Getting ready in the morning, for most people, involves a cup of coffee or tea. It’s completely normal for people to have different preferences. Although both coffee and tea are connected to caffeine, coffee gives people a nice jolt while tea is more of a subtle buzz. In some cultures, tea has been an integral part of traditional medicine. But, what is tea and what types of tea can one enjoy both in perfect solitude as well as in the company of loved ones?
Types of Tea to Enjoy with Family and Friends
Tea is a name given to dried leaves commonly of the plant camellia sinensis that is brewed, and then drunk to either get a buzz to wake up or to relax. Tea is especially popular in countries like Japan, China, the UK, and India. All over the world there are so many different kinds of tea, starting from the simple black or green tea, chai, kombucha, and many more. Let’s get into a little more detail into the different types of tea.
Black Tea
Black tea is one of the most popular kinds of tea in the world. It is commonly produced in China, India, and Sri Lanka. Although they more or less have the same colour, different areas produce tea with a signature taste. For example, Sri Lankan black tea is honey yellow to burgundy brown, and has a taste of herbs and spices. Chinese black tea has a rather strong taste that is a little bitter, so people tend to enjoy it with some milk.
Green Tea
Green Tea is a tea that originated in China and has been popular for thousands of years. Consuming green tea is believed to be useful in reducing the risk of cancer, reducing blood pressure, reducing insulin resistance, and commonly consumed for people who are on a diet.
Popular variants of green tea from Japan are matcha, genmaicha, and sencha. The main difference between matcha and pure green tea is in how it is produced. Matcha is made by grinding green tea leaves into a fine powder. Genmaicha is a blend of green tea with roasted grains such as brown rice. Meanwhile, sencha is produced without a grinding process and is the most popular variant in Japan.
White Tea
White tea is perfect for tea lovers with a sensitive stomach because it has low caffeine levels. It is a light and refreshing beverage. White tea can be made by picking tea leaves that are still rather young. Aside from that, white tea doesn’t go through the process of being rolled or oxidized.
When drinking white tea, one can expect subtle notes of honey and light vegetal flavors. The best time to drink white tea is in the morning and after a meal. However, it is usually advised not to drink more than three cups in a day.
Chamomile Tea
Unlike other teas that come from the plant camellia sinensis, chamomile tea comes from matricaria chamomilla or chamomile. In ancient Egypt, this tea was believed to help cure migraines. It is perfect for those who want to relax and get ready for bed. Chamomile tea has a flower-scent, slightly sweet, and mild-tasting tea that is able to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. To brew a nice cup of chamomile tea, pour hot water and let it sit for 3-5 minutes.
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
Butterfly pea flower tea or blue tea is a wonderful choice to fill your day with something refreshing. It is a caffeine-free herbal tea that can help to refresh the brain, boost energy and stamina, as well as reduce stress. It comes from the clitoria ternatea plant.
Brewing it is very simple, boil water and put in 10-15 dried butterfly pea flowers. Leave it to brew for a while, strain and pour it into a cup. If it tastes a little plain to you, add a piece of lemon grass, lemon, ginger, mint, or cinnamon.
This list is absolutely not enough to share how many different kinds of tea there are. There are many other variations of the black tea like oolong, teh tarik, chai, and many more. But that’s a conversation for another day. As of now, take this article as a little keepsake to help you decide which tea to drink. If you like to travel with a warm drink, check out these elegant temperature coffee cups to make traveling with your favorite drink a breeze.
