tea. It’s their similarly shared process of elaborate transformation (withering, shaking, pan-firing, rolling, drying, baking) that put these otherwise disparate group of teas under the same name.

There are four separate regions that produce commonly recognized wulong tea. Each has its own distinct style that it owes mostly to local techniques and traditions. The four regions (and their most popular styles) are Wuyi Rock Tea, Anxi Tieguanyin, Guangdong Dan Cong, and Taiwan (various styles). This is not a complete list. There are many more lesser-known styles not listed here. These teas bear little or no resemblance to each other, because each region will emphasize different aspects of the process. Many teas labeled “oolong tea” from outside these regions usually refer to partially-oxidized tea and do not share other aspects of the wulong process. These teas should be judged on their own individual merits. The proper pinyin spelling is “wulong” tea, but it is more common in English to see it spelled “oolong tea” and they mean the same thing.

What is white tea?

White tea is minimally processed, so it’s better defined by what it is not. It is not “fired” like green tea, but it is not intentionally oxidized like black tea. There is no rolling or shaping of the leaf, so the finished product will be big, bulky, dried leaves. The only deliberate action taken upon the tea leaves is a slow and methodical drying to reduce moisture and achieve a desired aroma and flavor. This simplicity limits it to only three different styles: Bai Hao Yin Zhen (“Silver Needles”), Bai Mu Dan (“White Peony”), and Shou Mei.

White tea often is described as “delicate”, but our experience does not bear this out. White tea is actually quite forgiving and can be steeped in almost any manner you see fit. It does not easily become bitter or astringent so there’s no need to be overly gentle. The flavors tend to range from bright/fruity/herbaceous for the less oxidized versions to spicy/nutty/woodsy for something more oxidized.

White tea (like green tea) is also commonly advertised as having less caffeine than other types of tea. This is not accurate. Like any other tea, the amount of caffeine in your cup is primarily dependent on how hot you steep it and how long you steep it. Many tea sellers suggest very low temperatures and short steeping times for white tea, which would greatly reduce the caffeine in your cup.

What is Puer (Pu-erh) tea?

Puer (Pu-erh) tea is the only style defined by geography. It all comes from a southern region of Yunnan province, because the local cultivars and growing conditions cannot be separated from its identity.

Puer tea can come in a loose or compressed version of two basic styles:

Puer tea is difficult to summarize and we suggest you read our blog on Puer for a more detailed description. The proper pinyin spelling is “Puer”, but in the west you will often see it spelled as “Pu-erh” or “Puerh.” These different spellings are all referring to the same thing and don’t signify anything beyond identification.

What is dark tea?

Though dark tea can refer to any tea type that undergoes a “post fermentation” process (like puer tea), we are associating it here with the pile-fermented tea from Hunan province. Hunan dark tea has a long history going back to the trading routes of the ancient tea horse road/silk road. Similar to shu puer, this added step of pile fermentation uses finished tea leaves that are heaped up into piles, wetted, and covered. The applied heat and moisture are carefully monitored and used to facilitate beneficial bacterial growth in the process. After fermentation, Hunan dark teas are finished off by pine fire drying and then typically compressed into bricks, logs, coins, and other shapes. These teas (like puer teas) will age well and change in profile over the course of years.

Hunan dark teas tend to have a mildly sweet, pine/hay-like flavor without any heavy smokiness (like smoked lapsang souchong) that you may expect from the description above. Like puer, it is often made gongfu style to yield many steepings, but it’s versatile enough to cooperate with your favorite tea steeping method.

What is herbal tea?

“Herbal tea” is a catch-all phrase applied to products that are steeped in a manner similar to tea, but are not from the Camellia sinensis plant. This can include any number of plants such as chamomile, peppermint, rooibos, lavender, hibiscus, ginger, etc. – some of which are enjoyed by themselves or blended together with other products. Since these products are not related to the tea plant, the vast majority of them are caffeine free (yerba mate and guayusa are exceptions and both contain caffeine). They also do not share the same elaborate processing techniques that give tea its unique transformation. Herbal products are often referred to as “tisanes”, which is a French word meaning “beverage made from herbal infusion.”

To sum it up

We hope this knowledge encourages you to explore and experience each of the 6 tea types! Browse our online shop for great value on the finest teas and tisanes from around the world.

If you’d like to try something new and would like a recommendation, our Tea Quiz can help.

What Kind Of Tea Are You? Personality Quiz

What’s your tea-partner?

I’m fine by myself

Where do you want to live?

High in the mountains, where no one would find me

On a tropical island

Doesn’t matter, as soon as it’s beautiful around

How do you spend an ideal weekend?

Oh, I have lots of plans!

Dunno, depends on my mood

Meeting with friends is a must!

Cinema or museum

What do you appreciate in people?

Ability to support and their empathy

Intelligence, knowledge, manners

Ability to find an approach to others

Bravery and initiative

What do think when standing in line for a long time?

I need a personal assistant!

Thinking of what to say that I could skip the line

Horrible! Too many people!

Well, everyone’s waiting. So will I

How can your describe your fashion style?

Something bright and remarkable

I have a unique style

As convenient as possible

Imagine that all party entertainments are on you. What do you say?

What do you think about people in general?

I prefer solitude

It’s hard to find someone special. But possible

The more the merrier

People are so kind and open-minded!

If you were a tea, where would people pour you?

Thermos: so I will be always hot

Exquisite porcelain cup

I demand the whole tea set!

What’s your role in a group of friends?

I’m sitting alone and observing people

What group? I’m a homebody

I’m in the center of attention, entertain the public

I’m having fun with the others

It’s obvious that you’re an ideal fruit tea where tastes are intermixed. You are so bright and energetic, your positive attitude is too much to handle. You’re hard to resist! You adore crazy ideas and prefer spontaneous decisions to scheduled programs. With you, tea party is never boring! Which tea fits your friends? Share this test to find out!

A choice of aristocrats

It’s obvious that you’re an ideal earl grey! You have so much elegance and sophistication that people can’t help but admire you. Any tea party turns into a true royal welcoming ceremony due to your exquisite manners and desire to make everything perfect! Which tea fits your friends? Share this test to find out!

It’s obvious that you’re an ideal herbal tea able to cure any cold! You’re kind and open-minded, people feel fondness and affection for you. Any tea party with you will be cozy due to your constant desire to help and bring happiness. Which tea fits your friends? Share this test to find out!

The Ultimate Guide to Different Types of Tea and Their Benefits

There’s no doubt about it: People love tea.

After water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the entire world. In the U.S. alone, nearly 80% of all households keep a tea stash handy, and more than 159 million Americans drink tea every day. (That’s nearly half the U.S. population!)

All told, Americans consumed a whopping 84 billion servings of tea in 2018 alone. (1)

By far, black tea is the most popular brew in the U.S. (Nearly 84% of the tea consumed by Americans in 2018 was black tea.) While the dark brew has plenty of merits, it’s certainly not the only tasty and healthful tea out there.

In fact, there are many different types of tea varieties. And each one of them boasts its own origins, flavor profiles, and health benefits.

If you’re looking to expand your tea-drinking palate, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’ve rounded up ten types of tea (both “true” teas and herbal teas) with an overview of everything you need to know to find the right brew for you.

With this guide, you’ll be steeping and enjoying different types of tea varieties in no time at all.

Healthy and Popular Types of Tea

Let’s take a closer look at each of these tasty beverages and their potential health benefits.

Different Types of “True” Teas

We’ll admit it: The world of tea can get a little snobby.

There are actually only a few tea types that carry the label of “true” tea: namely, black, green, oolong, pu-erh, and white teas. Each of these teas is made from the same tea leaves, technically called the Camellia sinensis plant, which is a requirement for a beverage to qualify as “true” tea. (2) There aren’t actually any other types of tea plants.

Tea-like beverages that aren’t produced from Camellia sinensis aren’t technically tea — but because most people think of them that way, they often get lumped under the category of “herbal tea” or “tisanes.”

There are many different types of herbal tea. In this article, we’ll focus on a few of the most popular in the form of chamomile, hibiscus, mint, and rooibos.

But first, let’s take a look at the exclusive members of the “true” tea club.

1. Black Tea

As with all “true teas,” black tea is derived from the Camellia sinensis plant. Leaves of the plant are crushed, curled, rolled, or torn and then left to oxidize before they’re dried and sold. (3)

The fact that the leaves are fully oxidized accounts for black tea’s strong, dark flavor profile. The oxidation process also decreases black tea’s flavonoid content a bit, but this brew is still loaded with beneficial properties.

Black tea is often sold in some kind of blend, which will determine its flavor profile. The season and place where a tea plant was grown will also impact its flavor. As a general rule, black tea is produced in China, India, Sri Lanka, or Nepal.

As we mentioned above, black tea is the most common type of tea (at least in the US) and comes in many varieties. Here are some of the most common types of black tea (4):

Benefits of Black Tea

Black tea is steadily attracting more and more attention from researchers. While studies are still ongoing, so far research suggests black tea may (5):

2. Green Tea

Green tea is prepared from the fresh or withered, lightly heated or steamed leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. (7) This preparation stops the oxidation process and accounts for green tea’s flavor profile, which is best described as light, fresh, and maybe slightly grassy.

Of course, different green teas may boast slightly different flavors, which can range from nutty to fruity to almost seaweed-like. Different flavors are usually explained by where the tea was grown as well as the specifics of how it was processed. Here are some of the most common types of green tea (8):

Benefits of Green Tea

Green tea is the most heavily studied type of “true” tea, and research into this brew is overwhelmingly positive. So far, research suggests green tea may:

3. Oolong Tea

Otherwise known as wulong or “black dragon” tea, oolong tea is semi-oxidized and is always produced as a whole-leaf tea. (12) The level of oxidation can range widely, and so can the tea’s flavor, color, and aroma. The less oxidized the tea, the lighter it is in color; the more oxidized, the darker the color.

Different types of oolong tea include (13):

Benefits of Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is less popular than other “true” teas, and that’s kind of a shame — because this beverage is packed with good-for-you qualities:

4. Pu-erh Tea

Pu-erh, a fermented tea, is often more expensive than other “true” teas, and it boasts a loyal (borderline fanatic) fan club. As with the other entries on this list, pu-erh tea is derived from the leaves and stems of the Camellia sinensis plant. It mostly originates from the Yunnan province of China and may be sold in the form of a brick, cake, or dried leaves.

Once pu-erh is harvested, its leaves are hand-tossed in giant woks to stop oxidation in its tracks. (19) It then undergoes an additional processing step during which it’s aged in a very humid environment. This process is supposed to bring out the tea’s distinct flavor, which is generally dark, rich, and less astringent than other teas.

This flavor may vary a bit depending on how long pu-erh has aged. For instance:

Benefits of Pu-erh Tea

Pu-erh isn’t as well-researched as other “true” teas, but there’s still plenty of evidence to suggest it may have several positive effects:

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5. White Tea

White tea is created from new buds and young leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, which helps explain why it has the most delicate flavor profile of all the “true” teas. (24) (The silver hairs on the new buds account for the tea’s whitish hue.) Right after harvesting, these buds and leaves are steamed or fried to stop the oxidation process. Then the leaves are dried.

This style of processing leads to a light, delicate, and fruity flavor. White tea is also lower in caffeine than other “true” teas.

Different types of white tea include (25):

Benefits of White Tea

Because it’s minimally processed, white tea is thought to have especially high levels of good-for-you catechins. It also boasts plenty of other health benefits:

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Different Types of Herbal Teas

As noted above, herbal teas (also known as “tisanes”) aren’t technically “true” tea types. But they’re brewed and consumed in the same way as the teas outlined above, and they’re beloved among tea drinkers of all stripes. So we’d be remiss if we excluded them from this list!

Here’s a look at some of the most popular herbal brews and their health benefits.

1. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is a pretty, elegant, and fragrant herb that belongs in the Asteraceae plant family. (32) People have been using chamomile for therapeutic purposes for centuries, and today it’s a popular tea—especially among people who are looking to unwind before bed. Chamomile tea is made from the dried flowers of the chamomile plant.

There are two primary varieties of chamomile: German Chamomile and Roman Chamomile (which is sometimes called English Chamomile). (33) They’re different species of the same plant, though they grow a bit differently and have a slightly different appearance.

The Benefits of Chamomile Tea

Per a comprehensive 2010 review, chamomile may offer the following benefits (34):

2. Ginger Tea

The spicy root (or “rhizome”) of the ginger plant belongs to the same family as healthful spices such as cardamom and turmeric. (37) It adds flavor to a huge variety of dishes and drinks, and people have been using it for therapeutic purposes for thousands of years. (38) It also makes for a delicious and healthful tea.

Benefits of Ginger Tea

Many of ginger tea’s health properties stem from compounds called gingerols and shogaols. These compounds aren’t just fun to pronounce; they also seem to help support the body’s response to inflammation. (39)

Ginger is also well-known for helping with nausea and helping people cope with motion sickness.

3. Hibiscus Tea

Not surprisingly, hibiscus tea is derived from the hibiscus plant. (40) This plant grows native in North Africa and Southeast Asia and can be found in tropical and subtropical climates around the globe.

The red brew is simultaneously sweet and tart (think of it like the tea equivalent of cranberry juice). It’s commonly enjoyed as an iced tea and is a fantastic and refreshing summer drink.

Benefits of Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus doesn’t have the same “superfood” reputation as some other teas on this list, but maybe it should. Research suggests this pretty plant is packed with potential benefits:

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4. Mint Tea

Peppermint tea is perhaps the most popular herbal tea around and is used in a myriad of different herbal infusions. This minty brew—which is derived from the leaves of the mint plant—smells and tastes great and is commonly used to settle an upset stomach. In fact, it’s been used for its great taste and its health benefits for thousands of years. (48)

Benefits of Mint Tea

Much of the research into the possible benefits of peppermint has focused on peppermint oil instead of peppermint tea. (49) That said, because peppermint leaves contain peppermint oil, it’s possible mint tea may deliver some of the same benefits as peppermint in oil form. For instance:

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5. Rooibos Tea

This caffeine-free herbal tea is well-known for its rich, red hue and sweet, earthy, slightly floral flavor. (Not coincidentally, rooibos is also sometimes called “red tea” or “red bush tea.”) It’s derived from the fermented leaves of the Aspalathus linearis shrub, which grows natively in South Africa. (57)

Benefits of Rooibos Tea

Like hibiscus, rooibos doesn’t have a major reputation as a health food. But it should! While research into rooibos is still ongoing, so far studies suggest that:

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The Bottom Line on Different Types of Tea

No matter how you slice (er, drink) it, there’s no doubt that tea’s popularity is here to stay.

Regardless of whether you choose to sip nothing but “true” teas or you’re an herbal fan at heart, the world of tea offers something for every taste bud and caffeine preference. What’s more, both “true” and herbal teas may offer a variety of health benefits.

While this list represents many of the most popular types of tea, there are also plenty of other herbal options to choose from. Use this list as a starting point for exploring the delectable world of tea, and then let your taste buds be your guide.

Whatever variety you go with, you can’t go wrong with a good cup of tea!

31 Types of Tea: Profiles, Potential Benefits, Side Effects

Last Updated on December 13, 2021 by Michael Joseph

This article takes a look at 31 types of tea, their characteristics, and a summary of research into their health effects (where applicable).

Types of Tea

First of all, it’s important to note that true “tea” all comes from the same plant; Camellia sinensis.

The classification of this tea depends on how the plant’s tea leaves are prepared and processed.

There are five true teas;

However, in modern times it is not only these traditional teas that enjoy popularity. There is also a wide range of herbal tea drinks made from flowers, grains, leaves, and even mushrooms.

Although they do not fit the true definition of “tea”, it is the name by which most people know them. For this reason, this article will cover various different tea varieties, including the five true teas.

1. Artichoke Tea

Artichoke tea is definitely one of the lesser-known tea varieties, but it does not involve the actual vegetable itself.

Instead, this particular tea features the dried leaves, roots, and stalk of the artichoke, and once steeped in boiling water results in an earthy and slightly bitter-tasting tea.

It is possible to see a range of health claims/hype about artichoke tea, but in truth, there is very little available human research on the drink. Thus, take any health claims with a heavy pinch of salt.

For tea lovers who enjoy trying new drinks, it is worth a try, but the best reason to drink it is simply that you enjoy the taste.

2. Barley Tea

Barley tea enjoys the most popularity in East Asia, and it’s a staple drink in China, Japan, and Korea.

In Japan, it goes by the name of ‘mugicha’ and Koreans call it ‘boricha’; many families drink it on a daily basis. The drink is made by toasting barley, and then boiling it for approximately 20 minutes.

Traditionally served cold with ice, it is especially popular as a summer drink and many people drink it like water.

The tea has recently enjoyed greater worldwide popularity, and it is easy to find online or in specialist stores.

Since the tea is a grain-infusion made with roasted barley, it is not a “true” tea. In regard to flavor, it tastes nutty, smoky, and slightly bitter. There is very limited research on the potential health effects of the drink.

3. Black Tea

Made with the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, black tea is a true tea.

It’s also one of the most popular drinks in the world, particularly so in Great Britain and Ireland. In fact, Brits are thought to drink approximately 100 million cups of black tea every single day (1).

Due to the slightly bitter and astringent taste, many people enjoy adding a small amount of milk to black tea.

How Do Black and Green Teas Differ?

There are a few differences between green and black tea; the major one is that black tea requires a lengthier production process.

While tea leaves are heated almost immediately in the process of making green tea, the leaves for black tea are first dried in the sun.The withered leaves are then rolled to break their cells, which causes the leaves to oxidize quicker when they are (next) exposed to oxygen.

This exposure takes place in hot rooms to accelerate the oxidation of the leaves, and it turns them a dark red/brown color. At this point, the tea is heated to stop the oxidation.

Black tea is one of the most researched tea varieties, and much of the research is inconclusive. However, systematic reviews show that it may potentially have a small beneficial impact on blood pressure, type 2 diabetes risk, and the cholesterol profile (2, 3, 4).

See this guide to black tea for more information.

4. Brown Rice Tea

Brown rice tea originates in Korea and it simply involves steeping teabags that contain roasted grains of brown rice in boiling water.

There are also various types of green tea and brown rice tea combinations.

The tea is also popular in Japan, and it is relatively easy to find around the world. It should be possible to unearth the tea when visiting a local Asian grocery store, otherwise it is widely available from online stores.

Regarding its taste, the tea is earthy and tastes like toasted rice. Both the appearance and flavor of the tea are relatively ordinary, but the tea is enjoyable and refreshing to drink.

5. Chaga Tea

Many mushrooms have medicinal properties, but have you ever tried mushroom tea?

This particular drink originates in the Russian/Siberian region, and the ‘Chaga’ mushroom is native to much of Northern and Eastern Europe, and Asia.

Chaga mushrooms are a type of fungus that grows on birch trees, and making them into tea simply involves boiling a piece of the dried mushroom. The tea does not really taste like you would expect a mushroom tea to taste, and it has a slightly bitter—but not unpleasant—taste.

It is a common daily drink in Siberia, and people believe it has important health and longevity benefits.

Is this belief backed by science?

Firstly, preliminary research into the potential benefits of the Chaga mushroom seems interesting.

Some research suggests that Chaga tea extract has anti-tumor properties and may inhibit oxidative DNA damage – in animal and cell studies (5, 6, 7).

However, these trials tend to use significantly higher concentrated extracts of the mushroom than what you will find in the actual tea. There is also no evidence that these effects occur in humans drinking the tea.

6. Chai Tea

Chai is a combination of black tea, steamed milk, and various Indian herbs and spices.

These spices typically include cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and ginger, among others.

Depending on the specific tea and spices used, the flavor of chai tea can vary quite a lot. However, it is generally creamy, a little spicy, and it has a warming feeling while drinking it.

That said, the health properties of chai tea can be either positive or negative depending on where you drink it. While a traditional style chai tea is likely relatively healthy, some of the drinks we can find in cafes are more like desserts. For example, the Starbuck’s version comes loaded with 42 grams of sugar (grande size).

Chai tea will provide much of the same benefits as black tea, with the high polyphenol content of the spices perhaps being an added bonus.

7. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea comes from the edible flowers of the Matricaria chamomilla plant, otherwise known as chamomile.

This particular drink has a reputation for being a good bedtime beverage, and manufacturers claim it helps to relax our bodies. It is one of the most popular types of tea and it pairs a mild bitterness with a light, floral, and slightly sweet taste.

There have been many claims that drinking chamomile tea may be helpful for users with anxiety or insomnia. However, a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of human trials found that there was little evidence to support these claims (8).

That said, the tea is enjoyable to drink and it contains no caffeine, so it could be a good evening option for people.

8. Chrysanthemum Tea

Chrysanthemums are flowering plants that originate in East Asia, and we can mainly find them in China.

The flowers of this family of plants can vary in color, but they are edible and we can cultivate their leaves to make chrysanthemum tea.

Like all flower teas, chrysanthemum has a floral aroma alongside a light and slightly sweet flavor.

Traditionally seen as a herbal medicine in the East, people believe the drink has anti-inflammatory properties.

However, although the tea contains various polyphenols, there is very little research to confirm the purported benefits (9).

9. Dandelion Tea

For those of you with a garden, you can probably spot some dandelions from time to time.

They grow almost everywhere, but did you know you can eat them too?

Dandelions are edible, and dandelion salads and dandelion tea are both popular options. Tea made from dandelion leaves is very light and mild, with a slight floral taste.

However, there is also another dandelion drink known as ‘dandelion coffee’.

To make this particular “tea”, the production process calls for the roasting of the dandelion’s roots. Interestingly, this drink looks (and tastes) a little bit like coffee, and some people even use it as a coffee substitute.

There are claims that dandelion tea has digestive benefits, but there is no real research to support these (anecdotal) claims. The National Institutes of Health note that “there’s no compelling scientific evidence supporting the use of dandelion for any health condition” (10).

10. Essiac Tea

Essiac tea is a traditional drink of the Ojibwa, a North American Indian tribe also known as the Chippewa.

It has a slightly bitter, grassy kind of flavor.

Essiac tea has received media attention over the years due to people claiming that it can help to treat cancer. However, this is an evidence-free statement and should not be taken seriously.

These claims likely stem from cell (test tube) studies showing that large doses of essiac extracts can have strong antioxidant and potentially tumor-inhibiting properties – in cells (11, 12, 13).

However, the effects of concentrated extracts in cell studies are very different from what happens when humans drink the original tea. Most importantly, there are no human studies that suggest Essiac can be an effective cancer treatment (14).

11. Green Tea

Green tea originated in China where it has been popular for millennia.

While black tea is the popular choice in the Western world, green tea dominates the East, especially in Japan.

Green tea has a lighter and grassy, but refreshing taste. There are many different varieties of green tea too, some of which we will feature in this guide. The more popular kinds include sencha, genmaicha, and matcha.

There has been quite a lot of research looking at the potential effects of green tea on health. While the findings are somewhat mixed and inconsistent, recent systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials have suggested that green tea consumption may have some potential benefits.

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 27 human trials noted that green tea intake significantly lowered fasting glucose levels in the short term, but did not influence insulin. The researchers also noted that longer-term research is necessary on blood sugar control (15).

Further systematic review and meta-analyses of human trials have demonstrated green tea intake having a clear short-term effect on lowering diastolic and systolic blood pressure as well as LDL cholesterol. However, the researchers added that further longer-term research in diverse populations needs to confirm these findings (16, 17).

Also, a systematic review examined 17 randomized controlled trials on the effects of green tea on human markers of inflammation: this review found that there was no real effect on reducing inflammatory markers in people with existing low levels of inflammation (18).

In regard to this last study, it would be interesting to see what effects (if any) there would be for individuals with higher existing levels of inflammation – this is also something the researchers remarked on as an area for future investigation.

12. Hibiscus Tea

Otherwise known as Agua De Jamaica, hibiscus is a tea made from the dried petals of the roselle flower.

Resembling the flower’s color, hibiscus tea is dark blood-red, and it has a tart flavor and a flowery smell. Overall, the tea is enjoyable and refreshing to drink, but some people may find it slightly sour.

One of the reasons for the sour taste is the high acid content of hibiscus, with the tea containing malic, tartaric, citric, and ascorbic acids. In fact, the composition of hibiscus tea is 24% acidic (19, 20).

On the positive side, research appears to show a persistent benefit of hibiscus tea in regard to blood pressure. Several systematic reviews of human trials have all noted that the tea lowered diastolic and systolic blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure (21, 22, 23).

13. Honeybush Tea

Honeybush tea is a lesser-known cousin to the popular rooibos (or “redbush”) tea.

Like its cousin, honeybush tea comes from South Africa where it is a popular drink. Honeybush is a fermented type of tea with a relatively strong and flavorful taste. Since the tea is also naturally caffeine-free, it can be an ideal evening drink for coffee/black tea lovers in a similar way to rooibos.

The flavor of honeybush and rooibos is quite similar, but honeybush has a slightly lighter and mildly sweet taste.

See this full guide to honeybush tea for more information.

14. Lemon balm Tea

Lemon balm tea is a refreshing drink made from the leaves of the lemon balm plant, also known by the scientific name Melissa officinalis.

Perhaps surprisingly from the name, lemon balm is a member of the mint family of plants, and it has a mild citrusy and slightly minty flavor. However, it does not taste anything like a sour lemon fruit, which is completely unrelated.

As a result, the tea features some good flavors and it is very refreshing and enjoyable to drink.

Some recent randomized controlled trials have suggested that consuming lemon balm is safe and that it may have slight benefits for blood sugar control and lowering LDL levels (24, 25).

15. Matcha Tea

Matcha is a kind of premium Japanese green tea.

To make the drink, shade-grown tea leaves are picked and then carefully ground into a fine powder.

Matcha is popular in Japan, where people tend to drink it in its pure state. The drink has a strong, bitter, and grassy taste.

However, (much of) the rest of the world mixes it with large amounts of sugar and steamed milk to make a green tea latte, in which case it has a sweet and milky taste. Unfortunately, drinking matcha in this way is worlds apart from the pure ground leaves in terms of health effects.

Promotional marketing for matcha tea often makes strong claims of health benefits and promotes the idea that matcha is more beneficial than regular green tea since drinkers consume the leaves.

But what health benefits does this tea actually provide? See this evidence-based guide to matcha tea for more information.

16. Moringa Tea

The Moringa (moringa oleifera) plant sometimes goes by the name of ‘horseradish tree’ and it is native to the Himalayas in northwest India.

The flowers, seeds, roots, and leaves are all edible, and some Asian cultures use the leaves for culinary purposes.

It is also possible to make tea from the leaves, and this comes in both dried and powdered forms. The tea itself has a light, grassy taste. It is quite mild and tastes somewhat similar to nettle tea.

Nutrient-wise, it is a rich source of several essential vitamins – particularly vitamin C and the B vitamins. Regarding the former, moringa leaves contain more than 200 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams, which is more than double the FDA’s daily value and more than a typical orange (26).

Marketing promotions often make a strong point about this vitamin C content. However, it is worth remembering that a typical serving of moringa tea is only a few grams – and nowhere near 100 grams.

There has been little research on moringa tea in humans, but a recent randomized trial found that moringa leaf had no effect on glycemic control (27).

17. Nettle Tea

Otherwise known as ‘stinging nettle tea’, the drink comes from the dried leaves of the urtica dioica plant (commonly referred to as ‘nettle’).

The taste of nettle is a light, grassy, and earthy tasting tea that has a mild, refreshing taste.

Research into the nutritional properties of nettle leaves has shown that they contain significant amounts of carotenoids and polyphenols (28).

However, once again, it is important to note that typical servings of tea are very small.

Interestingly, a systematic review of eight randomized controlled trials demonstrated that nettle leaf may have benefits for controlling fasting blood glucose, but further research is necessary to confirm these findings (29).

18. Oolong Tea

Oolong is another of the “true” teas and it comes from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant.

But just what is it and how does it compare to green and black teas?

Firstly, oolong is a partially oxidized tea – it undergoes part of the same process as black teas.

Depending on the degree of leaf oxidation, it may taste closer to a green or black tea.

Oolong has a mixture of the potential benefits that green and black teas provide, and it contains a range of polyphenols found in both.

In terms of human research, a small study found that oolong tea might be effective for helping control blood glucose levels (30).

Additionally, the tea contains a wide range of polyphenols that may potentially help to reduce levels of oxidative stress (31).

19. Peppermint Tea

The dried leaves of the peppermint plant (mentha x piperita) make a bold, refreshing, and very minty tea.

It has a strong flavor and smell, so if you’re looking for a mild flavor, you won’t find it here, but peppermint is an enjoyable tea to drink.

There have been various small studies on this herbal tea, but there is no real significant research that shows a health benefit to the drink.

On the contrary, observational research has linked frequent consumption of peppermint tea to an increased risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in people with the condition (32).

20. Pu-erh Tea

Pu-erh tea (also pu’er) is one of the five true teas.

It is also a fermented drink, and similar to red wine or kombucha, pu-erh contains lots of live bacteria (33).

This is due to the production process; the processing of the leaves allows for microbial fermentation. As a result, the tea continues to age and change even after drying the leaves.

Pu-erh is a Chinese drink and it has the local name of ‘heicha’. Generally speaking, the taste is more bitter than standard tea, although it does become milder over time.

Traditionally, green pu-erh tea is the preferred choice and it has been around for centuries. However, making pu-erh from black tea has also ecome popular over the last few decades. Pu-erh has an equivalent caffeine content to whatever type of tea it is made from.

Randomized controlled trials demonstrate that pu-erh tea might potentially improve health markers in patients with metabolic syndrome (34, 35).

21. Pau d’arco Tea

Pau d’arco bark (otherwise known as taheebo) is a herb that comes from the pau d’arco tree.

These trees grow in the Amazon rainforest and the inner bark (taheebo) contains a variety of phytonutrients (36).

The tea is also rather tasty, and it has an interesting fruity/herby flavor that is hard to describe.

That said, be careful of unsubstantiated health claims, especially those relating to cancer. For instance, a quick search for pau d’arco brings up all kind of results suggesting it’s an alternative “cancer-fighting” therapy.

However, this borders on pseudoscience since there are no controlled studies in humans that provide evidence for this (37).

On this note, the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center notes that while laboratory (cell) studies show antibacterial and anticancer effects, “these effects have not been shown in humans” (38).

22. Raspberry Leaf Tea

Raspberry leaves (Rubus idaeus) grow on the raspberry plant and they have a long history of use.

These uses include various traditional herbal remedies and also as a refreshing tea.

Despite the name, the tea doesn’t really taste like raspberries, and the flavor is similar to other green/grassy teas. It is a popular drink and since it’s non-caffeinated, it’s a good match for those looking for a caffeine-free option.

Raspberry leaf has traditionally been a folk remedy for pregnancy, and it is believed to shorten the labor period.

However, there is limited research in this area for humans. Only one randomized trial has been undertaken, but this trial didn’t show any significant differences other than a very slight (9-minute) shortening of the second stage of labor (39).

23. Rooibos Tea

Rooibos (pronounced “roy-boss”) is one of the most popular types of tea.

Otherwise known as ‘red bush’, the tea originates in South Africa where it has been popular for centuries.

People generally consume the drink in a similar way to black tea; some prefer it “black” (red) and others add some milk and/or sugar.

Rooibos has an interesting taste, and it is equal measures of fruity, spicy, and nutty. For those sensitive to caffeine, rooibos has the benefit of being caffeine-free.

The tea contains a variety of phenolic compounds including flavanones and flavones (40).

24. Rose Tea

The rose (rosa) is a flower that grows all around the world. Rose tea comes from the dried petals of the flower.

These dried leaves can either make a pure tea or can combine with other herbs to make a rose-flavored drink.

In terms of taste, rose tastes light, sweet, and slightly tart. The mildly sour notes come from the rose petal’s citric and malic acid content.

Also, the dried petals contain various anthocyanins, the same class of polyphenol present in different types of berries (41).

25. Rosemary Tea

Making rosemary tea simply involves steeping approximately a teaspoon of rosemary leaves (fresh or dried) in hot water.

Once the tea has been brewing for several minutes, the color of the water will be light yellow and offer a mild-tasting tea. For a stronger brew, steeping the leaves for 5-10 minutes will provide a more flavorful rosemary tea.

Rosemary tea offers an earthy and mildly minty flavor, and it’s a tasty and relaxing herbal tea.

The drink also provides a rich source of polyphenols, which may potentially offer some benefits. However, there is no strong research from human trials on the potential effects of polyphenols in rosemary (42, 43).

26. Senna Tea

Senna belongs to a large group of flowering plants, possibly originating in Egypt.

The plant now grows throughout the world’s tropical regions, and senna tea is a semi-popular drink that may offer some potential benefits (and concerns).

Taste-wise, it is much more bitter than most of the other teas on this list.

Notably, the tea is approved by the FDA as a nonprescription laxative, and it contains active chemical compounds (anthraquinones) that can help to relieve occasional constipation (44).

However, it’s important to realize that senna is classed as a ‘stimulant laxative’. In other words, this means that it irritates the stomach lining to stimulate bowel movements.

By its very nature, this suggests we shouldn’t consume the tea in the long term. For one thing, animal studies show that long-term consumption of senna can potentially cause intestinal hyperplasia, which is a known risk factor for gastric cancer (45).

27. Sencha Tea

Sencha is a common variety of Japanese green tea.

Unlike matcha tea, sencha is grown under the sun, and we drink it by making an infusion from the whole tea leaves.

In Japan, it is the most popular kind of green tea, and it has a relatively mild flavor and a bold green color.

Like all green teas, sencha is full of polyphenols – especially catechins.

In fact, compared to other types of green tea, sencha contains the highest amount of these compounds (46).

28. Spearmint Tea

Sharing some commonalities with peppermint tea, spearmint has its own unique flavor notes.

Since spearmint leaves contain a much smaller amount of menthol than peppermint leaves, it imparts a slightly different taste (47).

For one thing, spearmint is a cooler and milder tea, and it doesn’t have the same strong ‘minty’ flavor. It has a subtle flavor which is quite refreshing.

Medically, spearmint tea has been used as a treatment for hirsutism in women. Hirsutism is a kind of hair growth that follows male hair patterns, such as growth on the face and chest.

A small randomized controlled trial shows a possibility that spearmint may help with this condition, but further, longer studies are necessary (48).

29. White Tea

If black is the strongest of the true teas, then white is the mildest.

It may also be a good option for those with caffeine sensitivities since it only contains around 25% as much caffeine as coffee.

White tea comes from the camellia sinensis plant and uses the freshest leaves available.

Firstly, tea leaves are picked at a younger age when making white tea.

Second, they don’t undergo processing such as rolling or oxidation, which leaves them with a mild and light taste.

Despite these differences, the nutritional profile and polyphenolic content of both green and white tea are similar (49).

30. Yerba Mate Tea

Yerba mate is a popular, traditional tea from South America, where it is regularly consumed. In recent times, it has been gaining popularity around the world too.

It is made from the leaves of a species of holly tree that grows in the South American rainforests.

In addition to its pleasant taste, people enjoy yerba mate for its supposed energy and mood-boosting properties. A big part of these likely come from the caffeine content of the drink.

Some small randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that yerba mate decreased abdominal fat, reduced blood viscosity, and improved blood flow (51, 52).

However, higher-quality research with more consistent results is necessary to confirm such findings.

There has also been an identified concern with yerba mate consumption, which is that consuming the tea is associated with a higher risk of oral cancer (53).

That said, association does not equal causation, and it may be that South American populations consuming more yerba mate overlaps with tobacco and alcohol intake. Further, yerba mate is traditionally consumed at extremely hot temperatures, which may also be detrimental for oral health.

Future research should shed more light on this issue.

See this complete guide to yerba mate tea for more information.

31. Butterfly Pea Flower Tea

Butterfly pea flower tea is a unique traditional drink from South-East Asia, and it has a striking blue appearance.

Interestingly, the tea may have some benefits too, with studies suggesting that butterfly pea flower tea may potentially help to control blood glucose.

The tea is caffeine-free and the color is certainly an interesting talking point.

Which Tea is the Best?

The best tasting drink is a subjective opinion, so it will vary from person to person.

If you’re looking for healthy options, then most of the existing research has focused on the “true teas” – black, white, green, pu-erh, and oolong.

However, in truth, any single drink will only have minimal (if any) benefits, and as always: the overall dietary pattern is the most important thing.