Time for tea

There’s a tea to suit every occasion. Types depend on the processing the tea leaves undergo. Most tea in the UK is sold in bags, usually made by blending different varieties. Caffeine content varies among teas, depending on variety and brewing time.

BLACK TEA

After drying and rolling, the leaves go through a natural oxidation process, which gives the resulting black tea its characteristic flavour and colour. Black teas include Assams, Earl Grey, English breakfast, Ceylons and Darjeelings.

GREEN TEA

This is made from leaves that have undergone as little oxidation as possible. The leaves are heated and rolled (in many varieties), and all contain plenty of vitamins and antioxidant properties. Green teas have a characteristic bitterness and are often scented with flowers or mixed with fruit.

MATCHA

A special form of green tea, from the same plant, but prepared differently. It’s sold as a powder (made from the ground, dried leaves). The tea is vibrant green and full of antioxidants.

OOLONG TEA

Prized for its health benefits, this group of teas is the perfect halfway house between green and black tea, and usually comes from China or Taiwan. The leaves are semi-fermented in sunlight before oxidation.

WHITE TEA

Made from only the youngest, unopened buds and softest leaves of the tea plants. The least processed of all tea types, it’s full of antioxidants and has a soft, pure flavour.

CAFFEINE-FREE

Not strictly speaking tea as we know it (as it doesn’t include any tea leaves), this group includes herbal or fruit infusions, often made from blends of herbs, flowers, seeds and fruits. Another naturally caffeine-free tea is rooibos (or redbush). Full of antioxidants and vitamins, it can be drunk with milk or with lemon and honey.