Tea 101

Tea, to make it short, is a beverage made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. It is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, known for its various flavors, aromas, and health benefits. Tea comes in several types, including black, green, oolong, and white. Herbal teas are not technically teas but rather, infusions or tisanes.

Black teas, which the Chinese call red tea due to the coppery color of the infusion, are teas whose leaves have undergone full oxidation. Learn more here.

Green teas are unoxidized teas. Their preparation therefore aims to avoid any hint of oxidation. The leaves go through three processes: roasting, rolling, and firing. Learn more here.

Green tea should be steeped for 2- 5 minutes at a temperature of 170ºF or 75ºC.

Matcha is a powdered green tea that boasts a distinctive umami flavor cherished by the Japanese. Its unique production method preserves its energizing caffeine content and antioxidant-rich catechins, making it highly sought-after for its numerous health benefits. Learn more here.

Pu Erh (also written Pu-erh, Puer, or Pu'er) is a fermented "dark" tea known for its beneficial properties. It is said to aid digestion and help detox the organism, making it a good choice after meals. It is very popular in China and is believed to improve with age. Learn more here.

Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea known for its unique flavor profile, falling between green and black tea. It undergoes a partial oxidation process, resulting in a complex taste with floral, fruity, and toasty notes. Oolong teas vary widely in flavor depending on factors like oxidation level, processing techniques, and terroir. Read more about Oolong tea here.

Coffee has a significantly larger caffeine content than tea. While both contain caffeine, on average a cup of green tea contains up to 35 mg of caffeine in an 8 oz serving while coffee contains 120 mg. For further comparison, an 8-ounce cup of black tea contains around 50 milligrams of caffeine.
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Yes and no. Tea bags stored properly past their expiration date may stale and lose flavor but this does not mean that they are unsafe to consume. Like coffee, the freshness does deteriorate over time. Tea bags improperly stored or exposed to moisture/humidity may grow mold. In these cases, it is important to examine your tea on a case-by-case basis and take note of any musty smells.

To make iced tea, simply infuse your tea leaves in water at room temperature. The infusion time may vary between 30 minutes or even several hours depending on the type of tea (green, black, single-estate, flavored) or infusion. Remove the leaves and place the liquid in the fridge to chill before serving. See more here!

You can, but you should not. While heat makes most components of tea soluble, it can also destroy or alter some of them. Controlling the water temperature allows you to balance the components in each tea. There is an optimal brewing temperature for each type of tea, which should be respected to bring out all of its qualities. Heating tea in a microwave does not allow for control or accuracy and may actually damage the flavor of the tea.

Yes, black tea does contain caffeine. A popular misconception is that black tea contains more caffeine than other tea colors but this can depend on many other factors. Learn more here.

It can be! Black tea, like all tea, is rich in antioxidants. The benefits of this may encompass a reduction in cardiovascular mortality (including lowered cholesterol, and blood pressure), decreased diabetes risk, enhanced bone health, and improve gut health.
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Green tea has a delicate and fresh flavor profile with a slightly astringent and vegetal taste. Depending on the variety and origin, it can also have hints of grassiness, sweetness, or nuttiness.

The amount of caffeine in different green teas can vary greatly but on average there is typically 35 mg of caffeine in an 8 oz serving of green tea. Read more here.

Yes! Matcha is a type of Japanese green tea finely ground into a powder. The unique production method makes Matcha highly prized for its numerous benefits as the whole leaf is consumed. It is rich in caffeine and catechins and is associated with energizing, antioxidant qualities.

Green tea is considered safe to drink during pregnancy. Pregnant women can continue to enjoy tea as long as their consumption remains moderate. This is typically around a maximum of three cups per day, preferably consumed between meals. Please always consult with a healthcare professional first before making any decisions related to your health. Learn more here.

The color of tea can be an unreliable indicator of caffeine and can vary based on factors such as origin, the method of cultivation, the degree of fermentation, etc. However, we can generally say that white teas are those which contain the most theine (115 to 146 mg for a 300 ml cup) and black teas, oolong, and Pu Ehr those which contain the least (52 to 77 mg for 300 ml). The contributions of different green teas vary greatly and can be very low (18 mg per 300 ml) or high (142 mg per 300 ml). For comparison, for the same volume of drink (300 ml), coffee has much higher caffeine contents: from 120 mg (arabica) to 230 mg (robusta). Learn more about caffeine in tea here.

Yes, tea can be hydrating! Even caffeinated teas in moderation can be used for hydration.
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Chamomile tea may help you relax and fall asleep. A 2019 review noted that, after 2–4 weeks of treatment with chamomile, people with generalized anxiety disorder saw an improvement in symptoms. Treatment with chamomile may also improve sleep quality. If sleep is what you are looking for, chamomile can help!
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It can be! Green tea offers a significant amount of protective compounds, boasting a high concentration of flavonoids, with catechins making up 70%, especially EGCG. It also exhibits an exceptionally high ORAC index of 1250. According to numerous studies, the consumption of 3 to 4 cups daily may have a protective impact against conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis, cognitive decline, and specific types of cancer, among others. Learn more here.

It can! Green tea has garnered the most extensive body of research supporting its positive impact on weight loss. Its consumption has been associated with a decrease in body fat and overall weight. Due to its lack of fermentation, the color of green tea actually boasts the highest concentration of catechins, notably Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), a potent antioxidant believed to exert the most substantial influence, particularly on the oxidation of fats. Learn more about tea and weight loss here. Please always consult with a healthcare professional first before making any decisions related to your health.

Green tea can help with bloating. Its antioxidant and catechin properties are great for digestion and soothing the gastrointestinal tract. Read more here.

While chamomile tea is generally considered safe during pregnancy, it's advisable to consume it in moderation. Some healthcare professionals recommend avoiding chamomile during the first trimester due to its potential to stimulate uterine contractions, although there isn't conclusive evidence to support this concern. As with any dietary choice during pregnancy, it's best to consult with a healthcare provider for personalized advice based on individual health factors.
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With a sore throat, tea is the way to go! Ginger, peppermint, lemon, honey, and licorice are all popular options due to their varying properties.

Peppermint has been said to aid in digestion, alleviate headaches, reduce stress as well as support respiratory health with its antibacterial properties. See our teas with peppermint here.
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Ginger is renowned for its ability to aid digestion, alleviate nausea, and reduce motion sickness. Additionally, ginger tea has anti-inflammatory properties that may help alleviate muscle soreness and joint pain.
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Hibiscus tea is rich in antioxidants and may help lower blood pressure and improve heart health by supporting healthy cholesterol levels.
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Chamomile is widely regarded as a well-known sleep aid. This flower contains an active substance called apigenin, which has calming and sedative effects. Learn more about it here.

Rooibos tea does not have caffeine. Even though it is sometimes called “red tea” due to its color, rooibos is not a tea but a completely caffeine-free South African plant. As such, they are considered more like herbal teas or infusions.

Sun tea is a method of brewing tea using sunlight to steep the tea leaves. It involves placing tea bags or loose-leaf tea in a container filled with water and allowing it to sit in direct sunlight for several hours, typically 2 to 4 hours. The heat from the sun slowly infuses the water with the flavor of the tea leaves, creating a refreshing and milder brew compared to traditional hot brewing methods. This method is fun and brings a romantic side to summer tea!

Most teas are only mildly acidic. While PH levels between teas can vary, most teas range between 5.5 - 7.
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To answer shortly, yes. Chai tea is traditionally made from a blend of black tea and warming spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, anise, and ginger. A cup of chai may have up to 60 mg of caffeine depending on the black tea used in the blend.

Find our recipe for a chai tea latte here using our Chai Imperial tea!

Yes, oolong tea does have caffeine. On average, a cup of oolong tea may contain 10-60 mg of caffeine.
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Cold brew tea is a method of preparing tea by steeping tea leaves in cold water for an extended period, typically 30 minutes to an hour. Unlike traditional hot brewing, which uses hot water and a shorter steeping time, cold brew tea is steeped slowly at lower temperatures, resulting in a smoother, less bitter flavor profile. Cold brew tea is often appreciated for its refreshing taste, lower caffeine content, and versatility in flavor variations, making it a popular choice, especially during warmer weather. See our iced teas perfect for cold brewing here!

As tea is made from water, it can count for your water intake! A popular misconception is the belief that tea's diuretic effect makes it dehydrating. This effect, however, does not significantly offset its hydration!
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Not everyone may know why tea was such an instrumental key in the American fight for freedom. At the time of the American Revolution, tea was a significant symbol of British economic control and taxation without representation. The Tea Act of 1773 granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies, angering American colonists who saw it as another instance of oppressive British policies. Destroying the tea was a dramatic protest against these unfair taxes and monopolies.
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