7 TYPES OF TEA & HOW TO MAKE THEM
If a cup of coffee doesn’t suit your taste buds, you may want to explore the diverse and flavorful world of tea. There are several categories of tea and even more subtypes to explore within each category, and understanding their different flavors and uses can help you find the right tea for you. Use this guide to learn more about the different types of tea and how to brew them.
WHAT IS TEA?
Most tea is a beverage made by pouring hot water over cured leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant. The beverage has a long international history that first started in China. Originally, tea was used for medicinal purposes but eventually began to gain popularity as a recreational beverage.
HOW MANY TYPES OF TEA ARE THERE?
Since tea is enjoyed all across the globe, there are thousands of varieties to choose from. However, each variety falls under one of seven categories: black, green, yellow, white, oolong, pu-erh and herbal tea.
WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON TEA?
The most commonly used tea can vary depending on where you are in the world; however, black tea is typically the most popular type of tea across the globe. Black tea is often considered a pantry staple thanks to its deep flavor.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF TEA
Whether you’re a long-time tea lover or a brewing novice, understanding the different categories of tea can help you find the perfect type for your taste. Explore the six tea categories below so you can try out new flavors the next time you break out your tea kettle.
1. BLACK TEA
Black tea is one of the most common types of tea and for good reason. During the production process, the tea leaves are oxidized before they are heat-treated and dried. This process gives the tea its signature dark color and bold, slightly sour flavor.
Popular black tea varieties include:
- English breakfast tea: This malty, bittersweet tea is made from a blend of black tea leaves and is often served with milk, sugar and a slice of fresh lemon.
- Earl Grey tea: Earl Grey is a flavored black tea that pairs black tea leaves with the rind of a bergamot orange to create a lightly floral, citrus flavor.
- Masala chai: This black tea drink is flavored with warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, ginger and anise and is often served warm with milk and sugar.
- Sweet tea: You can cool off on a hot summer day with this Southern cold tea recipe made by dissolving large quantities of white sugar in hot tea as it brews. Sweet tea is often served over ice and garnished with either fresh mint or a lemon wedge.
2. GREEN TEA
Unlike black tea, green tea does not get oxidized during production and is instead heat-treated and dried to preserve the vibrant color and mild, earthy flavors of the plant.
There are several varieties of green tea available. Explore the most common green teas below.
- Sencha: This variety is typically what comes to mind when you think of green tea. Sencha has a mild sweetness and subtle acidity and is often served with honey and fresh lemon.
- Matcha: Bittersweet and savory umami flavors come together with bright green matcha. Unlike other varieties, this tea is a finely ground powder that is brewed by vigorously whisking the powder in hot water.
- Bancha: Nicknamed the “ordinary tea,” bancha is the most popular green tea in Japan. The tea is brewed from older leaves rather than young buds and is lower in caffeine than other green tea varieties.
3. YELLOW TEA
Yellow tea falls somewhere between a green tea and a black tea, and has a sweet, nutty and slightly floral flavor that comes from the fermentation used in its production. Fermenting this type of tea is a delicate process, which is why you will rarely find yellow tea in your local tea shop.
4. WHITE TEA
Often considered the most delicate type of tea, white tea is produced by harvesting young buds from the Camellia sinensis plant, which are quickly dried to prevent oxidation.
Common white tea varieties include:
- Silver needle: Silver needle tea is purely made from the young, white tea plant buds and offers a smooth and fresh taste with subtle notes of sweetness.
- White peony: Made with both young buds and leaves, white peony tea has a lightly sweet aroma and a ripe, fruity flavor.
5. OOLONG TEA
Oolong tea is also oxidized during processing but far less than black tea varieties. While black tea has a slightly sour taste, oolong tea offers sweet flavors like honey, fruit and even hints of floral.
6. PU-ERH TEA
This type of tea is dried, rolled and then fermented to preserve its freshness. Flavor profiles for pu-erh vary depending on how long it has been aged. Ripe pu-erh tea is woody and nutty, while aged pu-erh is mellow and smooth with notes of plums.
7. HERBAL TEA
Though it is packaged and brewed like other teas, herbal tea is technically a different category altogether as these teas do not originate from the Camellia sinensis plant and are instead made from herbs, fruits, flowers or other botanicals.
Explore common herbal teas below:
- Rooibos: Made from a South African herb, rooibos is known as “red tea” as it produces a rich red brew. Rooibos tea has a warm, sweet flavor with notes of caramel, vanilla and honey.
- Chamomile: Chamomile tea is one of the most recognizable herbal teas available. This tea is made from dried flowers and is often enjoyed before bed due to its calming aroma and subtle flavors.
- Peppermint: Peppermint tea is made from dried peppermint plant leaves and brews a bright and refreshing cup of tea that is also naturally caffeine-free.
- Hibiscus: Made from the leaves of the Hibiscus shrub, this herbal tea has a vibrant color and fruity, cranberry-like flavor and is delicious on its own or served cold mixed with lemonade.
HOW TO MAKE TEA
You can easily brew a fresh pot of tea in minutes for your next brunch or afternoon refreshment. Simply add water to your kettle and bring it to a boil, then pour the water into a cup or teapot and steep your tea leaves for 1–5 minutes, depending on the type of tea you’re brewing.
When you’re using loose leaf tea, it is typically recommended to use 1 tablespoon of tea for every 8 ounces of water. However, that ratio may vary depending on the type of tea you’re using and how strong you like your tea.
| TYPE OF TEA | STEEPING TIME | BREWING TEMP |
|---|---|---|
| Black Tea | 3–5 minutes | 212°F |
| Green Tea | 2 minutes | 175–180°F |
| Herbal Tea | 3–4 minutes | 212°F |
| Oolong Tea | 2–3 minutes | 195°F |
| White Tea | 1–2 minutes | 175–180°F |
| Pu-erh Tea | 2–3 minutes | 212°F |
| Yellow Tea | 2 minutes | 167–176°F |
KitchenAid® electric kettles streamline the brewing process so you can quickly make a delicious cup of tea any time you want. Select models, like the Precision Gooseneck Digital Kettle, offer a Precise, Variable Temperature Selector that lets you customize brewing temperatures to ensure proper extraction when making various kinds of tea.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOOSE LEAF VS. TEA BAGS?
The biggest difference between loose leaf tea and tea bags is how they’re packaged and brewed. Tea bags are individual portions of tea in a filtered paper or cotton bag that can be directly steeped in hot water, while loose leaf tea does not have a bag, floats loose in the cup or pot as it steeps and is removed using a strainer or infuser.
If you’re brewing a whole leaf tea like green tea, loose leaf often brews a stronger flavor than bagged varieties.
WHAT TYPE OF TEA HAS THE MOST CAFFEINE?
Black, green and oolong teas have the highest caffeine levels compared to white, yellow, pu-erh and herbal varieties. Black tea typically has the highest caffeine content, which is why it is so often enjoyed as a morning beverage.
DOES TEA HAVE MORE CAFFEINE THAN COFFEE?
The caffeine levels of both tea and coffee can vary depending on the type you’re using and the brewing method of each drink. However, an 8-ounce cup of drip coffee typically contains about 100mg of caffeine, while an 8-ounce cup of black tea contains only 50mg.
HOW DO YOU STORE TEA?
Whether you’re storing loose leaf or bagged tea, it is important to keep your tea away from moisture, air and light. Store loose leaf and bagged tea in an airtight, nontransparent container and place it in a cool, dark place like your pantry or kitchen cabinets.
You can store unopened tea packaging in the freezer for longer-term storage; however, it is important to note that freezing, thawing and brewing can alter the flavor of the tea and possibly make it taste bitter.
DOES TEA EXPIRE?
When stored properly, tea rarely spoils. Older tea that has been stored for a long time may taste weaker than fresher options, but there isn’t a true expiration date for loose leaf tea or tea bags.
EXPLORE KITCHENAID® TEA KETTLES
Brew your favorite morning cup of tea with the help of KitchenAid® tea kettles. Shop kettle options like the Precision Gooseneck Kettle that lets you brew with control over temperature and pouring speeds, or the 1.25L Electric Kettle that offers ease of use and a compact footprint to save space for your other countertop appliances.
