Beginners Guide To Tea: Good Things To Know To Start Your Tea Journey

Tea is more than a beverage. For many, it’s almost a religion just as coffee is. Tea provides a bridge that connects us with the earth and one another while opening a window of time to look within our own selves. 

Let’s begin your journey into the world of tea! 

Basics Of Tea 

There are many different types of tea. Each type is grown in different regions of the world where the climate and soil interact with the tea plant to create a unique flavor. The way a tea is processed also lends to its uniqueness. So, we start at the very beginning; the tea plant. 

The Tea Plant 

There is only one tea plant. It is Camellia sinensis (a species from the genus Camellia.) Two subspecies (varieties) from Camellia sinensis are the sole sources of the world’s teas. 

Camellia sinensis var. sinensis 

• Green tea
• Black tea (except Assam) 
• Oolong tea 
• Yellow tea 
• White tea 

Camellia sinensis var. assamica 

• Assam tea (a black tea) 

So, how do so many different kinds of tea come from just two tea plants? You would think that all teas would taste the same because they come from one of these two plants. However, they don’t. 

This is where the beauty of tea growers comes in because they are the ones that cultivate the tea plant to prosper and be its best while absorbing the specific nutrients in the soil below. The “frosting on the cake” is the kiss of clouds, rain, snow, and sun. 

Origin 

Now that we know tea comes from one of two plants, the region where those tea plants are cultivated determines the type of tea it will be. Different parts of the world refer to a tea crop as a tea plantation or a tea estate. In Asia, you may even see a crop called a tea garden. 

If you go into a tea shop to purchase tea or do so online, you will notice the origin of the tea is almost always mentioned. The tea market trades various teas, which are priced, graded, and exported based on where that tea came from. A “single origin” tea comes from one region only. “Multiple origin” tea is a blend of one or more teas (such as English Breakfast or Earl Grey.) 

The predominant origins where tea is grown are China, India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya. Many other countries grow and export smaller amounts of tea. Each country is unique in the region, climate, and conditions where the tea is grown. Tea may grow in the lowlands where the climate is tropical, or it may grow at elevations that reach above the clouds. 

Form 

Tea is marketed in three different forms to consumers. 

• Loose-leaf tea 
• Teabags 
• Powder 

Loose leaf tea is the most preferred form of tea by those who are traditional tea drinkers. This form of tea is considered the highest quality with the best flavor.

Teabags 

Teabags are made from fannings and dust and are often considered the lowest quality form of tea. More expensive tea leaves which are broken may come in teabag form, and in this case, the tea isn’t regarded as low quality. 

Fannings and dust are the remaining leftovers of a processed tea. The dust-like particles are used to fill tea bags which go on to be boxed up and sold under leading brand names we are very familiar with. Teabags often have a more bland taste compared to loose leaf tea. 

Loose leaf 

Loose leaf tea is the best way to enjoy tea because the integrity of the tea leaves is preserved to provide the best flavor. Unlike fannings and dust, a loose leaf tea is much stronger with various hints of other flavors. 

Steeping 

Steeping is the marriage of hot water and tea (tea bag or loose leaf.) During this time, the tea becomes infused into the water, releasing the various chemicals and constituents that benefit our body. 

Flavor also develops during steeping. The best method to steep any tea is to cover it and let it sit undisturbed. Various teas require different steeping times. Green tea, for example, is more delicate, so a shorter steeping time is ample to produce the desired taste. 

Taste 

There is a dedicated tea flavor wheel used to describe the hundreds of different flavors detected in tea. When taking the time to fully enjoy and appreciate tea, you’ll begin to notice the various dimensions of flavor. 

Tea Flavors 

There are many ways to describe what a cup of tea tastes like. In the tea industry, there are base flavors with various hints and nuances that branch off. 

Earthy 

• Dust 
• Peat 

Woody 

• Mushrooms 
• Humus 
• Leaves 
• Piney 
• Eucalyptus
• Camphor 

Animal 

• Leather 
• Fur 
• Wet Wool 
• Stable 
• Musk 

Vegetal 

• Grassy 
• Vegetable 
• Herbal 

Nutty 

• Toasty 
• Nut-like nuances 

Sweet 

• Honey 
• Toffee 
• Butterscotch 
• Caramel 
• Chocolate 

Spicy 

• Cardamom 
• Licorice 
• Cinnamon 
• Ginger 
• Clove 
• Pepper 

Fruity 

• Berry 
• Citrus 
• Tree/Vine Fruit 
• Tropical 

Milky 

• Butter 
• Milk 
• Cream

Empyreumatic 

• Smokey 
• Grilled 
• Toasty 
• Ash 
• Fire 
• Bacon 
• Tobacco 

Mineral 

• Sulfur 
• Chalky 
• Rocks 

The Different Types Of Tea 

Now we come to the “meat and potatoes” of learning about tea. To understand tea, it helps us to know what type of tea it is. Now remember, all of these teas come from only two tea plants that we mentioned earlier (except Rooibos.) 

Black 

Fermentation scale: Fully Fermented

Flavor: Strong, robust, intense with variable hints, nuances, and aroma. 

We have listed the most common black teas. These teas may go on to be blended with other black tea. An “infused” black tea has herbs, flowers, fruit, or essential oils added to create a unique flavor. 

Origin: India 

• Assam 
• Darjeeling 
• Nilgiri 

Origin: China 

• Keemum 
• Yunnan 
• Lapsang Souchong

Origin: Sri Lanka 

• Ceylon 

Blends of Black Teas: 

• Earl Grey 
• Lady Grey 
• English Breakfast 
• Irish Breakfast 

Infused Black Teas: 

• Earl Grey 
• Lady Grey 
• Jasmine 
• Chai 
• Rose 

Green 

Fermentation Scale: Unfermented 

Flavor: More earthy, herbal, with variable hints, nuances, and aromas. 

Green tea is the largest group of all types of tea. Here are just a few of the hundreds of green teas on the market. Asia is the predominant origin of green tea. 

• Sencha 
• Matcha 
• Hojicha 
• Genmaicha
• Yaupon 
• Bancha 
• Dragonwell 
• Pinhead Gunpowder 
• Marrakesh Mint 

Oolong 

Fermentation Scale: Semi-Fermented 

Flavor: Delicate, mild with variable hints, nuances, and aromas. 

Oolong tea is a green tea typically cultivated in Asia. It is categorized as a type of tea. 

• Dong Ding 
• Jin Xuan 
• Ti Kuan Yin
• Phoenix Dong Cong 
• Xing Xuan 
• Orchid 

White 

Fermentation Scale: Slightly Fermented 

Flavor: Very mild with variable hints, nuances, and aromas 

White tea is harvested from the first buds of tea leaves. Green tea, on the other hand, is harvested from the second budding. Its extremely mild flavor is a result of minimal processing. White tea is often infused with fruit, flowers, or essential oils to enhance the flavor. 

Yellow 

Fermentation Scale: Partially Fermented 

Flavor: Mild with variable hints, nuances, and aromas 

Yellow tea is often mistaken as white tea because of its delicate taste and translucent pale color. 

Pu-erh 

Fermentation Scale: Fully Fermented With Additional Fermentation 

Flavor: Pungent, earthy, and very herbal.

Pu-erh tea’s flavor is an acquired taste but something worthy of trying. This tea is somewhat rare, expensive, and unique in its own right. It typically comes from Asia and is made from a blend of other fermented teas.

Rooibos 

Fermentation Scale: Non-Fermented 

Flavor: Musty, grassy, honey, woody, floral, caramel 

Rooibos tea comes from a grassy-looking shrub, Aspalathus linearis. This plant grows in only one place in the world, which is South Africa’s Cederberg Mountains. It’s neither a true tea as black or green and barely qualifies as an herbal tea. This tea is often referred to as a “red tea.” 

Herbal 

Herbal teas are not true teas and, in the tea world, are called “tisanes.” Although it’s called a tea, it’s a medicinal beverage made in the same fashion as true tea by steeping. Some herbal teas are made from herbs, while others are made from flowers or leaves of other plants. 

• Sage 
• Chamomile 
• Butterfly Pea Flower 
• Rose 
• Mushroom 
• Kombucha 
• Mullein 
• Taro 
• Lavender 

Bubble (Boba) Tea 

The Bubble Tea craze hit the U.S. back in back in the late 1980s after taking off in Taiwan, where it originated. This tea (also known as Boba tea) is a heavy sugar and carb-ladened drink popular among the younger crowd. A base of black tapioca pearls, ice, milk, and some form of tea, flavored drink, or herbal tea (tisane) are combined to create an icy, cold, sweet beverage best enjoyed through a thick straw. It’s often topped with whipped cream, caramel, chocolate, or other decorative, sweet element. (see below)

How Tea Is Processed (Manufactured) 

You’d be surprised to know just how time-consuming it is for tea makers to harvest tea leaves and get the finished tea to the consumer. Some teas take up to 12 months to process. 

When reading about different teas or purchasing tea, you’ll most likely be met with various terms that are unfamiliar. However, some of these things are important to know when selecting the finest and best quality tea to enjoy. 

Flush (“Plucking”) 

Harvest times are called “flushes.” Different teas are harvested in a particular flush to produce a tea’s characteristic flavor. To give you an idea of how different flushes apply to different teas, we’ll look at a few teas to explain their flushes.