Starpack Tea and Coffee: Tea Types

Growing
All tea starts the same - from the Camellia Sinensis plant. These tea plants need at least 50 inches of rain a year. They thrive in a warm, humid climate. Tea can grow in places at sea level to as high as 7000 ft above sea level if given the right conditions: deep, light, acidic and well-drained soil.
Tea bushes can grow up to 15-20 feet in the wild but in tea gardens, the bush is kept plucked for 3-4 feet for ease of plucking. Tea is plucked by hand and workers can pluck 20kg of tea leaves a day.

Process
It is only after the leaves are plucked that the differentiation between types of tea begins. Depending on the type of tea wanted, a different process is used for each.

White tea
White tea comes from young tea buds. The leaves are barely oxidised so retain their softness. They are also not rolled or crushed at all.
Due to the lack of oxidisation, the tea has the highest level of antioxidants of any type of tea. It 

Green tea 
The leaves are heated immediately after plucking to prevent oxidisation. 
The tea has a low caffeine level making it a stimulant and ideal for meditative purposes, as it provides a slight high with no crashes. It also has a high level of Vitamin C as well as B vitamins, folate (naturally occurring folic acid), manganese, potassium, magnesium, caffeine and other antioxidants.

Yellow tea 
A similar process to green tea, however, leaves are slightly oxidised.

Oolong tea 
The leaves are semi oxidised then withered and rolled, often by hand. The leaves are allowed to partially oxidize and then are fired in pan or basket to stop the oxidation process. The last step is roasting the leaves. Sometimes charcoal smoke is used to add flavour to the tea.
It also contains vital vitamins and minerals such as calcium, manganese, copper, carotin, selenium, potassium, and vitamin A, B, C, E, and vitamin K. Additionally, it contains folic acid and niacinamide.

Black tea  
Fully oxidised tea. After the leaves are plucked they are allowed to wither. They are then rolled and crushed by hand or by machine. This activates the oxidation processes and the leaves are allowed to turn black. Finally, they are fired in ovens to stop the oxidation process.
Black tea has a high caffeine level and is the most popular type of tea in the world.