Basic Classification of Chinese Tea

 

There are many ways to classify Chinese tea. According to the different production methods and the degree of tea polyphenol oxidation (fermentation), it can be divided into six categories:

Green tea (unfermented)

white tea (slightly fermented)

yellow tea (lightly fermented)

oolong tea (semi-fermented)

dark tea (post-fermented)

black tea (fully fermented)

The appearance changes from green to yellow-green, yellow, green-brown, black gradually, and the tea soup also changes from green to yellow-green, yellow, green-brown, and reddish-brown.

 

 

 

Green Tea

 

1. What are the characteristics of green tea? What are some well-known varieties?

The basic characteristics of green tea are: green leaves and clear soup, with a clear fragrance, mellow taste, and refreshing. It belongs to non-fermented tea. (Fermentation degree: 0)

The shape is diverse, mainly including: strip-shaped, needle-shaped, flat-shaped, spiral-shaped, pointed-shaped, piece-shaped, bundle-shaped, Mao Feng-shaped, Mao Jian-shaped, curled-shaped, round bead-shaped, single bud-shaped and so on.

Green tea pays the most attention to appearance and color. It pursues purity and elegance and is mostly made from tender buds. Mingqian Tea (picked before Qingming Festival) is the most precious, followed by Yuqian Tea (picked before Grain Rain).

 

Well-known green teas include:

①West Lake Longjing (flat shape, Hangzhou);
②Dongting Biluochun (spiral shape, Suzhou);
③Huangshan Maofeng (Mao Feng shape, Anhui);
④Taiping Houkui (pointed shape, Anhui);
⑤Luan Guapian (flat shape, Anhui);
⑥Xinyang Maojian (Mao Jian shape, Henan);
⑦Lushan Yunwu (strip shape, Jiangxi);
⑧Duyun Maojian (Mao Jian shape, Guizhou);
⑨Enshi Yulu (pine needle shape, Hubei) etc.

 

【Knowledge sharing】

Dry tea: The color is blue-green or yellow-green. It is easy to change color when placed for a long time or in contact with hot air.
Tea soup: Green-yellow color.
Aroma: Fresh mung bean aroma.
Taste: Lightly bitter.
Tea nature: Relatively cold.
Processing: Kill Green - Rub - Dry.
Benefits: It has effects such as anti-cancer, lowering blood lipids and blood pressure, and weight loss. Smokers who drink green tea regularly can reduce the harm of nicotine.

 

white tea

 

What are the characteristics of white tea? What are some well-known varieties?

The basic characteristics of white tea are: white with hidden green color, yellow-white soup color, fresh and mellow taste, clear and sweet fragrance, and it belongs to lightly fermented tea. (Fermentation degree: 10%)

It is mainly produced in Fuding, Jianyang, Zhenghe, Songxi and other places in Fujian. White tea is divided into white bud tea and white leaf tea.

Well-known white teas include:

①Bai Hao Yin Zhen (Silver Needle), produced in Fuding, Zhenghe and other counties;
②Bai Mu Dan (White Peony), produced in Jianyang, Zhenghe, Songxi and Fuding counties;
③Gong Mei (Tribute Eyebrow), produced in Jianyang, Pucheng and other counties;
④Tianmu Lake White Tea, produced in Tianmu Lake Tourism Area of Liyang City, Jiangsu Province.

 

【Knowledge sharing】

Dry tea: White with hidden green color, covered with white hair on the surface, and the soup color is ivory white.
Aroma: Weak fragrance.
Taste: Clear and refreshing with a sweet taste.
Tea nature: Cold and cool with the effect of reducing fever and removing heat.
Processing: Fresh leaves-withering-drying.
Efficacy: It has certain effects on improving eyesight, protecting liver function, promoting blood sugar balance. Especially for old white tea, it also has the effects of reducing fire, anti-inflammatory and throat-clearing. It has certain effects on treating pharyngitis and sore throat.

 

Yellow tea

 

What are the characteristics of yellow tea? What are some well-known varieties?

The basic characteristics of yellow tea are: yellow leaves and yellow soup, bright golden color, sweet and mellow taste, and it belongs to lightly fermented tea (Fermentation degree: 10%). The basic process is similar to green tea.

It is divided into three categories: Huang Ya Cha (Yellow Bud Tea), Huang Xiao Cha (Yellow Small Tea), and Huang Da Cha (Yellow Big Tea).

 

Well-known yellow teas include:

①Junshan Yinzhen (Silver Needle), Beigang Maojian (Hairy Tip), Moganhua (Yellow Bud) from Hunan;
②Mengding Huangya (Yellow Bud) from Sichuan;
③Huoshan Huangya (Yellow Bud), Huoshan Huangda Cha (Yellow Big Tea) from Anhui;
④Yuan'an Luyuan Maojian (Hairy Tip) from Hubei;
⑤Daye Qingye Qing (Big Leaf Green) from Guangdong.

 

【Knowledge sharing】

Aroma: Pure fragrance.
Taste: Sweet and refreshing.
Tea nature: Cool.
Processing: Fresh leaves-killing-green-rolling-yellowing-drying.
Efficacy: It has certain antiviral effects. It can invigorate the spleen and stomach, aid digestion, and help fat metabolism.

 

Oolong Tea

 

What are the characteristics of Oolong tea? What are some well-known varieties?

The basic characteristics of qing tea are: green, gold and yellow, clear and mellow fragrance. Because of its brownish-green appearance. It belongs to semi-fermented tea (Fermentation degree: 10%~70%).

 

Well-known Oolong teas include:

①Minbei Oolong Tea (Wuyi Rock Tea-Da Hong Pao);
②Minnan Oolong Tea (Tie Guan Yin from Anxi);
③Guangdong Oolong Tea (Phoenix Narcissus-Fenghuang Dancong);
④Taiwan Oolong Tea (Wenshan Baozhong, Dongding Oolong, Oriental Beauty, etc.).

 

【Knowledge sharing】

Dry tea: Dark green or brownish-green.
Tea soup: Honey green or honey yellow.
Aroma: Floral and fruity.
Taste: Mellow and sweet with a slight bitterness and aftertaste.
Tea nature: Warm and cool.
Processing: Fresh leaves-withering-shaking-killing-green-rolling-drying.
Efficacy: It contains more tea polyphenols and has the effects of reducing blood lipids, anti-aging, weight loss, and refreshing. However, it is not suitable to drink on an empty stomach or before going to bed. 

 

Dark tea

 

Dark tea has what characteristics? What are the famous varieties?

 

The basic characteristics of dark tea are: coarse and large black-brown, mellow and thick aroma, and belong to post (full) fermented tea. (Fermentation degree: Post-fermented tea will change over time)

It is also called border sales tea because it is mainly consumed by ethnic minorities in border areas.

 

 

Famous dark teas include:

 

① Hunan dark tea (Tianjian, Gongjian, Shengjian);

② Hubei Laoqing brick tea;

③ Sichuan Biancha;

④ Yunnan-Guizhou dark tea (Pu'er tea), etc.

 

【Knowledge sharing】

 

Dry tea: black-brown

Soup color: orange-yellow or brown

Aroma type: with aged aroma

Taste: mellow and sweet

Tea nature: mild

Processing: fresh leaves - fixation - initial kneading - wet pile fermentation - secondary kneading - drying

Efficacy: It has the effect of reducing blood lipids, preventing diabetes, and anti-aging.

 

 

※Pu'er Tea

 

According to modern classification of tea, Pu'er tea is classified as a separate category of Pu'er tea. Pu'er tea is divided into raw Pu'er and ripe Pu'er.

 

Raw Pu'er belongs to green tea. It is stored for 5~10 years before being taken out for drinking. It usually has good collection value.

Because the polyphenols contained in raw Pu'er are relatively high, it has certain effects of anti-cancer, whitening, and dredging blood vessels. The weight loss effect is also good.

 

However, raw Pu'er tastes bitter and astringent, so it is not suitable for anemic people to drink. Insomniacs, stomachache sufferers and pregnant women should also use it with caution.

 

Ripe Pu'er belongs to dark tea. The tea can be drunk after fermentation. It is a quick-made tea with warm nature. Caffeine fades during fermentation process. It can nourish stomachs, lower blood pressure and blood lipids.

 

The content of catechins in ripe Pu'er is not high, but the content of theaflavins is the highest among the six major types of teas. Its antioxidant effect is not inferior to that of catechins. Its anti-aging effect is the best among the six types of teas.Therefore, it has a good cosmetic effect. Moreover, theaflavin is particularly difficult to extract and can only be obtained by drinking tea.

 

 

Black Tea

 

What are the characteristics of black tea? What are some famous varieties?

The basic characteristics of black tea are: high aroma, bright color, strong taste, red leaves and red soup, rich and mellow taste, like longan soup, with some pine smoke flavor, and belongs to fully fermented tea. (Fermentation degree: 100%)

It is divided into small black tea, Gongfu black tea, black broken tea (finely cut black tea), and black brick tea (rice brick tea).

 

Famous black teas include:

① Qihong (Anhui);
② Dianhong (Yunnan);
③ Min Hong (Zhengshan Xiaozhong-Jin Junmei, Yin Junmei, Tanyang Gongfu, Fujian);
④ Chuanhong (Zao Bai Jian, Sichuan);
⑤ Yihong (Hubei);
⑥ Ninghong (Ninghong Jin Hao, Jiangxi);
⑦ Yuehong (Zhejiang);
⑧ Huhong (Hunan);
⑨ Taihong (Riyue Hongcha, Taiwan) and so on.

 

【Knowledge sharing】

Dry tea: dark red in color
Tea soup: reddish-orange in color
Aroma type: with maltose aroma and caramel aroma
Taste: strong with slight astringency
Tea nature: mild, low in nerve excitement function, warm stomach
Processing: fresh leaves-withering-rolling-fermentation-drying
Efficacy: It has the effect of aiding digestion, warming stomachs, refreshing minds and relieving fatigue.