I love starting my mornings with a good cup of coffee, but in the evenings, there’s nothing better than unwinding with a soothing cup of tea while catching up on my favorite shows (because let’s be honest, I’m always behind!). I keep a variety of herbal teas on hand, each with its own purpose—whether it’s for digestion, relaxation, immunity, and more.
Do you drink tea on a regular basis? If so, what type of tea do you drink the most? Let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear from you!
What is Tea?
Tea is a beverage made by taking leaves from the Camellia Sinensis plant and steeping them in hot water. The leaves and buds of this plant are carefully harvested to create a diverse range of teas, each with its own unique flavor and characteristics.
Types of Tea
Let’s explore some of the different types of teas as shared by teaforte.com.
Black Tea is the most familiar type of tea in North America and Europe, with popular varieties like Earl Grey and English Breakfast. It undergoes the most intensive processing, allowing the leaves to fully oxidize before drying. This gives black tea its distinctive dark color.
Green Tea is an unoxidized tea and is best known for its grassy vegetal notes (aromas) and greenish leaves. Because it doesn’t undergo oxidation, green tea requires careful steeping. Too much heat or steeping time can make it taste bitter.
White Tea is the least processed of teas, made exclusively from the buds and very young leaves of the tea plant. Despite being minimally processed, it is slightly more oxidized than green tea.
Oolong Tea falls between black and green tea, and is only partially oxidized. While its appearance leans more toward black tea, its flavor is closer to green tea, offering a smooth and well-rounded taste.
Herbal Teas include a wide variety of infusions made from herbs, flowers, berries, spices, roots, fruits, and other flora sources. Herbal teas have been used for centuries for their soothing and medicinal benefits.
Tea Trends
Now, let’s take a look at some interesting trends in the tea industry according to an article published by NielsenIQ in August of 2023, The State of Tea: 5 Key Tea Trends.
- Increased Popularity of Herbal Teas – A renewed focus on health has led to the growing popularity of natural and organic products, including herbal teas. These teas offer a variety of health benefits with some of the more popular choices being chamomile and ginger teas.
- Growing Demand for Functional Teas – These teas are formulated for specific health benefits. Among the most popular are turmeric tea and green tea.
- Rise of Matcha Tea – A type of green tea made from finely ground leaves. Matcha is gaining traction for its rich, creamy flavor and high antioxidant content.
- Growing Interest in Loose-leaf Tea – Consumers are gravitating toward loose-leaf tea, which is often of higher quality than bagged tea. This reflects a preference for premium tea experiences.
- Increased Focus on Sustainability – Some of the ways that tea companies are working to be more sustainable include using recycled packaging, sourcing tea from sustainable farms, and reducing their water usage.
Panel Members: If you buy tea, please scan the UPC barcode on the packaging to report your purchase. However, loose tea purchases cannot be reported at this time.
Have a tea-riffic day!
Regards,
Taylor
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Absolutely all sorts