Redrosetea - What is Tea?

What is Tea?

Tea is a drink that is made from the cured leaves of the plant Camellia Sinensis, and is the second most popular drink in the world, second to water.¹ There are several popular varieties of tea, produced using different processing methods that allow harvested tea leaves to oxidize by varying degrees. For example, green tea is made from leaves that have been minimally oxidized, as opposed to black tea, which is produced from leaves that are allowed to oxidize for a longer period.

Most bagged teas that are available in Canada are blends, meaning that they are produced from tea leaves that are grown in different plantations in different regions of the world. Red Rose expert blenders adjust for consistency in taste and quality from batch to batch, giving tea drinkers the signature taste that they have loved for generations.

Black tea is produced from leaves that have been allowed to oxidize fully, producing a richly coloured brew with a robust taste. Examples of black tea blends include Ceylon and English Breakfast. Orange Pekoe grade tea, such as Red Rose, is especially noted for fruity aromas and a pleasant taste.

Green tea a traditional drink in many Asian cultures, and has grown very popular in Canada in recent years. Made from tea leaves that are minimally oxidized, it has a mellow flavour and delicate aroma.

Herbal teas, or tisanes, are made by infusing various fruits and herbs in hot water. This term is generally used for beverages that contain no Camellia Sinesnsis. Strictly speaking, they are not actually “teas”, but are commonly called tea anyway.

Other types of teas include white tea, yellow tea, and oolong tea, which generally represent different degrees of oxidation and wilting.

Decaffeinated tea: Red Rose is decaffeinated in a natural way, with pure spring water and effervescence that gently washes caffeine away. So you get pure, clean tea flavour without any chemical residues.

¹Alan Macfarlane; Iris Macfarlane. The Empire of Tea. The Overlook Press, 32.