A Beginner's Guide to Buying Tea

If you are new to tea drinking, buying a box of tea might seem a bit challenging. There are so many different kinds to choose from, even at a regular grocery store; and if you go to a specialized tea shop, you are likely to be overwhelmed by all the variety. So how do you go about picking one?

First of all, there are two ways that tea is sold in: teabags and loose leaves. Teabags are easier to use, all you do is place one in a cup and add hot water. Loose leaves tea will require a teapot, and the knowledge of the tea brewing process, which is really not so hard. Place one teaspoon of leaves into a teapot, fill it up with hot water. Wait for about 3 minutes; then pour the tea into cups, making them about 1/3 full; fill the rest up with hot water. This should make 3-4 cups.

Now that you have decided whether you want to try your hand at making loose leaves tea or go the easy way and use teabags, let us take a look at three major kinds of tea: Black, Green, and Herbal.

Black tea has the strongest flavor and is better suited for seasoned tea lovers, those who like the intense taste of tea without any additions to it. For a beginner, black tea might seem too tart, even bitter, especially if you brew it too strong. Black tea is refreshing and energizing; for that reason, it is not recommended to drink it before going to bed: you might be unable to fall asleep for a while.

Green tea is made out of the same plant (Camellia sinensis), but it is differently processed. It does not undergo oxidation, which makes it more healthy. Green tea contains less caffeine and more antioxidants; it is known to contribute to weight loss. Also, being much lighter in color, green tea will not stain your teeth as much as black one. When it comes to flavor, green tea is mild and somewhat "grassy".

Herbal tea is not made out of tea plant, so, technically, it is not even real tea. Herbal teas are made from flowers, leaves, seeds, berries, and fruit of many different plants, which results in a wide variety of flavors. Raspberry, mint, chamomile, vanilla, orange, lemon, you name it. If you find plain tea, black or green, somewhat boring, go for herbal, you will certainly find something to suit your taste.

Herbal additions to black and green tea also take place; in this case, the tea is called Flavored Black or Flavored Green (with ____, whatever flavor is added). Decaffeinated teas, green and black, are available for those who try to limit their caffeine intake. However, the decaf process is said to destroy some of the antioxidants and essential oils of the tea.

A rare and lesser known variety also exists, called White Tea; it is made from young leaves and new growth buds of tea plant. White tea is not processed, only dried in the sun, which makes it the richest in antioxidants. The taste of white tea is strong, close to that of black one.