The History of Tea:

Originated in 2700 BC, tea has been known for thousands of years in China. At that time fresh leaves in boiling water was considered a medicinal beverage. However, since the 3rd century AD, tea has become a daily drink which has led to mass tea harvest and processing.

The first published records of how tea was grown, processed and drunk appeared in 350 BC. In 800 BC, the first seeds were brought to Japan and have been growing since the 13th century. In 1610, the Dutch East India Company made the first ever shipment of Chinese tea to Europe. In 1801, people who came from Xiamen, China brought tea cultivation to Formosa Island (Taiwan).

However, from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, tea cultivation spread to Russia, Georgia, Sumatra and Iran, as well as non-Asian countries such as Natal, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Congo, Tanzania and Mozambique in Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Peru in South America, and Queensland, Australia.

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What is tea? Let’s explore the six tea types and the fermentation process of tea!

There are six major series of tea in Chinese culture. What are the six major series of tea?

Six major series of tea: sorted by the degree of fermentation of tea, from light fermentation to heavy fermentation.

『 Green Tea, Yellow Tea, White Tea, Oolong Tea, Black Tea, Dark Tea 』

Degree of fermentation – six series of tea
Types of tea	Degree of fermentation	Degree of fermentation(%)
Green tea	unfermented	fermentation degree 0
Yellow tea	slightly fermented	fermentation degree 0~10%
White tea	lightly fermented	fermentation degree 10~30%
Oolong tea	partially fermented	fermentation degree 10~70%
Black tea	heavily fermented	fermentation degree 70~90%
Dark tea	wholly fermented	fermentation degree 100%
By ABoxTik 一盒精品

Six Types of Tea Introduction

Six Types of Tea – Green Tea
Green tea is the earliest type of tea and the only type that is not fermented. After plucking the tea leaves from the tea tree, green tea goes through a high-temperature process before oxidation. The high temperature prevents oxidation and keeps the flavor in the best state of freshness.

Aroma: Grass, vegetable, bean, nori.

⚑ Further Reading ⚑
Green Tea Benefits: Top 5 Must-Read! What are the Types of Green Tea?
Is Four Seasons Spring Green Tea or Oolong Tea? Introduction to Its 6 Major Benefits and Characteristics
What Are the Benefits of Catechins in Green Tea? Are There Potential Side Effects?

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Six Types of Tea – Yellow Tea
Yellow tea is a slightly fermented tea, similar to green tea in processing. Some historical accounts suggest that yellow tea was created due to a mistake during the frying process of green tea.

Aroma: Bean, grass, less fresh than green tea.

⚑ Further Reading ⚑
What is Yellow Tea? What are the Types? Top 4 Health Benefits of Yellow Tea

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Six Types of Tea – White Tea
White tea is a lightly fermented tea, processed without frying or rolling. The tea leaves are simply dried over low heat, allowing the white downy hairs to be removed. Some historical documents even show the use of white tea as a medicinal herb.

Aroma: Floral, fruity, tender grassy.

⚑ Further Reading ⚑
6 Major White Tea Benefits Revealed! What is White Tea?

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Six Types of Tea – Oolong Tea
Also known as Wulong tea, it is a semi-fermented tea with a fermentation level between green tea and black tea. It combines the freshness of green tea with the sweetness of black tea, and the tea liquor has a yellow-green color.

Aroma: Honey, floral, fruity, light woody.

⚑ Further Reading ⚑
What is Oolong Tea? Is it Green Tea or Black Tea? Understanding Oolong Tea in 3 Minutes
Top 4 Oolong Tea Benefits & Brewing Methods, Is it High in Caffeine?

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Six Types of Tea – Black Tea
Black tea is a fully fermented tea, going through a complete fermentation process. During the processing of black tea, there is no killing of the green, and after withering, the tea leaves lose some moisture before being shaped into granules or strips and undergoing the fermentation step.

Aroma: Sweet, mature floral and fruity.

⚑ Further Reading ⚑
Recommended Taiwanese Black Teas! Top 7 Historic and World-Famous Black Tea Varieties
Top 10 Black Tea Benefits, Advantages, and Disadvantages – Everything You Need to Know
[Honey Black Oolong] Is Taiwan’s Unique Honey Black Tea Limited?
Taiwanese Tea No. 18 – Red Jade Black Tea, A Pride of Taiwan You Cannot Miss
Taiwan’s Top Assam Black Tea? History Witnessed by Sun Moon Lake Tea Factory

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Six Types of Tea – Dark Tea
Dark tea is a fully fermented tea, with a longer fermentation time during processing. The color of the tea leaves is deep coffee brown. It is a commonly consumed tea among minority groups in northwest China and is often sold in the form of tea bricks or cakes.

Aroma: Woody, herbal, aged.

⚑ Further Reading ⚑
What is Dark Tea? What are the Types and Benefits? Is Pu-erh Tea a Dark Tea?

Six types of teas

The types of teas- Green tea
West Lake Longjing, to Japan’s Sencha, Yulu, Biluochun

The types of teas- Yellow tea:
It is scarce with limited availability on the market.

The types of teas- White tea:
Baihao silver needle, white peony, shou mei.

The types of teas-Oolong tea:
Wenshan Paozhong, High Mountain Tea, Dongding Oolong Tea, Tieguanyin, Oriental Beauty Tea

The types of teas- Black tea
Black tea Darjeeling black tea, Wuwa black tea, Qimen black tea, Sun Moon Lake black tea

The types of teas- Dark tea-
Pu-erh tea is most famous in Yunnan

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Analysis of tea types, do you know the features of the 6 major teas?
Chinese Tea Culture [6 Tea Types] Origin of Tea

Five advantages of drinking tea.

Tea has always been an integral part of traditional medicine and is even called a panacea in many Asian countries. Over the centuries, the Chinese and Japanese have been drinking tea for improving health.

It has even been promoted in Western medicine as a treatment for cold and flu symptoms. Drinking tea not only makes people feel better when they are sick but also can protect brain health, improve heart health and even prevent certain types of cancer.

The advantages of drinking tea 1 – Protect heart health

The latest animal research demonstrates that drinking tea has significantly lowered the risk of serious heart diseases such as heart attack and blood clots. Tea contains anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe arterial tissue and also helps minimise the risk of inflammation that can restrict blood circulation leading to blood clots.

Furthermore, drinking tea may also help lower high blood pressure and lower cholesterol. One study discovered that people who drank 4 or more cups of green tea a day had a 32%lower risk of heart attack and significantly lower levels of bad LDL cholesterol.

The advantages of drinking tea 2 – Tea promotes weight loss

Due to its chemical composition, green tea contributes to speeding up metabolism and contains amino acids which is a signal for burning stored fat. Green tea also helps retain hydration despite containing caffeine, which means energy and concentration can be enhanced more effectively without becoming dehydrated.

Research indicates that green tea consumption has significant benefits for Asians. Green tea is a calorie-free beverage, thus people can drink as many cups as they want without feeling guilty. Drinking green tea instead of sugar-sweetened sodas and sports drinks can reduce calories and help you boost your fitness goals.

The advantages of drinking tea 3 – Supports mental health

Regular tea consumption has been connected to a lower risk of neurological disorders and lower stress levels. Green tea also protects against cognitive decline associated with brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Tea has a natural calming effect that can reduce stress and assist you to achieve relaxation after a tiring day at work.

Antioxidants in tea can eliminate free radicals caused by factors such as pollution. Free radicals lead to oxidation which can damage healthy cells. Oxidation has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Antioxidants also help flush out toxins from the body that can cause mental health problems. Drinking tea regularly has been shown to reduce stress and improve overall health.

The advantages of drinking tea 4 – Can regulate blood sugar

Drinking tea can contribute to regulating blood sugar which can prevent or control diseases such as diabetes. Black tea has been indicated to lower blood sugar levels after meals for up to 120 120 minutes.

Researchers attribute these health benefits to the polyphenols in tea. These polyphenols have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

The advantages of drinking tea 5 – Improve energy

Green tea only contains a small amount of caffeine. Due to the low levels of caffeine found in green tea, it has become a perfect choice for people who prefer to reduce their caffeine intake. The energy-boosting properties of green tea are driven by an amino acid called L-theanine.

Therefore, the energy enhancement that green tea brings to the body is longer lasting and more stable than a cup of coffee. You will obtain more concentration and energy without side effects. L-Theanine also increases alpha waves in the brain, helping to improve focus while providing calming and relaxing effects.

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ABoxTik will continue to bring everyone different tea knowledge, including history and various analyses of tea culture. In hopes for everyone acquires a better understanding of tea, please read through our articles. If you are interested in various tea cultures, as well as the history and knowledge of tea, you are welcome to explore more secrets of tea with ABoxTik products. Continue to follow our article updates, and visit our official website!