Tea Glossary (engl)

[olgana]

Camellia Sinensis

the common tea plant, is widely prized for its various forms and incarnations as many characteristically different beverages. Below is an index and guide to the different types of teas that we carry and how you might best enjoy them.

Green Teas

Fresh tea leaves which have been sterilized in steam, hot air or hot pans, to prevent fermentation and preserve the green color. Available in many forms, from many countries.

Bancha

Typically the lowest quality of Japanese green teas, made from the last of the three or four harvests of tea in a season. Tend to be bright green and coarse. Still a delicious cup of tea that's a bargain for the price.

Genmaicha

Green tea accented with toasted brown rice. This tea is highly prized for its nutty flavor and is common in most Japanese households.

Gunpowder or "pearl tea"

Tiny pellets of hand-rolled, fresh Chinese tea. Generally made from small to medium-sized leaves. Keeps the longest of all teas, green or black. Leaves unfold in your cup as you brew them. Sometimes scented with dried rose or jasmine flowers.

Kukicha, "twig tea"

This tasty tea is made from the toasted stems and twigs of the tea plant. It has a beautiful golden brown color and has a lot of savory taste with less caffeine than ordinary tea. This tea is an excellent choice for those who seek a substitute for coffee, or are sensitive to caffeine.

Lung Ching, "Dragon Well"

Delightful steamed green tea, which offers a tasty, light green cup with lots of flavor. The best is somewhat rare and often a little pricey.

Moroccan Mint

Green tea with fresh mint leaves. Traditionally taken with lots of sugar, to accompany large meals and settle the stomach.

Oolong Teas or Wu Lung, "Black Dragon"

Partially fermented tea with characteristics of both green and black teas. It appears half green, half black and tends to have fruity scents, however, this is a very diverse category of teas, ranging from very light green or gold to medium black. These are true connoisseur's teas, prone to nuances of flavor and scent much like fine wines.

Pouchong Teas

A slightly fermented tea, closer to green tea than to black. It is often used as the base for scented teas such as the traditional jasmine tea.

Sencha

Premium Japanese green tea, made from the first and second pickings. This tea produces a pale green cup with a delicate herbal scent and a refreshing flavor.

Ti Quan Yin or "Iron Goddess of Mercy"

This tea has a very exquisite full aroma, a pale color and long lasting flavor.

White Tea

This is green tea that is produced using the very tips only, which appear white when dry, and is generally regarded as the rarest of all teas. It has a very, very delicate flavor and had the least amount of caffeine of all teas. It is usually combined with flowers such as chrysanthemum.

Black Teas

Green tea leaves are left to wither or "ferment", which causes the enzymes to break down some of the cellular structure of the leaf. The "fermented" leaves are then twisted or rolled and cut then dried by one of many processes. Drying styles include: basket or pan firing, smoking, air drying, or compressing and sun-drying which further define and add complexity and color to the tea. Black teas are often scented with flowers or more commonly with oils or spices.

Assam Tea

A very hearty Indian tea, often deep red to orange-red and somewhat malt flavored. This tea is the backbone of most of the world's blends. The processed leaves may look very black to dark brown and may sometimes contain a lot of tips.

Ceylon

This region, now called Sri Lanka, produces incredible amounts of fine tea. Although Sri Lanka produces large amounts of green as well as black teas, Ceylon generally describes a rich black tea with amber color and an almost floral aroma. A delicious cup, and perfect for iced tea.

Darjeeling Teas

Grown at the foothills of the Himalayas, this tea is widely known as the champagne of teas. Its rich red-gold colored color and distinctive, slightly nutty aroma makes this tea incomparable to any other.

Earl Grey

This black tea is scented with oil of bergamot, a type of citrus named Citrus bergamia. It is said that British Prime Minister Earl Grey was given the recipe for this mixture in 1830 from a Chinese mandarin, however the Chinese are not known to drink this tea.

"English" or "Irish Breakfast" Tea, Keemun

This is one of the best known China Black teas. A richly red colored tea with a distinctively floral and strong cup. This tea is best when taken with milk and sugar or honey.

Lapsang Souchong

Black Chinese tea that's been smoked over pine branches. Usually a dark red-brown tea with a smoky, musky flavor.

Masala Chai

A blend of black tea and spices such as cinnamon, cardamon, ginger, clove, carom, black pepper and star anise. The spice mixture varies from maker to maker, and generally focuses on the cardamon, ginger, and cinnamon with the black tea. The other spices in the mix add to the complexity of the flavor and the uniqueness of the brewer. Chai is very refreshing with milk and honey to sweeten its spicy bite.

Pu-erh

A pickled black tea from Yunnan China, which is believed to be of high medicinal value, especially for reducing cholesterol. Aged in underground caves for a minimum of three years, this tea has a delicious flavor and unique scent, and is sometimes found as compressed wafers rather than loose leaves.

Herbal Teas, "tisanes or herbal decoctions"

Rainbow carries a huge assortment of herbal teas to help you nurse through practically any ailment. From soothing a sore throat, to easing yourself to sleep and curbing a mood swing from stress or PMS, we strive to bring you the best quality herbal teas. Here you'll find companies like Yogi Tea, Traditional Medicinals, Triple Leaf, Bija, Numi, Stash and Celestial Seasonings.

Rooibos, "African Red Bush Tea"

Not actually a member of the tea family, this exciting introduction comes to us from South Africa. Rooibos is packed with antioxidants and vitamins, much more than regular green tea. With a beautiful red cup and a fruity taste, rooibos blends well with dried fruits if not enjoyed alone. It is also an apt for those looking for a black tea flavor without the caffeine.

Yerba Mate

This delicious drink comes from a member of the holly/coffee family, and is highly nutritious and tonifying to the body. Mate does contain caffeine, mateine, B-vitamins and other natural constituents. This product comes from South America, usually Argentina or Paraguay, and can be found green or roasted, and flavored with spices or natural fruit oils. Generally mate is drunk sweetened in a pear shaped gourd called a mate, and sipped through a metal filtering straw called a bombilla. Mate now also comes in tea bags for convenience.