Tea varieties

Discover the variety of hand-picked teas

The unimaginable amount of 6.1 million tons of tea was harvested in 2017 - and the trend is rising. This is because the global demand for the aromatic infusion drink is rising steadily from year to year. A large proportion of tea is still consumed in Asia, but even in this country, consumption volumes are rising faster than for coffee. The new popularity of tea is no coincidence, as some varieties taste incredibly delicious. All "real" tea varieties come from a single plant - the Camellia sinensis tea plant, which is also available in the assamica, dehungensis and pubilimba varieties. The plants are no longer only grown in the typical Asian destinations such as China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, but also worldwide - for example in South America and Africa. The products made from these plants are known as "real" teas. Black and green tea are among the most popular types of tea. The individual types of tea differ primarily in the way they are produced, which ultimately leads to very different ingredients and flavors.

In addition to real teas, tea-like infusions such as herbal teas, spiced teas, fruit teas and the popular rooibos tea are popular drinks. Depending on the variety, they are made from plant parts, fruits and spices. Rooibos tea, on the other hand, comes from the needles of the Aspalathus linearis shrub. Many tea specialties are blends of "real" teas, flavors and other ingredients that make for incomparably delicious tea creations. Take, for example, the delicious Earl Grey tea, which consists of a combination of black tea and bergamot oil, to name just one of many examples. The numerous variations and flavors make tea not only one of the most popular drinks in the world, but probably also the most versatile. At Wollenhaupt, you can buy selected tea varieties - many of which are also available as organic teas -wholesale and, as a tea retailer, delight your customers with unique taste experiences.

The most popular teas in the world: what types of tea are there?

A large proportion of the tea produced worldwide is still consumed in Asia today. However, Europe and the rest of the world are also catching up in terms of tea consumption. This is certainly due to the versatile flavors of the infusion drink. The six teas made from the Camellia sinensis tea plant in particular are always in the spotlight due to their effects. Which are the most popular teas? And what types of tea are there? We introduce you to some of the most important varieties of the popular infusion drink.

• Green tea

The main difference between "real" teas is how they are produced. And the production process differs mainly in the type and degree of fermentation of the individual tea varieties. Fermentation is prevented in green tea. Although the fresh leaves are dried and treated, they are not fermented. In this way, the valuable ingredients are particularly well preserved during production. These include polyphenols, amino acids, catechins, essential oils, caffeine, vitamins and minerals.

• Black tea

Black tea, also known as red tea in Asia, differs from green tea primarily in that it is highly fermented. The leaves are withered, rolled and treated with heat. During this process, black tea loses some of its valuable ingredients and has significantly fewer nutrients than green tea, but at the same time acquires a unique and unmistakable aroma. For this reason, black tea, which is known as Earl Grey or Frisian tea, for example, is a real treat with a dash of milk and a little sugar. Tea is now grown not only in large parts of Asia, but all over the world. However, the majority still comes from China and the Assam and Darjeeling regions in India as well as Sri Lanka.

• White tea

White tea is considered the finest of all tea varieties. It is made from the white, silky hairs of the young tea buds of the Camellia sinensis. The elaborate production process not only makes this tea something very special, but also preserves the valuable ingredients. The tea is said to have the highest content of polyphenols, catechins, vitamins and minerals of the six "real" teas. At the same time, it has little caffeine. These positive properties make white tea the secret star among infusions. Incidentally, this type of tea is also very mild and tastes incredibly delicious.

• Yellow tea

Yellow tea has a degree of fermentation that lies between white tea and oolong tea. It is considered to be the imperial tea, which was originally only served at the Chinese imperial court. It is very rich in valuable ingredients such as vitamins, antioxidants and caffeine. Yellow tea is considered to be particularly mild and is ideal for tea drinkers who prefer less bitter teas. The most important varieties include silver needle and god tea.

• Oolong tea

Oolong tea is a type of tea, mainly from China, which has a fermentation period that lies between green and black tea. It is considered a semi-fermented tea and is known as black dragon tea and green-blue tea. This infusion drink is considered fragrant and flowery.

• Pu-erh tea

This valuable tea is mainly made from Camellia assamica and is known for being pressed into different shapes such as brick and cake. It is very similar to black tea in appearance, but differs greatly in production. The brewed tea is reddish in color and has a spicy, slightly earthy taste. The decisive factor in the production of the tea is that enzymes in the leaves react with atmospheric oxygen, causing the leaves to oxidize.

• Rooibos tea

Rooibos tea (sometimes also spelled rooibos tea) is a type of tea originating from South Africa that is made from the needles of the Aspalathus linearis plant, which grows exclusively north of Cape Town. This type of tea is very mild, slightly sweet and caffeine-free. Pregnant women and children can therefore also enjoy this tea without any problems. Rooibos tea is used as the basis for many delicious tea specialties with herbs, fruits and spices.

• Herbal teas

The numerous herbal teas consist either of a single plant species, such as nettle tea or rose hip tea, or of a mixture of different herbs, each of which produces unique aromas and flavors when combined.

• Fruit teas

They are colorful, delicious and fruity: fruit teas usually consist of a single or several types of fruit such as strawberry, apple, lemon, forest fruit or even tropical fruits, which are carefully combined to create delicious taste experiences. Fruit teas are simply delicious and can be enjoyed at any time of day and at any age because they are generally caffeine-free.

In addition to the established tea varieties, there are also new trends that are emerging. Matcha green tea is certainly not a new type of tea - but matcha is becoming increasingly popular. It is whipped in a tea ceremony with a small tea whisk and is creamy, sometimes even thick.

In addition to matcha, Indian chai tea is also becoming increasingly popular. This is a combination of black tea with cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, fennel and aniseed. Chai is often drunk with milk and sugar and is incredibly tasty. There are now numerous international variations of this drink, which are infused with green tea or rooibos tea. New trends are constantly adding new types of tea, some of which are becoming real bestsellers.

Conclusion - Savor the variety of teas with every cup

Tea is probably the most diverse drink in the world, available in an almost infinite number of flavors. The six tea varieties green tea, black tea, white tea, yellow tea, oolong tea and pu-erh tea, which are made from the Camellia sinensis tea plant, are particularly popular. But the tea-like infusions also have nothing to hide. Herbal teas are characterized by very different flavours, while fruit teas are often also suitable for children and pregnant women. Thousands of tea specialties and variations ensure that there is the right type of tea for every taste. As a tea retailer, you can benefit from our more than 130 years of experience in the tea business. At Wollenhaupt, you can buy the world's most important teas wholesale from controlled raw materials and offer your customers unique taste experiences that will delight every tea lover.