10 Most Popular Types of Tea and Their Health Benefits—Plus When to Drink Them

With roots in Asia, tea is a worldwide staple—a drink that carries us through our days, from beginning to end. But have you ever stopped to consider how tea is made? Or how tea types differ from one another? Believe it or not, some major tea varieties come from the same plant. The biggest difference between many types of tea is the amount of time the picked tea leaves are oxidized before they’re dried. Oxidation browns the tea leaves and alters their flavor, transforming them into something richer and darker than their fresh beginnings. Other teas have a composition of different plants and herbs. Here, we share some popular types of tea and explain what makes them unique and deserving of a place in our kitchen cabinets. Black Tea Brew Time: Steep for 3 to 5 minutesBrew Temperature: 212°FCaffeine Content: Between 40 and 60 milligrams per cup Black teas are made from Camellia sinensis, which is also the base of all other teas besides herbal varieties. The majority of Camellia sinensis’ c...