TEA TO Z / BAGS VS LOOSE / A NOTE ON CAFFEINE
TEA TO Z
All tea comes from the same plant: Camilla sinensis. Tea type is determined by how the plant is processed; the longer it oxidizes, the darker the tea. Let’s take a look at the full spectrum, because #TheMoreYouKnow.
White tea is made from the youngest buds, hand-plucked and dried for minimal oxidization. While it infuses to a pale yellow colour, it gets its name from the silvery white hairs on its leaves. White teas are generally aromatic and sweet.
Green tea is slightly oxidized and heated to stop the oxidization process and preserve its green appearance. The leaves are dried to remove moisture and then shaped by rolling or twisting. Green teas are often grassy and toasty.
Oolong tea is semi-oxidized and is amongst the most time-consuming to craft. Oolong teas are curled and twisted multiple times throughout the oxidization process, which is the reason it varies widely in flavour and appearance.
Black tea is withered, rolled, fully oxidized and fired. Black teas infuse to a dark brown or deep red colour, and are strong in flavour and aroma. Some of the most popular black teas are grown in the Indian regions of Assam and Darjeeling.
Rooibos (pronounced ROY-boss) is fully oxidized and also referred to as red tea. Naturally caffeine-free, it infuses to an amber colour, is regarded for its calming effects, and is sweet in flavour.
Wellness teas are infusions made with herbs, flowers, roots, spices or other parts of plants. Since herbal infusions do not contain tea leaves, they are generally caffeine free, and are widely used for a host of common conditions.
Herbal teas are made from herbs, fruits, spices, roots, flowers, and seeds. Herbal teas are caffeine free and often regarded for their health benefits.
Mate (pronounced mah-TAY) originates from South America. Yerba Mate has caffeine and is regularly used as a balanced energy source with great health benefits.
Fruit teas are made from real dried fruits, flowers, spices and natural flavourings. Since the majority of our fruit blends are naturally caffeine-free and high in vitamin-C they are ideal for introducing children to tea. The fruity flavours of these blends make them great for iced teas!
BAGS VS LOOSE
Teabags are convenient, but the gold stars end there.
Peek inside a teabag and you’ll find “fannings” or “dust” – which is nothing but bottom of the barrel tea leaf remains. This is the lowest quality tea found on the market, and as you can imagine, it produces a pretty sad cup.
Then there’s the environmental impact. Teabags are mass-produced, machine processed, single use items that are individually wrapped, boxed, covered in plastic, and stored in a warehouse for who knows how long before reaching your mug.
Long story short: not our cup of tea.
Whole leaves preserve the flavours and benefits of tea. CITIZENTEA is handpicked, for large, rich-coloured leaves packed with flavour and antioxidants. In fact, many of our leaves can be infused more than once because the quality is so high. We package our teas in reusable airtight tins, to reduce waste and ensure freshness. For best results, infuse your tea in an infuser or teapot to give the leaves space to expand and steep fully, for a perfect, balanced cup.
A NOTE ON CAFFEINE
Believe it or not, all caffeine is not created equal.
While caffeine from coffee enters the bloodstream quickly, giving you a sudden jolt of energy – along with shakes, jitters, or the inevitable crash – caffeine from tea absorbs at a much slower rate, keeping us calm, steady, and focused throughout the day.
Caffeine levels of individual teas vary depending on what region and climate the tea is grown in, preparation process, water temperature, and infusion time; this is why it can be difficult to measure the exact amount of caffeine per serving.
Matcha is the exception to the “tea generally having less caffeine than coffee” rule.
CITIZENTEA matcha (Premium, Superior, and Pinnacle) contain the highest levels of caffeine available in tea, with one cup equal to about half a cup of coffee. This is because matcha is made from grinding the entire leaf into a fine powder. When consuming matcha you are consuming the entire leaf, not just the infusion.
If you are looking to reduce or eliminate caffeine, try a CITIZENTEA decaf, herbal, or wellness tea.
