LUXURY TAMATEA RANGE

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Black tea is the most common type of tea accounting for up to 85% of total tea consumption in the western world. Black tea is fully oxidized and has a darker appearance, stronger flavour, and higher caffeine content compared to other teas. .

Green tea is 'unoxidized' tea. The leaves are heated soon after picking in order to destroy the enzymes that cause oxidation. This type of processing preserves a high level of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals accounting for the various health benefits of green tea.

Herbal Infusions - Tisanes

In addition to the above, herbal infusions from other plants are also sometimes referred to as tea, although not to the purists. The correct term for any non-tea beverage is tisane or just herbal infusion. Examples include chamomile, peppermint, rooibos, etc.

Fruit teas are made from natural unprocessed fruits. They are naturally sweet but do not have the overpowering sweetness of sugar. Fruit teas are high in antioxidants and vitamin C and do not contain any caffeine, making them ideal for drinking before going to bed. 

Examples include Yerba Mate which is made from the leaves of the holly tree of the South Amerian rain-forests and one of the few herbal teas that have the caffeine content of Arabica coffee. Another very popular herbal tea made out of non-tea leaves is Rooibis tea. 

Masala Chai is black tea mixed with traditional Indian spices like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger. It is usually prepared by boiling water and milk along with tea and spices and sweetened with sugar. It is the most popular way of drinking tea in India. 

Jasmine tea is tea infused with the aroma of jasmine blossoms. It is the most popular scented tea in China. It is usually made with green tea, but white, oolong, and black teas are also used. The method of infusing the scent of jasmine flowers into the tea is very laborious and takes several days. 

Flower teas: In addition to their wonderful aroma and natural beauty, a lot of flowers have therapeutic properties and calming effect. One of the most common herbal tea made out of flowers is camonmile tea which is made of dried camomile flowers and is proven to be an effective antioxidant. 

Wellness Tea's are energising blends, Perfect tea for a pick me up! All are full of focus boosting Yerba Mate, antioxidant rich Matcha, along with a kick of other super ingredients that support continuous energy throughout the day while heightening the mood and boosting the immune system.

Oolong tea is semi-oxidized, so the leaf is allowed to sit for maybe 2-4 hours, before being heated up to halt oxidization. The amount of oxidation affects the flavour and appearance of the tea. Longer oxidization results in a darker oolong which is more similar in taste to a black tea, while shorter oxidization makes it more similar in nature to green tea. 

White tea is the least processed of all teas. Only the unopened buds and young leaves covered in silver fuzz are used, and they are merely withered and dried. White tea produces a very light-colored infusion with a mild flavour. Its caffeine content is even lower than that of green tea and is considered to have a very high level of antioxidants.

Before we compare loose leaf tea with tea bags, let us first look at the different grades of tea as that can be the key differentiator. When teas are produced, they are graded by size and quality. In order of highest to lowest, the grades fall into four basic groups: whole leaf, broken leaf, fannings, and dust. Our Tea is produced from Superior Grade Whole Leaf Tea's.