from green and black to oolong and beyond

[Randy W]

All the tea in China

 

 

All about Chinese teas—from green and black to oolong and beyond

Team Goldthread

JUL 01, 2019

 

 

 

Strictly speaking, all tea—whether it’s green, black, or white—comes from one plant: Camellia sinensis. Everything else commonly referred to as tea—such as chrysanthemum, barley, and chamomile tea—is technically an herbal infusion.

True tea, the kind made from Camellia sinensis leaves, has its origins in southeastern China, where the plant grows natively in the mountains.

And while all tea comes from this one plant, it’s how the leaves are processed that makes for such widely different varieties, from mild green tea to the almost coffee-like pu’er.

In general, Chinese tea can be grouped into six categories: green, black, white, dark, oolong, and yellow. Here, we go through all six types and explain what makes them unique.