Chinese Tea ABC

Chinese Tea ABC

Unlike the teas in western culture, Chinese tea can be categorized into 6 types in terms of the fermentation and processing: 

 1.Green Tea

      Longjing, Biluochun, Gunpowder 

• manufactured from the tea plant’s fresh shoots with a refreshing taste 
• antioxidant, Vitamin C, enzymes, perfect for detox  
• paired with stir-fries, pastries and fruits. 

 2.White Tea

• harvested only in early spring once a year  
• light golden in colour 
• tastes sweet with floral or lemony aroma 

 3.Yellow Tea

      Beigang Maojian

• light golden in colour
• gently sweet flavour and aroma with soft texture
• encased and steamed before the leaves are completely dried, therefore eliminating the grassy taste 

4.Red

• sophisticated smells ranging from malty to savory 
• milder than western black tea, paired with milk 

5.Oolong Tea

      Tieguanyin, Da Hong Pao 

• in a spectrum between green and black tea 
• semi-oxidized 
• tastes similar to green tea, with notes ranging from floral and fruity to nutty and woody 

6.Dark Tea 

      Pu’er 

• also known as fermented tea 
• rich ruby in color with a delicate and fresh texture 
• taste develops with age   
• raw pu’er tea tastes bitter initially with a refreshing aftertaste. As it ages, the bitterness fades.  
• ripe pu’er tea has a herbal taste complemented with fresh honey aromas. It also improves in flavor as it ages. 

by Jingzi 2024-01-30