93 Types Of Tea: Complete List Of Tea Names

Tea plants are originally from East Asia, and it's believed that tea's center of origin is near the source of the Irrawaddy River. From there, it spread out in a fan-wise pattern into southeast China, Indo-China, and Assam.

The natural home of the tea plant is considered to be a relatively small area between Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram along the Burma frontier in the west, extending through China to Chekiang Province in the east, and generally south through the hills to Burma and Thailand to Vietnam.

In ancient East Asia, people ate tea in various ways for centuries, such as nibbling on raw leaves, adding them to soups or greens, or fermenting them and chewing them as betel is chewed. Over the centuries, different techniques for processing tea and various forms of tea were developed.

During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, unoxidized tea leaves were initially stirred in a hot, dry pan, rolled, and air-dried to prevent oxidation, resulting in green tea. In the 15th century, oolong tea, where leaves are partially oxidized before being heated, was created.

Western preferences, however, favored the fully oxidized black tea, where the leaves were allowed to oxidize further. Yellow tea was discovered accidentally during the production of green tea in the Ming dynasty due to less careful practices that caused the leaves to turn yellow, which resulted in a different flavor.

Tea is generally divided into categories based on their growing and processing methods. There are two primary types of tea: true teas and herbal teas, also called tisanes. True teas, such as white tea, black, tea, oolong tea, and green tea, all come from the tea plant Camellia sinensis.

This evergreen plant can be grown in diverse climates, contributing to the distinct flavors found in each type of tea.

Herbal teas, or tisanes, have no caffeine and are not derived from Camellia sinensis leaves. Instead, these herbal blends are made using spices, flowers, and various plant leaves, including fruits and herbs. Sometimes, herbal teas incorporate true tea leaves to add specific flavors, referred to as herbal infusions.

These infusions can be classified as black, white, green, or oolong based on the tea leaves and processes used in making the herbal blend.

Teas come in various flavors and offer different benefits, and it's common to mix them with other flavors to create a unique combination of flavors. Let's explore the different types of tea and the wide variety of teas within each category.

Green tea is a type of tea made from Camellia sinensis leaves and buds that have been minimally processed, allowing it to retain its natural green color. This fresh, grassy flavor tea is widely praised for its potential health benefits due it its high levels of antioxidants.

Types of green tea

Chinese green teas:

In China, loose-leaf green tea has been the most preferred type of tea since at least the Southern Song dynasty. Originally steamed, Chinese green tea has been commonly pan-fired in a dry wok since the early Ming dynasty.

1. Anji Bai Cha

2. Bi Luo Chun

3. Chun Mee

4. Gunpowder

5. Huangshan Maofeng

6. Jasmine

7. Jin Shan

8. Longjing (Dragon Well)

9. Lu'an Melon Seed

10. Taiping Houkui

11. Xinyang Maojian

Japanese green tea:

Driven by customs and preferences, Japanese green tea is uniquely processed through steaming to stop fermentation, resulting in its distinct flavor and character.

12. Bancha

13. Genmaicha

14. Gyokuro

15. Hojicha

16. Kabusecha

17. Kamairicha

18. Konacha

19. Kukicha

20. Matcha

21. Mecha

22. Sencha

23. Shincha

24. Tamaryokucha

25. Tencha

Korean green tea:

Korean green tea can be classified into different types based on several factors. The most common factor is the flush or the time of the year when the tea leaves are plucked.

26. Daejak (kkeunmul-cha)

27. Jungjak (semul-cha)

28. Sejak (dumul-cha)

29. Ujeon (cheonmul-cha)

White tea comes from young or minimally processed leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Despite its name, this tea is typically pale yellow when brewed.

It is primarily harvested in China, especially in Fujian province, but is also more recently produced in other regions like Taiwan, Thailand, Eastern Nepal, Galle (Southern Sri Lanka), and northeast India. White tea has gained immense popularity and is now available in various forms, including Indian tea.

Types of white tea

30. Bai Mudan (white peony)

31. Darjeeling White

32. Gong Mei

33. Shou Mei

34. Silver Needle

Black tea, sometimes translated as red tea in East Asian languages, is a type of tea that is more oxidized than yellow, white, green, and oolong teas. Black tea is generally stronger in flavor compared to other true teas.

It first came from China and is known as hong cha there, holding a special status among Chinese teas. Today, the beverage is popular throughout East and Southeast Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, and Singapore, both for drinking and cultivation.

Types of black tea

Chinese black tea:

35. Congou

36. Dianhong

37. Jiu Qu Hong Mei

38. Keemun

39. Lapsang souchong

40. Yingdehong

Korean black tea:

41. Jaekseol (Bird's tongue)

Indian black tea:

42. Assam

43. Darjeeling

44. Kangra

45. Nilgiri

Sri Lankan black tea:

46. Ceylon

Turkish black tea:

47. Rize

Oolong is a traditional semi-oxidized Chinese tea made through a process that involves withering the tea leaves under the sun, followed by oxidation before curling and bending. Oolong is particularly popular in South China and among ethnic Chinese in Southeast Asia.

From sweet and fruity with honey aromas to green and fresh with complex flavors, and woody and thick with roasted notes, oolong tea can vary widely in taste depending on the horticulture and production techniques used.

Types of oolong tea

Fujian oolong tea:

48. Bai Jiguan (White Cockscomb)

49. Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe)

50. Huangjin Gui (Golden Cassia)

51. Rougui (Cassia)

52. Shui Jin Gui (Golden Water Turtle)

53. Shui Xian (Narcissus)

54. Tieguanyin (Iron Goddess of Mercy)

55. Tieluohan (Iron Arhat)

Taiwanese oolong tea:

56. Alishan oolong

57. Baozhong

58. Dong Ding (Frozen Summit or Ice Peak)

59. Dongfang meiren (Oriental Beauty)

60. High-mountain or gaoshan

61. Jun Xuan

62. Ruan zhi

Other varieties:

63. Dancong

64. Darjeeling oolong

65. Vietnamese oolong

Native to China, yellow tea is an increasingly rare and pricey variety of tea. The technique of making this tea is like green tea, but it involves an extra step of encasing or sweltering, which gives a gentle yellow color to the leaves during the drying process.

Yellow tea can specifically refer to Chinese huangcha and Korean hwangcha.

Chinese huangcha:

66. Beigang Maojian

67. Huoshan Huangya

67. Junshan Yinzhen

68. Meng Ding Huangya

69. Weishan Maojian

Korean hwangcha:

In Korean tea terminology, domestic tea is mainly categorized into two types: green tea and fermented tea.

Yellow tea is used to represent gently oxidized fermented tea with no implications of processing techniques or an outcome that would name the tea "yellow tea" in the Chinese definition.

Fermented tea, also referred to as dark tea or post-fermented tea, is a type of tea that goes through microbial fermentation, lasting from a few months to many years. During this process, the tea leaves are exposed to humidity and oxygen, causing endo-oxidation and exo-oxidation.

The majority of fermented teas are produced in China, where they originated, and you can also find some in Korea and Japan. In Myanmar, lahpet is a type of fermented tea enjoyed as a vegetable, and in northern Thailand and southern Yunnan, similar pickled teas are eaten or chewed.

Types of fermented tea

Chinese fermented tea:

70. Fu zhuan cha (The famous fu zhuan “brick tea”)

71. Liu an lan cha (Anhui Lu'an basket tea)

72. Liu bao cha (Guangxi Liubao tea)

73. Lu bian cha (Sichuan border tea)

74. Pu'er cha (either "raw" sheng pu'er or "ripened" shu pu'er)

75. Qing zhuan cha (Hubei green brick tea)

76. Zang cha (Tibetan tea, often called Tibetan brick tea)

Japanese fermented tea:

77. Toyama kurocha

Korean fermented tea:

78. Tteokcha

Unlike traditional true teas, herbal teas are crafted by infusing herbs, spices, or various plant materials in hot water. Frequently, people use terms like "herb tea" or simply "tea" to describe a wide range of herbal teas.

Not only do these teas taste delicious, but they also come with numerous health benefits. They've been used as natural remedies for various conditions for centuries. Below, we've got a list of some popular herbal teas for you to explore.

Types of herbal tea

79. Ashwagandha

80. Bamboo

81. Buckwheat

82. Cinnamon

83. Chamomile

84. Chrysanthemum

85. Echinacea

86. Hibiscus

87. Lavender

88. Lemon Ginger

89. Lemon Grass

90. Mint

91. Moringa

92. Rooibos

93. Turmeric