I’ve always liked tea and have heard that it has many health benefits, especially because of the healthy antioxidants found in them. Therefore, I have decided to find out more about the different types of tea and how they are made. As it turns out, they can all be made from a plant called Camellia sinesis.

The different kinds of teas are simply processed differently or they are made from different parts of the plant.

Black tea has a slightly bitter flavor and has the most caffeine out of all of the types of tea per cup. It is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis which are rolled and fermented, then dried and crushed.  

Green tea has a more delicate flavor than black tea. The leaves are dried and heat treated after their picked so they will not ferment. This tea contains about 25 mg. of caffeine per cup.

Oolong tea is fermented for a shorter time than black tea, so it has a richer taste and it has about 30 mg. of caffeine per cup.

White tea leaves are picked when they are very young, so the tea has a much more mild flavor than any other kind of tea and less caffeine (about 15 mg per cup). The loose tea may also contain more antioxidants than in tea bags, because the leaves are less processed.

In flavored teas aromatic extras like cinnamon, orange peel, and lavender are paired with black, green, or white tea leaves.

Herbal teas are not, technically, considered to be tea because they are usually some combination of dried fruits, flowers, and herbs. They have been, traditionally, considered to be home remedies. The herbal varieties have no caffeine, but herbal weight-loss teas, may contain dangerous laxatives.