If you are a tea lover, you’ll be pleased to learn that there are many varieties and it is highly unlikely that you are familiar with them all. Of course, we all have a favourite tea, one we drink on a daily basis, yet there’s so much more if you are prepared to look.
Here is a quick rundown of various types of tea.
- Black tea – No doubt, the most popular around the world, and with a high oxidise level, black tea is perhaps the tea with the strongest taste. As the leaves are left to oxidise for a long period of time, the taste and aroma are robust; this is where the black colour comes from. There are online suppliers of fine teas here in New Zealand and they can be found with a Google search.
- Chamomile tea – A drink with a calming effect, chamomile tea is perfect to wind down from a hectic day. This tea can aid sleep; a drink about 30 minutes prior to bed is ideal. A firm favourite across the world, you can order chamomile tea from a New Zealand supplier and at affordable prices.
- Matcha tea – A green tea that is very popular in Japan, sold in powdered form, matcha can be brewed with water or mixed with other drinks. Noted for its smooth taste, matcha leaves are shaded for the last 3 weeks prior to harvest, which makes the leaves a deep green colour. This process increases levels of caffeine and I-theanine, which is beneficial to health.
- Mate tea – While mate is not technically a tea, it does have similar properties and is native to South America; the drink is traditionally served when guests arrive.
- Oolong tea – A tea that is partially oxidised, with anything from 10-80% oxidised, putting it between black and green tea. Oolong tea is natural in parts of China and Taiwan, with special tea plantations that are cared for in the traditional way.
- Herbal tea – Herbal teas are not from the camellia sinesis plant, rather they are a blend of local herbs and spices, with recipes handed down from generation to generation. Peppermint, lavender and chamomile are types of herbal tea, which are much sought after in the Far East and Middle East.
- White tea – A delicate, lightly processed tea that is enjoyed by experts; low in caffeine, white tea is dried and packaged. White tea is grown in China, with very special plantations at the right altitude. This is a tea for the connoisseur and it can be found online with a leading NZ tea supplier.
Tea has many health benefits and we hope that you enjoy the journey of exploration, as you try all of the above teas as well as some others. If you would like to order premium tea, search online for a NZ supplier and delivery is free.
