Barefoot Tea

Tea 101

What is tea?

Tea comes from one plant – camellia sinensis. Tea categories include white, green, oolong and black. The differences in these categories lie in the preparation or processing of the tea leaves.

While there are many types of infusions including herbal blends, fruit infusions, rooibos, honeybush, mate’ and a combination of all of those options that are steeped like tea and have a place in the tea world, they are different from white, green, oolong and black teas that come from one this one plant. The leaves of this plant have been enjoyed by peoples in many parts of the world for thousands of years.  It does sound pretty amazing when you think about that fact.  Yes, tea is second only to WATER as the most widely consumed beverage in the WORLD! 

Have you ever wondered what a tea leaf looks like before it makes it to your teapot, favorite cup or icy cold glass?  Here is a series of photos to show the tea leaf prior to its plucking.

What is chai tea?

Chai is a traditional Indian beverage that includes mixed spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom and black tea. Because of chai’s popularity, green tea and caffeine-free versions of this classic blend are fast favorites, too.

What is herbal tea?

Herbal teas, tisanes or fruit teas are not really teas at all, but infusions. These infusions contain flowers, herbs, spices and/or fruits and are most often caffeine-free.

One exception to the caffeine-free rule is Yerba Maté. Yerba Maté is a South American infusion that contains a stimulant similar to caffeine. Maté is drunk alone or paired with a variety of fruits, spices or herbs making it a delicious herbal with a kick.

What is rooibos?

Often referred to as “red tea”, rooibos falls into the caffeine-free infusion category and does not contain tea leaves. Rooibos is harvested from red bush in South Africa. Additionally, Rooibos is paired with a variety of other ingredients for tasty results. Rooibos is sometimes referred to as an allergy helper and a health tonic in its own right.*

Honeybush, another South African infusion is slightly sweeter than rooibos and has been used as a medicinal infusion by indigenous people for hundreds of years. Because of its apparent ability to suppress the appetite, this infusion is considered a dieter’s friend. *

How much tea do I use to steep a cup?

1 tsp. per 8 oz. of water is a general guideline. The amount may be adjusted according to your taste.

How long do I steep tea?

Teas and tisanes/herbal teas call for different steeping times and temperatures to ensure the best flavor. Steeping tea too long can cause bitterness. Some guidelines include the following:

White: 2-3 min. Heat water to before boiling.

Green: 2-3 min. Heat water to before boiling.

Oolong: 3-5 min. Heat water to boiling.

Black: 5 min. Heat water to boiling.

Tisane / Herbal: 5 min. or to taste. Heat water until boiling.

What are the caffeine levels in tea?

Generally, black tea contains about half the amount of caffeine of a cup of coffee. 

Green and oolong teas contain less than black tea at about 20-30 mg per 8 oz. cup vs. 40-50 mg per 8 oz. of  black tea.

White tea is low in caffeine.

At Barefoot Tea, many of our customers are fans of caffeine-free infusions. These consist of herbs, fruits, flowers, spices and rooibos blends that are commonly referred to as tea and prepared like tea, but contain no tea leaves.

Is it true I can reduce the caffeine levels in tea?

Yes.  For those sensitive to caffeine that still want to enjoy your favorite teas, you can reduce the level of caffeine in tea easily.

Pour your very hot to boiling water over your tea leaves and let sit for 60 seconds. Discard this first cup. Then, pour more hot to boiling water over your tea leaves again, let steep and enjoy a reduced-caffeine tea. Studies show that heat releases caffeine.

Barefoot Tea offers a variety of caffeine-free infusions as well as decaf teas that remove this step.  Email us or visit our NJ store for more details.

How do I make a tea latte?

*Barefoot Tea does not endorse any tea and health claims. Barefoot Tea conveys tea and health information published in trade and public periodicals as a courtesy to our customers.

 

What is white tea?

White tea is produced from young tea leaves and/or buds that are hand-picked from the tea plant and carefully withered to remove some of the moisture and then dried.  A white tea infusion yields a pale, Champagne colored beverage with a delicate and smooth taste.  White tea drinkers enjoy a “peach pit” quality to the taste with lingering notes of honey. Some of these notes may be enhanced with multiple infusions.  Join us for a future blog entry on multiple infusions. White tea offers a low caffeine option.

Barefoot Tea, Silver Needle

 

Traditionally, loose leaf white tea is classified as either “Silver Needle” (Yin Zhen Bai Hao) or “White Peony” (Bai Mu Dan).  While many white teas originate from China; India, Kenya, Malawi and Sri Lanka are manufacting white teas, as well.

White tea is growing in popularity in the U.S., particularly in bottled tea beverages as the word gets out about the apparent health benefits of white tea including its low level of caffeine and height of polyphenols.*  However, while newer to Americans, white tea is steeped in history with its first production in 11th century China. 

At Barefoot Tea, we offer Silver Needle, tea leaf buds said to be plucked only a few days of the year.  We recommend a 2-3 minute steep time and 30 seconds for multiple infusions.

Additionally, we offer our Gingerly White tea, which combines the best of White Peony tea and soothing ginger for a low caffeine, digestive helper.*

Since we love white tea in all forms, we also provide palate pleasing, combination blends of flavored green and white tea. Check out our Rocky Pont White and Stone Harbor Blend teas, built with care in taste, health and hospitali-TEA.* (OK, we couldn’t help ourselves with that reference!)

*Barefoot Tea provides and tea and health information published in trade journals and public periodicals as a courtesy to our customers and is not intended as medical advice.