There are many ways to classify Chinese tea. According to the production method and the degree of polyphenol oxidation (fermentation), it can be divided into six categories: green tea (unfermented), white tea (lightly fermented), yellow tea (lightly fermented), qing tea (oolong tea, semi-fermented), dark tea (post-fermented), and black tea (fully fermented). The appearance changes from green to yellow-green, yellow, green-brown, and black, and the tea liquor also changes from green to yellow-green, yellow, green-brown, and reddish-brown.

I. Green Tea

 

 

1. Basic Characteristics of Green Tea

Green leaves, clear liquor; fragrant, mellow, and fresh. It belongs to the unfermented tea category. The appearance varies widely, mainly including: strip-shaped, needle-shaped, flat-shaped, spiral-shaped, pointed-shaped, flake-shaped, bundle-shaped, Mao Feng, Mao Jian, curly-shaped, round pearl-shaped, single bud-shaped, etc. Green tea places the greatest emphasis on shape and color, pursuing a clear, pure, and elegant quality, so tender buds are mostly used. Tea picked before Qingming (Pre-Qingming tea) is the most precious, followed by tea picked after Qingming but before Guyu (Rain in Grain).

2. Famous Green Teas

① West Lake Longjing (flat-shaped, Hangzhou); ② Dongting Biluochun (spiral-shaped, Suzhou); ③ Huangshan Maofeng (Mao Feng, Anhui); ④ Taiping Houkui (pointed-shaped, Anhui); ⑤ Lu'an Guapian (flake-shaped, Anhui); ⑥ Xinyang Maojian (Mao Jian, Henan); ⑦ Lushan Yunwu (strip-shaped, Jiangxi); ⑧ Duyun Maojian (Mao Jian, Guizhou); ⑨ Enshi Yulu (pine needle-shaped, Hubei), etc.

3. Suitable People for Green Tea

Green tea is high in vitamins. Consumers who focus on nutritional supplementation can first consider green tea. When choosing green tea, one can select either affordable, strong-tasting, and耐泡 (durable) bulk green tea, or premium, uniquely shaped, high-quality, and fragrant famous green teas, depending on one's economic capacity.

II. White Tea

 

 

1. Basic Characteristics of White Tea

White with a hint of green; liquor is yellow-white; taste is fresh and mellow; aroma is sweet and refreshing. It belongs to the lightly fermented tea category. Mainly produced in Fuding, Jianyang, Zhenghe, Songxi, etc., in Fujian Province. White tea is divided into white bud tea and white leaf tea.

2. Famous White Teas

① Baihao Yinzhen (Silver Needle), produced in Fuding, Zhenghe, etc.; ② Baimudan (White Peony), produced in Jianyang, Zhenghe, Songxi, Fuding, etc.; ③ Gongmei (Shoumei), produced in Jianyang, Pucheng, etc.; ④ Tianmu Lake White Tea, produced in the Tianmu Lake tourist area, Liyang, Changzhou, Jiangsu.

3. Suitable People for White Tea

During white tea processing, it is neither fried nor kneaded but left to air-dry naturally. Most of the sugar substances in the tea are essentially undestroyed, thus it has a certain therapeutic effect on diabetic patients.

III. Yellow Tea

 

 

1. Basic Characteristics of Yellow Tea

Yellow leaves, yellow liquor; golden and bright; sweet, refreshing, and mellow. It belongs to the lightly fermented tea category, with a basic process similar to green tea. It is divided into three types: yellow bud tea, yellow small leaf tea, and yellow large leaf tea.

2. Famous Yellow Teas

① Hunan's Junshan Yinzhen, Beigang Maojian, Moganshan Huangya; ② Sichuan's Mengding Huangya; ③ Anhui's Huoshan Huangya, West Anhui (Huoshan) Huangda Cha; ④ Hubei's Yuan'an Luyuan Maojian; ⑤ Guangdong's Daye Qing, etc.

3. Suitable People for Yellow Tea

Suitable for refreshing the mind, eliminating fatigue, and aiding digestion. It is most beneficial for the spleen and stomach. Those with indigestion, loss of appetite, laziness, obesity, etc., can drink it to alleviate these conditions.

IV. Qing Tea (Oolong Tea)

 

 

1. Basic Characteristics of Qing Tea

Greenish-yellow to golden; aroma is clear and mellow. Because its appearance is green-brown, it is called qing tea, also known as oolong tea. It belongs to the semi-fermented tea category.

2. Famous Qing Teas

① Northern Fujian Oolong (Wuyi Rock Tea—Dahongpao); ② Southern Fujian Oolong (Anxi Tieguanyin); ③ Guangdong Oolong (Fenghuang Shuixian—Fenghuang Dancong); ④ Taiwan Oolong (Wenshan Baozhong, Dongding Oolong, Oriental Beauty, etc.).

3. Suitable People for Qing Tea

Oolong tea has the effects of lowering blood lipids and aiding weight loss. At the same time, high-grade oolong teas have unique quality styles and special floral, fruity aromas, and charm (e.g., Yin Yun, Yan Yun, Gao Shan Yun). Consumers with high blood lipids or high blood pressure, who want to lose weight and also want to taste its special charm, can choose high-quality oolong tea.

V. Dark Tea

 

 

1. Basic Characteristics of Dark Tea

Coarse, large, dark brown; aged aroma, mellow. It belongs to the post-fermented (fully fermented) tea category. Because it is mainly supplied to ethnic minorities in border regions, it is also called border-sale tea.

2. Famous Dark Teas

① Hunan Dark Tea (Tianjian, Gongjian, Shengjian); ② Hubei Old Green Brick Tea; ③ Sichuan Border Tea; ④ Yunnan-Guangxi Dark Tea (Pu'er Tea), etc.

3. Suitable People for Dark Tea

Consumers whose daily diet mainly consists of meat products can choose dark tea. During the processing of dark tea, it undergoes a post-fermentation process, making its nature warmer and smoother. Its effects of removing grease, lowering blood lipids, and aiding weight loss are more significant. It is very popular among ethnic minorities in border regions, who have a saying: "Would rather go three days without food than one day without tea."

VI. Black Tea (Red Tea)

 

 

1. Basic Characteristics of Black Tea

High aroma, bright color, strong flavor; red leaves, red liquor; rich, mellow, and sweet taste, resembling longan soup; some have a smoky flavor. It belongs to the fully fermented tea category. It is divided into Souchong black tea, Congou black tea, black broken tea (CTC), and black brick tea (Mizhuan).

2. Famous Black Teas

① Qimen Hongcha (Keemun, Anhui); ② Dianhong (Yunnan); ③ Minhong (Lapsang Souchong—Jin Junmei, Yin Junmei, Tanyang Gongfu, Fujian); ④ Chuanhong (Zao Baijian, Sichuan); ⑤ Yihong (Hubei); ⑥ Ninghong (Ninghong Jinhao, Jiangxi); ⑦ Yuehong (Zhejiang); ⑧ Huhong (Hunan); ⑨ Taihong (Sun Moon Lake Black Tea, Taiwan), etc.

3. Suitable People for Black Tea

Black tea is warm in nature. Because it undergoes full fermentation during processing, especially small- and medium-leaf varieties, it has a sweet aroma and a sweet, smooth taste. Although large-leaf black tea has a strong taste and astringency, it can be drunk with milk to reduce its irritation. Consumers with a weak stomach who still like to drink tea can choose black tea.