TYPES OF TEAS
There’s actually only four forms of tea: black tea, white tea, green tea and oolong tea (red). Now the color of the tea depends on the degree of processing that the leaves undergo. Black tea is fully fermented, oolong is partially fermented, green isn’t fermented and white is barely touched. (Did you know that black tea is 78% of the total tea consumed in the world and green tea accounts of 20% leaving oolong and red to split the leftover 2%.) Sure the processing changes the chemical makeup of the teas but that doesn’t mean the darker tea aren’t packed with health benefits. At national and world tea tasting championships there are dozens of categories that are evaluated within the basic four types of tea. These include Signature Famous Teas in the U.S. as well as general categories that enable lesser known teas that are highlighted and distinguished in the marketplace.
Black Tea
Black Teas are produced in many countries and offer a broad spectrum of flavors and characteristics. Black Teas are fresh, full-bodied and strong, and include the fruity and floral infusing of Darjeeling Teas from India to the sweet and spicy infusing of Yunnan Tea from China. Blended Black Tea is loose leaf tea that is blended with herbs, fruits, and/or spices, while Flavoured Black Tea is blended with herbs, fruits, essential oils, spices and/or other flavouring agents.
Green Tea
Within the category of Green Tea there is a wide variety of flavors and aromas. Green Teas are teas that have not been allowed to oxidize much, and as soon as the tea leaves are picked, the tea is quickly steamed or lightly pan-fired in order to retain all the benefits and flavor of the green tea. Blended Green Tea is blended with herbs, fruits, and/or spices, while Flavored Green Tea is blended with herbs, fruits, essential oils, spices and/or other flavoring agents. Green Teas are produced in various countries and are defined by production method. We have selected an assortment of the highest quality award winning green teas available.
Oolong Tea
Oolong Tea has a more complex and enduring flavors and aromas, hence the name Oolong, which means Black Dragon. Classic Oolong Teas come from Southeastern China’s Fujian and Guangdong Provinces and from the island of Taiwan. There are many varieties of Oolong Teas, with each region of Oolong Tea producing its own unique flavor. MAG Tea offers a selection of award winning Oolong Tea. We will periodically add selections of the best Dark Oolong Tea, Oolong Blended Tea and Oolong Flavored Tea, Aged/ Baked Oolong Tea, and Green Oolong Tea.
White Tea
White Tea comes from the very youngest, newest leaves on the tea plant. The tea leaves are not processed by frying or rolling, but by withered controls and gentle oven, cool drying and/or sun drying techniques. White tea is a smooth, soft and buttery a brew of tea. Blended White Tea is blended with herbs, fruits, and/or spices, while Flavoured White Tea is blended with herbs, fruits, essential oils, spices and/or other flavouring agents.
Herbal Tea
Loose Leaf Tea is not the only plant for making delicious infusions. Herbal Tea infusions, herb blends, and botanicals are mostly caffeine-free, represent a rainbow of flavors and colors, but still have the qualities we love in tea. Herbal Tea does not contain any tealeaves but are formulated to be prepared like a tea. We have selected several award winning Herbal Tea blends that have an absolutely wonderful taste.
Pu-erh Tea
It is only during recent years that quality Pu-erh Tea has been readily available in the US. The two main Pu-erh Tea types are Green Pu-erh Tea and Black Pu-erh Tea, with authentic Pu-erh Teas being made broad leaf arbor tea trees from Yunnan. Pu-erh Tea has a cult-like following among tea connoisseurs. In some cultures, Pu-erh Tea is regarded as an integral part of its sacred tea culture and tradition.
Rooibos
Rooibos is the plant in South Africa that is used to make a herbal tea called Rooibos Tea (sometimes called Bush Tea, Redbush Tea, or Red Tea). Rooibos Tea can be a Pure Rooibos Tea, or blended from any variety of other herbs, teas, fruits, essential oils, spices and/or other flavoring agents to produce Rooibos Blended Tea, and Flavored Rooibos Tea.
