Tea Varieties
by Chad Tweed
http://www.yahoo.com
Tea is a beloved drink for many people all over the world.
The English are probably the most well known tea drinkers,
but drinking tea has become a relaxing ritual for many
others as well. There are more than 3,000 varieties of tea
for you to choose from when you settle down to brew a cup.
The main categories of tea are; (1) black, (2) oolong, (3)
white, (4) compressed, (5) flavored, and (6) green. There
are also a number of herbal varieties made from plants or
mixes of plants.
Black tea is one of the most commonly consumed teas
and is accountable for most of the tea sales in the world.
A black tea will have a full and robust flavor and is
favored for its aromatic qualities. Black tea is generally
served with a bit of sugar and milk, but this will vary
depending where in the world it is consumed. Black tea
is often combined with other milder teas to tone down
its flavor.
Thailand is the origin of oolong tea. It~s known as a semi-
fermented drink. Connoisseurs don~t think it should be
blended with other teas, but only consumed as is.
Green tea is believed by many to be the healthiest tea. It
is green in color, not fermented and is full of stimulants
and other healthy ingredients. It~s often used to cleanse
the palate so is served after meals, and cream and sugar
are not added.
Flavored teas are growing in popularity and give a lift to
green, black, and oolong teas. You can add spices, flowers,
or even dried fruit. Some of the most widely enjoyed are
jasmine, vanilla, ginger, mango, and lemon teas. Adding a
bit of sugar or honey can give it even more zest. This
gives a bit of sweetness to a busy day. Try a number of
them until you find a few favorites.
Most international cafes and restaurants offer tea. It~s a
lot of fun to try them as you travel the world as you won~t
always find them at home. At the rate it~s growing,
drinking tea may overtake the coffee ritual.
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