Tea is the second most consumed beverage behind water. There must be something special about this brewed beverage.

In simple terms tea is “A non-alcoholic beverage derived from the leaf bud and the dried-processed top leaves of only one species of the tropical evergreen plant called ‘Camellia sinensis’, which enhances muscle relaxation and stimulates the central nervous system.”

Interestingly enough, herbal teas or herbal infusions are not really teas, but simply dried flowers and/or herbs.

Even though all teas come from only one species, there are three major varieties:

a) The Chinese- Small leaves and generally thrives at higher altitudes.

b) The Indian (or Assam) - Larger leaves and generally thrives at lower altitudes.

c) The Hybrid- Kind of in-between the Chinese and Indian.

There are four main methods of processing and each produces a different type of tea. These four main types are:

a) White Tea

b) Green Tea

c) Black Tea

d) Oolong Tea

Tea for Everyone: -

Some teas are flavored with oils or scented with flower petals during the processing stage. Some teas are blends of the four main types listed above. Soil and climate conditions dramatically affect the taste of leaves from different parts of the world. The way the tea is processed also makes a dramatic different in the final taste. With all of these combinations, there are literally thousands of different teas produced from the single species, camellia sinensis.

Image Credit: ifood.tv