It's Teatime
Did you know that tea is one of the most popular drinks in the world, second only to water? Whether you like it hot, iced, mild, or spiced, tea is a wonderful beverage with a myriad of health benefits and flavors. Let's dive into a few worldwide favorites before exploring some hidden gems for drinkers who want to expand their palates.
1. Orange Pekoe
While orange pekoe is technically a classification of tea rather than a flavor, it's still one of the most popularity varieties worldwide. Orange pekoe is a malty black tea made from assam leaves. The taste is rich and smooth; despite the name, it isn't citrusy.
2. Earl Grey
A quintessential English tea, Earl Grey is another black tea made with bergamot orange, a hybrid between an orange and a bitter lemon. The resulting tea is citrusy and floral. Fun fact, some people say this tea smells like Fruit Loops thanks to the bergamot!
3. Matcha
Matcha is a powdered green tea that's soared in popularity over the past few years. Matcha tastes grassy and earthy, and can be bitter to some palates. The process of making and brewing matcha can be highly ceremonial.
4. Chai
Chai is just another word for tea, so when you order a "chai tea", you're really just ordering "tea tea". However, what most people mean when they say chai is masala chai. Masala chai is a warm, spicy tea from India which is sweetened with milk and sugar.
5. Oolong
Oolong is a rarer but still popular type of tea similar to green and black teas. Because oolong is a vast category of tea, flavors can range from light to dark. Light oolongs are fresh and sweet while dark oolongs have notes of smoke or chocolate.
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6. Chamomile
Chamomile is an herbal tea made from a daisy-like flower. Chamomile tea has a lovely aroma of apples and hay. Chamomile tea is known to aid digestion and encourage deep sleep.
7. White
White tea is the least processed and most delicate type of commercially-available tea. White tea has a smooth and mild taste with hints of fruit and honey. It is low in caffeine but high in antioxidants.
8. Jasmine
Jasmine is a light tea normally based in green tea, though it can also be found with a black or white base. Jasmine tea has a sweet and floral taste with a lovely aroma. In China, it is traditionally used to welcome guests into a home.
9. Peppermint
This may shock you, but the main flavor of peppermint tea is peppermint. Peppermint is an herbal tea with a smidge of spice and sweetness. Peppermint tea can help with stomach issues such as cramps and bloating.
10. Darjeeling
Regarded as the champagne of teas, Darjeeling is an Indian black tea. It's lighter than other black teas with a sweet taste and floral aroma. Darjeeling has an astringent taste that some compare to muscat wine.
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Now that we've covered some of the more popular flavors of tea, let's get into some more obscure ones!
1. Pu'er
Pu'er tea (also spelled pu-erh) is a fermented black tea from China. Pu'er tea is allowed to mature like a good wine before it is drunk. Pu'er tea has a complex earthy flavor that ranges from earthy to sweet.
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2. Lapsang Souchong
if you want a tea to warm you up on a cold winter's night, you should try a cup of lapsang souchong. this black tea is smoked over a fire for a distinctive taste with notes of wood and pine. Despite what you may think, lapsang souchong is not typically bitter and doesn't need to be sweetened.
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3. Butterfly Pea Flower
Butterfly pea flower tea has become popular at tea shops due to its unique color. This tea starts off a beautiful blue, but changes to pink or purple when lemon is added to it! Butterfly pea flower is mild and slightly sweet.
4. Dandelion
Don't write off dandelion tea just because you associate it with weed-whacking. Dandelion tea can be earth and sweet or bold and smoky depending on whether or not it's roasted. Drinking dandelion tea also helps maintain liver health.
5. Rooibos
There's a tea for every color under the rainbow. Rooibos tea is a red tea from South Africa that has a sweet and earthy flavor. Rooibos tea is caffeine-free and high in antioxidants.
6. Valerian Root
If chamomile tea isn't enough to help you sleep, you may want to try valerian root tea. Valerian root is a herb that has long been used as a mild sedative to help with sleep and anxiety. The flavor is woody and earthy, though it can be overpowering for some.
7. Gunpower
Despite what the name may lead you to believe, gunpowder tea is a green tea, rather than a black one. The tea leaves are tightly rolled to resemble gunpowder pellets. Gunpowder tea has a bold, smoky flavor.
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8. Rosehip
Rosehip is a delicate herbal tea with a tart and fruity flavor. Rosehip tea has a wonderful floral aroma, which should come as no surprise. Some studies have linked rosehip tea to pain relief from arthritis.
9. Hibiscus
Hibiscus tea is a herbal tea with a vibrant magenta color. Hibiscus has a tart flavor similar to a cranberry; we recommend adding honey if you find the flavor too sour. Hibiscus and other herbal teas are popular as iced drinks in the summer.
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10. Cloud
Cloud tea is a Chinese green tea grown at high altitudes in damp climates. Cloud tea has a sweet and refreshing flavor that can include notes of chestnut and pecan. Despite its' light profile, cloud tea can hold up to multiple infusions, which each cup unlocking a different flavor.
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