User:RomansToth54
How Many Different Types of Tea Exist
The first known glasses of tea were brewed by the Chinese in 2700 BC. Emperor Shen Nung boiled leaves in water believing it strengthened your body and helped foster inner peace. The leaves he used originated from the Camellia Sinensis plant that is still used to brew tea today. Both popular green and black teas originate from this plant and the distinction between the two is incorporated in the fermentation. Green tea extract is unfermented while black teas are fermented for up to Twenty four hours and go through an extensive drying period.
Initially, the Camellia Sinensis plant was only found in Southeast Asia but now it's grown in tropical locations around the world. Not only do the green and black teas originate from this evergreen but so oolong and white flavors of tea. The differences are within the processing. Oolong is between black and green tea extract around the flavor spectrum and white tea which matches through the least amount of processing is natural tea in its purest form.
Saving money and white teas are the best for you simply because they go through the least processing, preserving the healthy nutrients. There's also herb teas sold today which are blends of the Camellia Sinensis plants and infused with leaves, seeds and flowers from other plants. Ingredients are used to provide a number of health benefits from to reduce stress to disease prevention. A common line of herbal tea is Ayurvedic Blends which use a variety of herbs that have been known to promote wellness for more than 5000 years.
Teas also now come in a variety of flavors. These first shot to popularity in the seventies with cherry and vanilla flavored teas but have now grown to include almost any variety imaginable from orange/passion to pomegranate/grape. There are also fruit tea blends that have become very popular; they're brewed using sweet apple pieces, fruity rose hip peels and fresh hibiscus blossoms. These are actually excellent family drinks because of their vivid colors as well as their sweet taste.
Whether you drink it hot or on ice, tea provides a healthy option to coffee and soda. Test out the different types and flavors to obtain the one which you prefer.