Green Teas

Though green tea comes from the same plant as black tea, it tastes different. Specifically, it tastes "greener," as the name suggests. Some green tea has hints of rice or honey, others are smokey. Green tea’s robust, almost grassy flavor results from its processing method, which does not include fermentation. It also contains less caffeine than its black counterpart.

Packed with antioxidants such as flavonoids and polyphenols, all green teas have health benefits. In fact, Asians have used this beverage as a health remedy for more than 5,000 years. More recently, scientists have found a link between tumor shrinkage and green tea consumption.

Green tea should steep in water that is 160 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, for two to five minutes.

A few green teas to try:

• Gunpowder
• Japanese Sencha
• Macha
• Dragonwell

White Tea

Primarily an export of China and Japan, white tea is a somewhat rare and expensive form of the Camellia sinensis plant, picked while the delicate leaves are still closed. At this point in the plant’s life cycle, the buds are covered with white, downy hair (hence the name "white tea"). Unlike green tea, which boasts a pungent, earthy flavor, white tea is delicate and sweet.

Though green tea is extremely healthy, white tea may be an even better choice for the health conscious, as it has less caffeine and even more polyphenols, a type of cancer-fighting antioxidant. It has also been shown to fight tooth decay. To fully experience white tea’s flavor and health benefits, it should be steeped at a temperature of 170 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, for five to eight minutes.

A few white teas to try:

• White peony

• Silver needle

• Jasmine silver needle

Red Tea

Red, or roobois, tea is a popular South African beverage. Strong and sweet, it’s popular for its bright hue and lack of caffeine. It’s been known to ease headaches, stomach cramps, and insomnia, as well as asthma and eczema symptoms. Some people even use it to fight the signs of aging.