Types of Tea

There are various types of tea based on the procedure in which the leaves are processed. The most popular ones are the green tea, black tea, oolong tea and white tea. Green tea is considered to be a very healthy beverage.

Most people prepare tea using a tea kettle to heat the water to boiling. A good tea kettle, like an Oxo Tea Kettle, can last for years and make tea preparation easier.

When tea leaves are dried or allowed to wither oxidation sets in. However, green tea is prepared by preventing the leaves from oxidizing, but drying quickly, over firing or pan frying. This helps retain flavanoids, catechins, poly-phenols etc. giving green tea the edge.

Black tea is more of a result of oxidation where the leaves are allowed to ripen giving them the strong, rich flavor that varies from grower to grower.

Oolong tea are traditional teas that are a balance between green and black tea. The green styles is oxidized less whereas the amber style is oxidizes slightly more, lending the oolong tea a fine taste and balance between the flavor of green and the deep taste of the black tea.

White tea is the most expensive of the lot, made by drying the buds even before they open up and which are covered by delicate hairs, whose poly-phenols are very effective against wrinkles, aging etc.

Besides these there are flavored teas made by combining various flavors or oils with the tea leaves. The compressed tea bricks are nothing but leaves compressed to retain them for longer time during voyages. Thus tea or camellia sinensis leaves could be processes in many ways depending on the flavor and taste desired.

If you're looking for a good tea kettles, check out Oxo Tea Kettles at Amazon.com. They make many different styles and colors. You're sure to find one to fit your particular taste.