Herbalists often refer to their drink of choice as “herbal tea”, but did you know that herbal teas are not actually teas at all!
All true tea comes from a single plant: Camellia sinensis. The unique characteristics of each variety of tea are formed through various harvesting and processing techniques. True tea varieties include black, green, white, oolong, pu-erh, purple, and matcha.
Black tea is the most common variety of tea. The tea plant is harvested and allowed to wilt before it is lightly crushed. It is then allowed to fully oxidize causing it to turn dark brown, before it is dried and crushed. The term “Orange Pekoe” is a specific grade of tea which involves early harvesting of the leaf bud and two young leaves. Black tea is sometimes flavored or combined with other teas, essential oils, flowers, or herbs to create tea blends. Popular blends include Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Lady Grey, and Darjeeling.
Oolong tea is made from special varieties of the tea plant. Once harvested, it is wilted before it is allowed to partially oxidize. The amount of oxidation depends on the desired flavor profile. Once the tea leaves have oxidized, they are then hand-shaped into tightly rolled balls and allowed to dry.
Green tea is different in that it has not been allowed to oxidize and thus retains its green color. Instead, green tea is harvested and immediately either pan-fired (China) or steam-fired (Japan) before being dried. Matcha is a popular green tea that is allowed to grow under shade several weeks before harvest to increase its chlorophyll content. Once the leaves are dried, they are ground into a fine powder.
Herbal tea is a catch-all term used to describe drinks made from herbs. Herbal teas can be made by infusing a single herb or a combination of several herbs in warm water and allowing it to steep. Herbal teas generally do not contain caffeine, whereas all true teas have varying amounts of caffeine. Herbs commonly used in herbal tea blends include chamomile, peppermint, ginger, lemon balm, and licorice.
Just some things to think about when you order your next cup of tea!