Types of Tea

There are about five types of tea (although different countries classify the types differently). They are all made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The difference is what happens to the leaves after they are no longer attached to the plant. Herbal and rooibos teas are made from other plants, so they are not technically tea. Some teas are infused with other flavors but are still tea.

For a tea leaf to get from the plant to the pot, it needs to be picked from the plant, and then processed. The process can involve withering and drying the leaves and depends on what type of tea the leaves will become. Sometimes the leaves are steamed, fried or fermented. Plymouth Tea and Planet Tea have information about each type.

Each type of tea should be prepared slightly differently. For directions, check out this page.

This site is maintained by Laura Jervis , a journalism student at the University of Florida