Although all teas come from the same plant, there's so much that makes them different. This short guide is packed with little tidbits to help you better understand the tea world so you can find the teas on Foodzie you'll enjoy most.

• All tea (white, yellow, green, oolong, black and puer) comes from the same plant, camellia Sinensis (translation – ‘Chinese camellia’).
• White and green teas are unoxidized, oolong tea is semi-oxidized, black tea is (almost) fully oxidized and puer is oxidized and fermented. At Foodzie, we think they’re all delicious.
• Most green teas are pan-fired, but Japanese greens are usually steamed. Along with shade growing (which is common in Japan), steaming is what gives Japanese teas their bright green color and fresh, green-vegetables-and-lemon taste.
• Puer tea (also spelled "pu-erh" or "pu’er") is a rare, collectible Chinese tea that has been oxidized and then fermented through age or through processing. It is reputed to have a multitude of medicinal properties. The best puers taste smooth and slightly sweet.
• "Herbal teas" (also known as "tisanes" or "botanicals") aren’t actually teas! True teas come from one plant, while herbal teas come from the flowers, leaves, roots and seeds of many plants.
• "Dessert teas" are one of the fastest-growing beverage types in the U.S. They have a naturally sweet flavor, thanks to tasty ingredients like dried fruit, spices and cacao nibs.
• Antioxidant-rich, mineral-filled rooibos comes from a flowering legume shrub that only grows in South Africa. It has a sweet, woody flavor that makes an ideal base for sweeter blends, iced tea and "dessert teas."
• "Chai tea" literally means "tea tea." In India, it’s called “"masala chai," which means "spice tea." A rose by any other name...
• The masala chai tea we carry is nothing like what you get in most coffee shops. Instead of relying on sugary syrup for flavor, ours are made with black tea or rooibos and a flavorful blend of fresh spices.

Related Producers

Chad's Chai & Tea Company Winston Salem, North Carolina

Tavalon Tea Wood-Ridge, New Jersey