Arriving at a precise classification of the teas present in China is somewhat complicated. Although most come from the Camellia sinensis plant, the difference is in how they are processed. The variety of its flavors is influenced by the characteristics and chemical composition of its leaves. In this post we will introduce you to the 10 traditional types of Chinese teas .
There are thousands of brands of tea in China, all of which process the leaves of the plant in different ways. Despite this, the types of Chinese tea can be grouped as follows.
1. Chinese green teas
It is the most common tea in China. The leaves of the chinese green teas they are collected and in the process hardly suffer from oxidation. This process prevents them from fermenting so that they do not lose their antioxidants that help prevent some cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
On the other hand, it is one of the Chinese teas for weight loss , because it speeds up metabolism and helps burn calories and fat. It is also considered one of the most famous Chinese teas because it prevents aging and increases the body’s defenses.
2. White tea
Another of the Chinese teas is white tea, it is not as well known in the West as black, green or Pu-erh tea. It is one of the Chinese teas to lose weight , due to its diuretic power and because it eliminates toxins that accumulate in the body.
Its oxidation process is slight and it is cultivated preferably in the Fujian province. Its young leaves are dried under the sun and in their process their oxidation and fermentation are avoided. This allows its flavor to be preserved and its antioxidants.
3. Chinese yellow teas
Yellow tea is also known as “five dynasties tea” because its history dates back to ancient China. It is said that it was only cultivated and drunk by Buddhist and Taoist monks. Its color is due to the fact that the leaves of Camellia sinensis undergo a rather short fermentation process.
It is also known as “yellow gold” and has a somewhat bittersweet taste. It presents a number of benefits for the body, among them: it is diuretic, has antioxidants and digestive. It is one of the Chinese teas to lose weight , it improves vision and enhances concentration.
4. Black tea
Black teas are those that have a degree of oxidation of 100%, this makes their strands dry. It is one of the Chinese teas whose flavor is perceived as smoked, tobacco or cocoa, or wood. But other varieties are perceived with floral, raisin and red fruit notes.
There is a wide variety of black teas with different profiles that, although they are part of the same group, will depend on where it is produced. Throughout history it has been shown to possess a number of properties, including:
- Lowers blood cholesterol.
- It keeps the arteries healthy.
- Protects the immune system.
- Reduce stress.
- Among others.
5. Chinese Oolong Teas
Oolong tea falls somewhere between green and black tea, which is what gives it its blue color. The production of this tea comes from the Chinese provinces of Funjian, Canton and Taiwan. Its flavor is smooth, it is not as concentrated as that of black tea.
It is usually sold in strands or in sachets. During the drying process it is rolled up and that is why they are found in pressed presentations. Its flavor and aroma depends on the tea garden, the oxidized and the quality of the leaf.
6. Chinese red tea
Red tea or Pu-erh is another of the medicinal teas whose properties provide health benefits. It comes from the Pu’er region of China. For hundreds of years it was only consumed by the nobility, its reddish hue comes from its fermentation, which goes from a minimum of 1 years to a maximum of 60.
Its main benefits:
- One of the best Chinese teas for weight loss , because it helps to metabolize food well and stimulates the secretion of gastric juices.
- Take care of the cardiovascular system.
- Regulates cholesterol.
7. Scented Chinese teas
Teas can be blended for the purpose of creating a balanced flavored tea, using different origins and characters. A golden rule must prevail in the mixture of teas: keep the same flavor of the previous one and the consumer should not detect it.
The tea can be flavored with a mixture of perfumes, essential oils and flavorings. This blend can be used to cover or dull the inferior quality of a tea. Many of these are Chinese flower teas , for example with jasmine, roses, chrysanthemum, peach, among others.
8. Flower teas
Chinese flower teas fall between flower tea and scented tea. The flowers that are included are dry and are usually: hibiscus, chrysanthemum, amaranth, lily, among others. Consuming these types of healing Chinese teas help to: improve digestion, fight aging, etc.
9. Dark Chinese Teas
It is a post-fermented tea, its leaves are made in the Chinese regions of Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan and Hunan. Its dark color was due to the moistened tea that was carried on the backs of the horses that carried it. The water is amber in color with some red. Its flavor is very rich and pure.
10. Mao Jian Tea
This kind of tea is a kind of Green Tea which comes from Henan province, China. It has a very rich sweet taste. The word Mao means the velvet that covers the buds and Jian refers to the pointed and tapered shape of the flowers.
