Tea is the most popular beverage in the world, and according to recent statistics, about 25,000 cups of tea are consumed every second across the globe. With over 3,000 varieties of tea out there, it can be overwhelming to pick your favorite tea that will suit your taste since they all have different characteristics and flavor profiles. Fortunately, there are ways to simplify the selection process so you can find a beverage that you’ll truly enjoy at breakfast or at any other time of the day. Here’s a guide to finding your new favorite tea.
Know the Six Primary Tea Types
All tea comes from one type of plant — the Camellia sinensis plant. Tea is usually classified into six types, and these are black tea, green tea, oolong tea, white tea, pu-erh tea, and herbal tea. Black tea has the most caffeine and is considered to be the most versatile tea. Green tea is light and has a faintly herbal flavor, while oolong is partially oxidized tea that has a roasted, woody taste. White tea has a bright and astringent taste, while pu-erh has an earthy flavor. Lastly, herbal tea refers to other plants or herbs that are steeped to make tea, such as mint, lavender, and chamomile. You can have access to all six types of tea by subscribing to a tea of the month club since doing so enables you to taste different tea variants from all over the world. Chances are, one or two of these tea types will be a stand out for you, so take note of the ones that appeal to your taste.
If you’d rather take a more methodical approach to choosing tea, or if you’re thinking about training your palate, you can start with one type of tea, then work your way through all six variants. Start with black teas since they’re ideal for beginners, and sample different types such as English Breakfast, Earl Grey, and Darjeeling Black. From there, move on to green and white tea, then save the oolong and pu-erh teas for last.
How Do You Take Your Favorite Tea?
The way you prepare or drink your tea can influence the type of tea variant that’ll be a mainstay in your cupboard. For instance, do you like adding milk and sweetener to your beverage? If this is the case, then black teas will be a good choice for you. For those who prefer to drink iced tea, black tea would be the most logical choice, although white, oolong, or green tea would work as well. Meanwhile, those who like to drink tea in a mindful way, or those who love the art of the tea ceremony should choose green or matcha tea. Experiment by adding different ingredients to your drink, such as a squeeze of lemon, a dash of cinnamon, or a scant teaspoonful of honey. This way, you’ll get to have different ways to enjoy your tea.
Finding a new favorite beverage can take some trial and error. But by learning about the main tea variants, and being open to new flavors, you can find a tea that you’ll enjoy for many years.
