Types of tea: how to choose the best assortment

Legenda spune că acum aproximativ 5000 de ani în China, micul împărat Shen Nung s-a oprit pe parcursul unei călătorii să se odihnească sub un copac. În timp ce își fierbea apă pentru a o bea, o frunză din copacul de deasupra a căzut în oala fierbinte și a colorat apa. După ce s-a răcit, Shen Nung a sorbit din lichid și a simțit cum o stare de pace și calm îi cuprinde corpul.

Like most legends, we will never know what the historical truth is - but regardless, we can only be glad that someone discovered this drink we have come to call tea - which puts us to sleep, energizes, calms, makes an entire planet happy!

First, let's start by seeing what exactly falls into the tea category. Although they are very diverse, all teas have in common that some leaves come from the tea plant or in its scientific name camellia sinesis. Depending on the level of oxidation of these leaves results in different types of tea, the most popular of which are:

This type of tea is the result of complete oxidation of the leaves. This process can take from two to four to five weeks. Because of its dark, slightly reddish color, the Chinese also call it "red tea" (Hongcha).

Green tea is not allowed to oxidize, and because of this, it has a mild and pleasant herbal flavor. After being left to dry, the leaves are rolled as small and tightly as possible to provide a stronger flavor and finally heated (by baking, frying, or steaming).

It lies on the border between green and black tea. In this type of tea, the leaves are partially oxidized (the oxidation level varies between 10% and 80%).

This is done by picking buds from the tea plant and leaving them to air dry. These buds are not oxidized and rolled, hence the light color of tea.

It is a type of green tea that has become so popular that it has become a category itself. It is crushed to powder, a procedure used documentarily since at least the fifteenth century.

Made from an ancient variety of the camellia sinensis plant, the name of this tea comes from the Pu-Eh fair in China's Yunnan province. The longer it is allowed to oxidize, the better the tea becomes.

Although it doesn't fall into the tea category, the Rooibos plant is a bush that is only found in South Africa. Due to its sweet taste, this tea has become popular all over the world, and it would be a shame not to mention it in our list.

Maybe you're part of that category of people - quite small - who don't drink coffee while not being a morning person. If so, start your day with a cup of black tea. It energizes the body, treats anxiety, and removes headaches.

Or, perhaps, you want to relax after a long day at work? White tea has the lowest concentration of caffeine of all types of tea, helps you de-stress plus detoxifies the body.

For those who want to lose weight, we recommend green tea, oolong, or matcha.

It is worth noting that all teas contain antioxidants that fight cancer cells, especially green and white tea, which contain a higher concentration of antioxidants.

But one thing to remember is, that tea is an aid to a healthy diet, not a substitute. It should be used as a substitute for other beverages, such as carbonated soft drinks.

In our service packages, we include a wide range of teas – black, green, rooibos, and herbal – created by Demmers, one of the most reputable European tea houses, with a tradition of almost 150 years. Check out our offer here, both for office and home tea!