There are three types of tea: Green, Oolong and Black.
These are the result of the tealeaves being processed in any one of three different ways (unfermented, partially fermented, or completely fermented).
- Green tea This is made by steaming green tea leaves to stop oxidation, rolling the leaves to express flavor and then heating them to dry.
- Black tea This is made by drying the green leaves in a process known as “withering” so the leaves become oxidized (also known as fermented), rolling them, and then applying hot air to stop the oxidation process.
- Oolong Also known as red teas take after the black teas in that they are prepared the same way, but with a shorter drying period so the leaves are not as oxidized, or fermented