What is the difference between Black, Green/White and Red teas?
Black, green and white tea all come from the same plant, the Camillia sinensis. It is how the leaves are processed after picking that result in black, green or white tea in your tea bag. White tea is when the tea leaves are allowd to sun-dry—this is the only process they go through. The Green tea leaves are picked, withered, rolled and dried—they are not allowed to oxidize/ferment—which prevents the leaves from becoming black tea. Black tea leaves are picked, withered and gently rolled to bruise the tea leaves and break down the leave’s cellular structure, liberating the juices. They are then allowed to oxidize for one to four hours before being fired/dried by hot air to stop the fermenting. Red tea (Rooibos) is a caffeinated herbal tea that comes from a South African plant called Aspalathus linearis. The rooibos, or “red bush,” plant is actually green, and the tea turns the signature red color when it is at the fermentation stage of processing.
Black, green and white tea all come from the same plant, the Camillia sinensis. It is how the leaves are processed after picking that result in black, green or white tea in your tea bag. White tea is when the tea leaves are allowd to sun-dry—this is the only process they go through. The Green tea leaves are picked, withered, rolled and dried—they are not allowed to oxidize/ferment—which prevents the leaves from becoming black tea. Black tea leaves are picked, withered and gently rolled to bruise the tea leaves and break down the leave’s cellular structure, liberating the juices. They are then allowed to oxidize for one to four hours before being fired/dried by hot air to stop the fermenting. Red tea (Rooibos) is a caffeine-free herbal tea that comes from a South African plant called Aspalathus linearis. The rooibos, or “red bush,” plant is actually green, and the tea turns the signature red color when it is at the fermentation stage of processing.
