The taste of tea varies according to where and how it is grown: altitude, climate, and soil affect the flavor. China, India, and Japan are the major tea producers, but Kenya (especially east of the Great Rift Valley) and Georgia (Caucasus Mountains) also have good teas.

Harvesting, drying, and processing also affect the quality of the brew. Some teas are blended, e.g., Earl Grey, while others are flavored, e.g., jasmine tea.

Here are some of the most widely available, popular types:

Chinese Green Teas

Type served in Chinese restaurants. Mild, fruity, pleasant.

Chinese Oolong Teas

Generally, strength is greater than green teas but milder than black teas. Chinese (Formosa) Oolong is considered one of the finest of teas.

Chinese Black Teas

These have flavors ranging from mild, to smoked, to strong. Keeman, from Northern China, has a deep, rich flavor. Lapsang Souchong, a large-leaf tea, is rich and full-bodied with distinctive, delicate, smoky, tarry flavor.

Indian Teas

All teas from India are black teas. Assam, grown in Northeast India, is a classic with strong, malty taste. Darjeeling, from Northern India, has a delicate, distinctive flavor. Darjeeling Broken Orange Pekoe is considered by many as the "champagne of tea".

Ceylon Teas

Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) produces only black teas. Most Ceylon teas have rich color and flavor and are known for fine quality. Orange pekoe and broken orange pekoe produce an aromatic fragrance and delicate, fresh tasting tea.

Japanese Green Teas

Quite different in taste from Chinese green teas with stronger flavor. Sencha has long green leaves and makes an easy-to-drink tea for everyday drinking. Sencha Brancha combines tea leaves and rice that results in a nutty flavored beverage.

~~~ Orbit's Lytel Herball ~~~

Origin of Disease & Medicine	Materia Medica	Herb Pages	Tea Pages	Old Wives Lore
Cherokee story has truth and wisdom. go there	What part of plants to use; how to collect and prepare. go there Plants toxic to cats. go there Plants not reported as toxic to cats. go there	~Catnip & more~ Pages about herbs to use and enjoy. go there	~Tea and Cakes~ Leaves, brews, and recipes to accompany. go there	Old wives knew a lot; that's how they lived to become old. go there

~~~ My life as a cat ~~~

I am Manager of Bitsy's Whackers gurlz baseball team Click for photo of team executives. Click for game against boyz	I am happy to be a memfur of the Circle of Charms gurlz club.

~~~ Around the Web ~~~

Caring for Cats	Awards Won	Webrings
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true. go there	Recognitions that keep my whiskers alert. go there	Kindred spirits teleporting around the galaxy. go there

Go Home