Varieties of Tea: White, Green, Yellow, Oolong, Black Tea

Tea(or Chai) for many, is the first thing that is gulped down the early morning. Over the time, people have become accustomed to wide varieties of tea, some just for having multiple options, but majority, because of the health concerns.

Green Tea / Black Tea have become a common name, but are you aware of the difference that exists among the various categories ? Let's read it in the section below.

How is Green tea different from White/Black/Yellow Tea ?

Tea is generally categorized based on how it is processed and the level of oxidation the leaves undergo. Usually, it is classified as : 'White', 'Yellow', 'Green', 'Oolong(or Wulong)', 'Black(called red tea in China)', and 'Post-fermented tea'. The point worth mentioning here is:

 'A lesser processed Tea leaf is greater in antioxidants and hence is best for health'

                                                                                          Source: DominionTea

Let us now understand the varieties in detail:

• White Tea: It is always handpicked/plucked, contains unopened bud, is the least processed and contains maximum antioxidants. They are sometimes dried in the sun

• Green Tea: It involves plucking the leaves, once they have fully opened. It contains high levels of antioxidants, as oxidation is stopped early through heating or steaming

• Yellow Tea: Similar to Green tea, but with a unique additional step called 'men huan', or 'sealing yellow', where the leaves are wrapped in a moist cloth after pan heating. The process is repeated a few times, which allows the leaves to gain back its aroma and the yellow colour

• Oolong Tea: It contains both the bud and 2-3 leaves which undergo a unique method. The process includes withering under the strong sun and oxidation, before curling and twisting

• Black Tea: More oxidized than White, Green and Oolong Tea and hence contains less antioxidants vis-a-vis others and more caffeine

Geek notes :

• Yellow Tea is the rarest & expensive of the six classes of tea and is only produced in China, in the high mountains of Hunan, Zhejiang and Sichuan provinces

• Black Tea is the one that is consumed with sugar and milk throughout India

Hope you liked the post! Please feel free to comment in the section below. 

- Prakhar