Tea is traditionally classified based on the techniques from which it is produced and processed. There is white tea, yellow tea, green tea, oolong tea, black tea, and post fermented tea among others such as herbal blend.
White: Wilted and unoxidized
Yellow: Unwilted and unoxidized, but allowed to yellow
Green: unwilted and unoxidized
Oolong: wilted, bruised, and partially oxidized
Black: wilted, sometimes crushed, and fully oxidized
Post-fermented: green tea that has been allowed to ferment/ compost
Witch Tip: The amount of loose leaf tea necessary for brewing varies from tea to tea. Shoot for 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons of leaves per 8 ounces of water unless otherwise directed. Some loose leaf tea can even be re-steeped to make multiple cups of tea. Typically, green and black teas re-steep the best.
Witch Tip: Black teas should be steeped in boiling water, while green, white, and oolong need it a bit cooler. Boiling water can actually burn green tea. You can boil the water, and then let it sit a few minutes before pouring over the tea leaves.
Witch Tip: Milk proteins bind with the polyphenols (antioxidants) in tea, meaning even just a little splash can reduce the amount of active antioxidants in that cup.
Witch Tip: Adding lemon increases tea’s antioxidant potential. The vitamin C in any citrus juice, like lemon, orange, or grapefruit, can help our bodies better absorb antioxidants we consume in food or drink.
Witch Tip: If you are steeping a blend, follow the time and temperature of the most delicate tea in your mix.
While there are all sorts of guidelines for tea making, it’s really all about preference. Make each cup to your liking by drinking it black, adding sweetener, pouring it over ice, or even spiking it with vodka. Adding milk may reduce the number of benefits you can reap from tea’s antioxidants, but if adding milk makes your cup of tea more enjoyable, go for it.
White Tea
Examples: Pai Mu Tan/ Bai Mu Dan (White Peony), Yi Zhen Bai Hao (Silver Needle), Gongmei (Tribute Eyebrow), Shou Mei (Noble, Long Life Eyebrow) and Fujian New Craft (DaBaiCha or DaHoaCha)
Health Benefits: Treats cold symptoms, reduces the risk of arthritis, beneficial for stress and wrinkles, antioxidants help fight colon cancer, stimulates liver function, aids in weight loss and detoxification
Magical Benefits: Cleansing, protection
Best Time to Drink: Anytime!
Flavor: Light and subtle
Caffeine: Yes: 32-37mg (1-2% of the amount in a cup of coffee)
Steep Teabag for: 30-90 seconds
Steep loose tea for: 4-5 minutes
White tea contains more potent anticancer properties than processed teas. Studies show that white tea can thin the blood and improve artery function. It helps lower high blood pressure and maintain a healthy BP. Whole tea contains small amounts of fluoride and other nutrients which keeps the teeth strong and healthy. It also kills the bacteria which causes plaque, tooth decay, and bad breath. White tea helps strengthen the immune system and prevent bacterial infection.
Yellow Tea
Examples: Jun Shan Yin Zhen (bud tea), Meng Ding Huang Ya (bud tea) and Huo Shan Huang Ya (small and large leaf tea)
Caffeine: Yes
Yellow tea is much rarer and undergoes a rolling and drying process which gives it its distinct color and taste.
Green Tea
Examples: Sencha, gyuokuo, tencha, matcha, funmatsucha, konacho, shincha, fukamushicha, kukicha, bancha
Magical Benefits: Energy, cleansing
Best time to drink: Mid-morning
Flavor: Clean, sweet, earthy
Caffeine: Yes: 24-39mg
Steep Teabag for: 1-2 minutes
Steep Loose Tea for: 2-3 minutesGreen tea has some of the highest levels of antioxidants of all teas. It has been found to improve cholesterol levels, protect against heart disease, speeds metabolism to help lose weight, reduces plaque and bacteria in your mouth, prevent dementia, fight multiple types of cancer, and is full of antioxidants.
Antioxidants can lower risk of breast, bladder, stomach, and colon cancers. Antioxidants interfere with growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. It can prevent clogging of the arteries and improve cholesterol. Green tea can also reduce risk of stroke as well as reduce risk of neurological disorders. It protects against cognitive decline like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Green tea contains an amino acid known as L-theanine which may increase sleep efficiency and boost time spent in REM sleep cycles. Green tea is rich in health promoting flavonoids. 1 cup of green tea supplies 20-35mg of EGCG (pepper increases EGCG availability).
Oolong Tea
Health Benefits: Increases metabolism and helps reduce body fat, alleviates skin conditions, increased brain function, helps with focus and meditation, boosts metabolism, promotes weight loss
Magical Benefits: None
Best time to drink: Before meals
Flavor: Full bodies, sweet
Caffeine: Yes: 29-53mg
Steep Teabag for: 2-5 minutes
Steep Loose Tea for: 5-7 minutes
Oolong teas fall on a range between black and green tea and should follow the chart for the type they are closest to. It has been shown to help with weight loss in many studies by decreasing abdominal fat. Polyphenols in slimming tea are believed to increase energy expenditure translating to a 35%-43% increase in fat burning.
It has been found to help keep blood sugar in check and can help lower cholesterol. It has been shown to help people with diabetes keep blood sugar levels in line. Drinking oolong tea 15minutes before eating carbs helps to reduce the insulin spike you would normally experience after eating carbs.
Oolong tea promotes metabolism, healthy skin, and helps maintain healthy bones. A new study from the Department of Dentistry in Japan’s Osaka University shows the regular consumption of oolong strengthens teeth and helps prevent tooth decay by significantly inhibiting plaque buildup. Oolong naturally contains fluoride which can help lower the risk of cavities. Researchers from Japan’s Shiga University of Medical Science found that drinking oolong tea daily clears up skin within as few as 30 days of acne.
It has been found to have anti-cancer properties and aid in stress management. Oolong tea significantly reduces free radicals in the body and helps slow down and even reverse signs of aging. Drinking this tea boosts mental alertness and increases energy. A recent study showed the increase energy expenditures after drinking green tea was only 4% where oolong tea had an increase of over 10%. Oolong tea helps you concentrate more and improves mood and productivity because of the presence of L-Theanine and a small amount of naturally occurring caffeine. Oolong tea contains the polyphenol EGCG which can help improve brain function and memory.
Test subjects who consumed oolong were found to have stronger immune systems and significantly lower risk for infections such as the common cold.
Oolong tea can help decrease inflammation in the body. This lowers the risk of many diseases.
Black Tea
Examples: Darjeeling, Ceylon, Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Masala Chai
Black tea is a type of tea that is more oxidized than oolong, yellow, white and green teas. Black tea is generally stronger in flavor than other teas. While green tea usually loses its flavor within a year, black tea retains its flavor for several years. For this reason, it has long been an article of trade, and compressed bricks of black tea even served as a form of de facto currency in Mongolia, Tibet and Siberia into the 19th century.
Health Benefits: Improved energy and focus, freshens breath, protects skin from UV rays, an antioxidant boost, lowers blood pressure and the risk of diabetes and kidney stones, helps reduce anxiety and headaches, as well as aiding in weight loss,
Magical Benefits: Repels negativity, strength
Best time to drink: morning (high in caffeine), Afternoon
Flavor: strong, sometimes bitter
Caffeine: Yes: 64-112mg
Steep Teabag for: 1-2 minutes
Steep Loose Tea for: 3-4 minutes
Black tea contains more caffeine than any other type of tea which is still half the caffeine of a standard cup of coffee (95-200mg).
Black tea can help to improve cardiovascular health. Black tea has been found to protect lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke. Black tea Contains theophylline which increases blood flow in the capillaries and helps the body maintain a normal blood pressure which can reduce the risk of stroke. This tea can also expand the airways, making breathing easier for asthmatics
Herbal Tea
Examples: Chamomile, lavender, peppermint, hibiscus, rose,
Health Benefits: Different herbal teas have varying health benefits such as reducing stress and aiding in weight loss
Magical Benefits: Depends on the herb
Best time to drink: Anytime (no caffeine)
Flavor: Different herbal teas have different flavors. The flavor will depend on the herbs and spices used in the blend.
Caffeine: No
Steep Teabag for: 4-7 minutes
Steep Loose Tea for: 4-7 minutes
Herbal teas are generally made from dried fruits, herbs, or flowers
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