Types of Tea

What differentiates black tea, from white, green and oolong? Simple, it is all determined by the process in which it is created. Oxidization is the main factor. Oxidization or "fermentation" is the stage where tea leaves are exposed to air.

The five basic types of tea are as follows:

Type of Tea	Description	Picture
White Tea	The least processed of the four, and has undergone minimal oxidation. As soon as withering of tea leaves begins, the leaves are immediately baked until dry.
Green Tea	Tea leaves are picked then immediately heated with either steam (Japanese method) or hot pans (Chinese method). Because they are quickly heated after picking, these leaves experience the least amount of oxidization than the other types.
Oolong Tea	Oxidization is stopped between the standards of green tea and black tea (Light: 5-40%. Dark: 60-70% oxidation).
Black Tea	Tea leaves are completely oxidized (100% oxidation).
Blends	As indicated by the name, these teas are a mixture of other teas. They are combined by tea producers to produce a consistent flavour from one season to the next. Examples include English Breakfast and Earl Grey.

Popular ways of serving tea

Some prefer it plain, just steeped and nothing else, while others like it cold, some like it hot. Some with milk, and some with only sugar. The different ways of serving tea are endless! Listed here are just a few of the most popular varieties.

Tea variety	Description	Picture
Plain tea	Most commonly made tea where leaves are steeped in hot water. Nothing added, and nothing taken away. Pure tea leaves in all its glory.
Bubble Tea	Usually green or black tea based which is then mixed with fruit flavours. Milk or crushed ice can be added as well to give the bubble tea a whole new texture. Tapioca pearls and jelly may be added at the end. When one takes a sip wit the extended straw, they enjoy a chewy tapioca and jelly along with the tea. Originated from Taiwan.
Tea with milk and sugar	Tea added with sugar and milk to the person's preference.Very popular in Britain to be drunk for breakfast or as a snack accompanied by a digestive biscuit.Here is a biscuit being dunked into a milk tea.
Hong Kong-style milk tea	Black tea mixed with condensed/evaporated milk to one's preference.Inspired by the British way of serving tea with milk and sugar while Hong Kong was a colony of Britain.Very popularly consumed during the lunch hour in Hong Kong.
Iced Tea	A variety of cold tea.Usually mixed with fruit flavours, most commonly lemon.Supposedly was first introduced in 1904 by a vendor at World's Fair in St. Louis.
Herbal Tea	Made from tea or fruit infusions, roots, other parts of plants.Herbal tea is not always made with tea leaves, so it is not considered a real tea.
Decaf Tea	Tea with caffeine removed. For the health-conscious!