Tea - About Teas
Tea is mostly a hot water beverage, although you can get iced teas, which is made with water and consumed all over the world.The origins of tea are from a
warm weather evergreen called Camellia sinensis. It is how these leaves are processed, which can include oxidation, heating, drying and addition of other herbs, flowers, spices and fruits which determine the flavour and aroma of tea.
Tea comes in four basic types these are: white tea, green tea, black tea and oolong tea. Another common form of tea is herbal tea. Herbal tea usually refers to infusions of fruit or of herbs (such as rosehip, chamomile, or jiaogulan) that contain no C. sinensis. Sometimes herbal tea is referred to as tisane or herbal infusion.Green tea which is a very popular beverage in the Asian culture, especially Chinese and Japanese is not oxidized at all, instead the leaves are steamed, rolled and dried. Black tea on the other hand is a favourite hot water drink of the Western culture, is allowed to oxidize for 2 to 4 hours. Oolong tea sometimes reffered to as Wulong oolong is primarily consumed in South Eastern China. The leaves are only partially oxidized to produce this hot water drink.Tea is grown in thousands of locations all over the world and usally are named from the district they come from. Because of this diversity of production each district produces tea with unique flavour and character. Tea is also divided by grades, determined by leaf size. Smaller sized leaves are used in tea bags while the larger sized leaves can be found in packaged loose tea.
Tea is a natural source of the amino acid theanine, methylxanthines such as caffeine and theobromine, and polyphenolic antioxidant catechins. It has almost no carbohydrates, fat, or protein. Because of the properties of certain type of teas; are associated with numerous health benefits from preventing cancer to help weightloss.
