You will discover many varieties of tea flavors once you step into the fantastic world of teas. Common tea types include green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea, herbal tea, and rooibos tea. Generally, almost all teas come from a species of plant known as Camellia Sinensis. Other tea flavors don’t come from any plant at all. Yet each variety of tea has a lot to offer regarding its flavor regardless of its origin. To pick the best flavor for your next cup, explore and understand the many different tea flavors that are out there.
Black Tea Flavors
Most people prefer black tea to have their daily kick of caffeine. While there is no doubt that this tea is known for the boost, it also has a great aroma and robust flavor.
Assam
Assam is an Indian tea and has a chocolaty flavor with hints of spice and malt. It also works as a base for some tea blends, including the famous Masala Chai.
Darjeeling
Darjeeling is another tea from India and has a lighter and delicate flavor though it can give a different kind of flavor in each harvest, from mild to spicy and musky flavor. Indians imported it during the British colonial rule, and since then, it has remained a staple.
Nilgiri
Nilgiri tea also originates from India but is not as popular as Darjeeling or Assam. It is rich and aromatic and gives a sweet and fruity flavor.
Yunnan
The Yunnan tea originates from China and has a smooth, rich flavor like honey and chocolate, while some types have a peppery sweetness.
Lapsang Souchong
Lapsang Souchong is another Chinese tea for people who like intense flavors. Its sensual smoky aroma mimics pine and tobacco.
Keemun
Keemun tea also comes from China and is often enjoyed without any additives or sweeteners as it has a fruity and floral flavor.
Ceylon
Ceylon black tea comes from Sri Lanka and gets the name after the nation’s former title. Ceylon teas vary in flavor greatly. Those teas from higher altitudes have delicate flavors, while those from lower altitudes have more robust and spicy flavors.
Masala Chai
Masala Chai means “spiced tea.” It is a black tea blend and is generally consumed with milk and sugar and is made by adding many spices such as black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, and nutmeg.
Earl Grey
Earl Grey provides a tangy, malty, and refreshing flavor and is a favorite choice of many in almost all continents of the world. The British Prime Minister, Charles Grey, invented this tea. Traditional Earl Grey is infused with bergamot essential oil, while the modern kinds are infused with various essential oils and blended with many other ingredients.
English Breakfast
English Breakfast tea goes well with sugar and milk and is sometimes garnished with a slice of lemon to complement its full-bodied flavor. People often enjoy it with a hearty breakfast.
Green Tea Flavors
Green tea has less caffeine than black tea and is very famous all over the globe. If you wish to have a relaxing downtime with a cup of brightly flavorful tea that will not affect your nighttime sleep, green tea is the right choice.
Japanese sencha
Japanese sencha has a grassy and fresh taste. It’s a true classic for green tea lovers. You could drink it both ways, hot and cold but try not to over-brew it, as it can turn bitter.
Japanese kukicha
Japanese kukicha is the right choice for late afternoons, for it has very little caffeine. It tastes mild, slightly sweet, and pleasant. Leaves are not used to make this tea, rather stems and twigs are used, but you can find some leaf pieces.
Matcha
Matcha is a unique tea that grows in the shade, originating from Japan. It is ground to a fine powder before use after stems, twigs, and leaves’ veins are removed. It has an umami flavor, meaning savory grassy taste, but it also has sweetness and slight bitterness.
Gyokuro
It is another Japanese green tea that has an unusual brewing method. You need to brew it in cool water, anywhere from 104°F to 140°F, resulting in an umami flavor. It is a highly caffeinated beverage.
Genmaicha
It has a nutty and toasty taste and works perfectly as an everyday tea. People drink it hot and cold, both ways, and it is hard to turn it bitter even when you accidentally over-brew it.
Herbal Tea Flavors
Herbal tea is made of fruits, flowers, and dried herbs, unlike other tea varieties made using tea leaves, giving a fruity, sweet, and delicate flavor profile. Popular herbal teas include mint, chamomile, hibiscus, rose, ginger, and Yerba Mate. People usually enjoy herbal teas in the evening as part of a light high-tea or a healthy breakfast to add a delicious boost at the beginning of the day.
Mint Tea Flavors
There is no better tea than mint when it comes to giving an energizing and delicious kick. It has many health-restoring properties, including improvement of the digestive system. It has a green and refreshing flavor that also freshens breath.
Chamomile
Chamomile is a classic when you step into the aisle of herbal teas. You can get them in either loose form or tea bags; loose ones are more delicious and sweeter. It too has many health benefits, such as lowering blood sugar and fatty acids.
Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus is vividly purple and gives an intense red color upon infusion. It has a sour taste and blends reasonably well with other herbs and fruits. Hibiscus is great for making both hot beverages and iced teas.
Rose
Rose herbal tea blends well with other teas such as oolong and green. People have either a love or hate relationship with this flavor. If they like it, it’s probably their most favorite cup of tea, or else, they don’t like it at all. Rose is a classic in scented teas.
Ginger Tea Flavors
It is the ultimate herbal tea in the aisle of home-made teas. The spicy taste not only tingles your taste buds but also provides your body with therapeutic benefits. People often enjoy their ginger tea with honey and lemon.
Yerba Mate
It has a one-of-a-kind flavor, unlike any other herbal tea. Not everyone likes the intense grassy and herbaceous flavor of Yerba Mate. Those who don’t like its original taste can try the roasted type with a more delicate flavor with zero bitterness. It is commonly consumed in the summertime as it is a highly refreshing drink.
White Tea Flavors
If you plan to try a rich teacup yet would like to avoid high amounts of caffeine found in black tea varieties, white tea has the right flavor for you. Coming from the Fujian province, white tea is the least processed tea.
Silver Needle
Silver Needle has a smooth, sweet, and fresh flavor and is the most well-known kind among white teas. Manufacturers use only young buds to make this type, and once your cup of tea is ready to drink, you will find light silver hairs floating in it.
White Peony
White Peony comes right after Silver Needle in popularity. Manufacturers use both buds in making this kind. The flavor is sweet with notes of dry hay and flowers. The health-boosting properties make it even more famous such as fighting free radicals, cancer, and bacterial activity.
Oolong Tea Flavors
Oolong tea can give a range of flavors from light and fragrant to intense and dark due to the various preparation methods used to make different flavors. The oxidation level of this tea determines the resulting flavor. People who like stronger and full-bodied flavors should aim to get the highly oxidative variety. In contrast, those who would like a more luscious and aromatic flavor should seek types that are lower on their oxidation levels.
Da Hong Pao
It has a distinct mineral-like, fruity, and earthy taste and is one of the most popular teas. People usually pair it with milk like black teas. Since it is highly oxidized, it has a deep red color and intense aroma.
Alishan
Coming from Taiwan, Alishan is a classic. It has a refreshing, creamy, and sweet taste, and the strong sweet aftertaste is a typical characteristic of teas that grow in high altitudes. Green tea drinkers generally like this oolong tea.
Ti Kwan Yin Tea Flavors
Ti Kwan Yin comes from China and Taiwan, both regions producing their kinds of this tea. The current types are green, while the traditional varieties are more oxidized. The modern and green Ti Kwan Yin is more famous today with a light, floral, and sweet flavor.
Formosa
With low amounts of caffeine, Formosa has a spicy, floral, and peachy flavor. It is more oxidized than Ti Kwan Yin and darker as well. Taiwan and China are the primary producers of Formosa tea.
Rooibos Tea Flavors
Rooibos tea is also known as African Red tea. A highly refreshing choice, this tea is enjoyed on its own and with delicious meals as a compliment. This tea’s appetizing effect gives more extraordinary flavor to any food you wish to enjoy with it.
Red Rooibos
Red rooibos is the most straightforward tea and is fantastic for making tea blends. Pure red rooibos is recognizable by the earthy flavor, but the rooibos blends all have unique tastes. People who like black teas enjoy red rooibos more than green rooibos as it tastes nice with milk.
Green Rooibos
People who enjoy green tea more than black might also like green rooibos tea. The flavor is light and has zero bitterness, even when over-brewed.
Final Words
The world of tea flavors is over-populated! It has something to offer every individual; one needs to learn and explore. Whether you like strong and kicking or light and fragrant, you will be able to find a tea that is palatable and provides just the right flavor for you. It is all about personal preference. The best idea is to taste as many flavors as possible to properly experience and deeply understand each flavor firsthand. You’ll find the right flavor for yourself in no time.
Jennifer Kurtz is a founder of KratomGuides.com and studied medicine at the New Jersey School of Medicine (Rutgers). She is passionate about developing her knowledge of Kratom, and nutritional supplements. In addition to attending medical webinars and conferences, she loves to write research-based articles for magazines, healthcare professionals, and medical agencies. Jennifer is always looking to develop her knowledge for the Kratom through scientific researches and frequently asked questions of customers looking to buy kratom from reliable sources.
