Beginner’s Guide to Tea

Beginner’s Guide to Tea

Looking to get into loose leaf tea? It’s not as intimidating as you might think! This beginner’s guide to tea covers all of the basics, from brewing to tasting.

There’s a whole lot more to tea than what’s in the aisle at the grocery store. Whether you’re just getting started or a seasoned sipper, this page is designed to be a resource of knowledge. I hope that it will serve as a guide to tea for experts and beginners alike. Feel free to email or message me on social media if there’s something you’d like to know about, but don’t see here!


Tea Basics

All tea comes from an amazing evergreen plant called Camellia Sinensis. Did you know it is one of only a few species of plants that contains caffeine? How the leaves are processed determines the type that it becomes.

The Types of Tea

Are you curious about the different categories of tea? I don’t have a favorite one because they all have something different to offer. There is a wide range of tastes and flavors to explore within each of them.

How Tea is Made

Have you ever wondered how a leaf on a bush becomes the tea in your cup? These are some of the steps in the amazing journey that tea takes.

Varieties

Within each category of tea, there are hundreds of varieties. These posts will introduce you to some of my favorites.

Origins

One of the joys of drinking tea is getting to know all the wonderful places it comes from.

Green Tea

The taste of green tea can range from grassy and vegetal to nutty and sweet.

White Tea

The taste of white can be described as floral, fruity, and vegetal. Think cucumber, melon, meadow flowers, and snow pea. Notes of hay or grass might also pop up. White tea is very delicate and mild, particularly for those used to stronger tastes, so don’t give up if it doesn’t grab you right away. 

Oolong

Oolong tea is partially oxidized and known for its intense floral aromas.

Black Tea

Puerh Tea

Puerh tea is part of a larger family of fermented teas known as heicha.

Tea History

Tea is one of the oldest and most widely consumed beverages. It is an integral part of world history that has both inspired wars and spread a message of peace.

Teaware

Health

Tea is certainly a healthy beverage but it is important to keep a level head and do your research. Be wary of snake oil salesman tactics that promise unbelievable health benefits. The healthiest tea is the one you enjoy because you’ll want to drink it!

Iced Tea

Tea doesn’t always have to be hot! Iced tea is a great way to change things up, especially on a hot summer day.

Take It to the Next Level

If you’re brewing loose-leaf tea on the regular but you’d like to dig in more, these posts are for you. Tea can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it.

Vocabulary

The world of tea has a lexicon all its own. These posts will help to decode the jargon that you might see being used by tea companies.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes things go wrong and that is OK! Experience is how we learn, especially when it comes to tea. These posts might help if you’re having a hard time.

I hope that you’ve found this beginner’s guide to tea useful. Is there something you’d like to know more about but don’t see here? Email me at [email protected]!

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