Come on a journey through the history of cultures and civilisations, a journey whose guideposts, whose indexes, are the leaves of tea. At O2H TEA, we tie the meditative traditions of Oriental tea culture to the hectic pace of the Western world, our purposeful endeavour being to help you elevate the experience of tea into a ritualistic process that enhances and ennobles, a process of living that strengthens and builds bridges between varying cultures and civilisations.
The Variety of Loose Leaf Teas
Black Tea: First created in China more than 4,000 years ago, black tea is perhaps best known for its full body and dark hue – a result of its unique tea-making process, which includes withering, rolling, fermenting and drying. During its fermentation, it oxidises longer than other teas, which gives it its distinctive taste. The flavours of black tea from different places such as Sri Lanka, India, Kenya, Nepal, Rwanda and Malawi are influenced by their specific climatic and terroir conditions. Black tea from Sri Lanka, called Ceylon, generally carries a citrusy tinge; while Assam, an Indian tea, is rich and malty, reflecting the local traditions and cultural significance of tea-making in the region.
Green Tea: The delicate grassy flavours of green tea are due to its minimal harvest-to-market processing – in other words, it is not oxidised. It keeps in its most natural form more antioxidants than any other tea from its abundant catechins.
Oolong Tea: Oolong tea has a flavour that can range from sweetly floral to deep and toasty. It is semi-fermented and is considered to be an excellent tea for boosting metabolism and shedding some pounds. Since it contains a good amount of antioxidants, plus something called L-theanine, it is also considered a cardiovascular health plus which makes one mentally alert at the same time.
White Tea: Made from young leaves and buds that are still covered with silky white ‘fuzz’, this tea – being one of least processed – retains robust levels of antioxidants while imparting a more refined flavour than other teas, typically ranging from sweet to fruity.
Pu-erh Tea: Pu’er tea is a kind of tea that is fermented after the fresh leaves have been dried and rolled. It is different from other teas in that it has a microbial fermentation characteristic that is aged while the leaves are still withered and twisted.
Pu’er tea can be roughly divided into two types: raw (Shēng) ripe (Shóu) There are many tea varieties existing globally, but only two types of tea are highlighted here. Pu’er tea is one of them. It is the fermented tea produced in Yunnan, China.
Its special characteristics are that pueriae fermentas, which is different from those types of fermentation that most related articles or books often mention. The vital process for producing Pu’er tea is microbial fermentation. Dried leaves are placed together in a closed and moist environment with unroasted tea. This can last several months until the tea loses its original green colour and becomes dark brown.
Pu’er tea has some health benefits for humans. For example, there have been studies that have shown that some microbial fermentation products brought about novel phenolics including benzoic acid, vanillin and a group of chemical composition terpenes which have reported using antibacterial and lipid regulating effects.
Herbal Tea： The flavourful, caffeine-free herbal teas – also called tisanes – are delightful infusions made from hundreds of different herbs, spices, fruits and other botanicals. Each herbal tea provides a different flavour mouth-experience, as well as different health benefits. One can choose and identify the health properties of the preferred herb: peppermint is used for digestive discomforts; rooibos comes from the Aspalathus linearis plant in South Africa, which has high levels of antioxidants – including the beneficial aspalathin that supports cardiovascular health and reduces inflammation.
These types of healthy teas, made with an array of botanical spices and flavourings, have been consumed since ancient times. And who doesn’t like a cup of tea? But almost as popular as regular tea are herbal teas, which provide most of these same healthy benefits, yet are caffeine-free and, because of the mellow taste of the spices and botanicals, much gentler on the digestive system and on the palate.
O2H Tea offers Special Loose Leaf Teas:
- Tangerine Pu-erh: Black Pu-erh leaves are infused with orange tangerine peels, adding a kick of citrus and offering a light, refreshing take on a classic Pu-erh.
- Tangerine White Tea: A blend of young tea leaves and buds with a hint of natural tangerine flavouring, mild and calming.
- Tangerine Oolong Tea: Handcrafted tea captures the true oolong with floral notes and a complex flavour.
Health Benefits of Loose Leaf Tea
Loose leaf tea is not only a refreshing beverage: it’s a superfood. Benefits described by the NIH report include:
- Antioxidants: Loose leaf teas are full of powerful antioxidants, which help to combat free radicals and cut your risk of chronic diseases.
- Boost your metabolism: In green and oolong in particular, natural compounds can enhance your metabolic rate.
- Stress Release: The inherent characteristics of tea facilitate the reduction of stress.
O2H TEA’s Tangerine Peel Benefits:
- Tangerine Peels in Tangerine Teas: Although the peels are rich in the colouring agent citral, the real antioxidant power of the tangerine comes from its high concentration of phenolic acids. Pu-erh tea is known to increase the rate of toxin removal through the urine and faeces.
Brewing Tips for Loose Leaf Tea Enthusiasts in Australia
For the people who want to savour the full flavour of loose leaf tea, perfect brewing is a must. These are some tips for our friends in the Land down Under, brewing O2H TEA premium ranges.
- Temperature: every leaf prefers its own unique temperature. For green teas, try 80-85°C; around 95-100°C is preferred by black and Pu-erh teas; white and oolong teas work best at 85-90°C.
- Amount of tea: As a rule, for a cup (or 250 ml of water) use 1 desender of leaf.
- Steep: Green tea 2-3 minutes; black tea 3-5 minutes; oolong 4-7 minutes; white tea 4-5 minutes; Pu-erh 3-5 minutes.
O2H TEA SELECTED TEA POT FOR LOOSE LEAF TEA:
- Crane Song Stainless Steep Sip Tea Pot: Designed specifically for loose leaf tea, with built-in infuser and modern design, for everyday home use by the occasional tea drinker.
Conclusion
At O2H TEA, we strive to bring you not only a cup of tea but an experience, yet one that is respectful of the tradition and deeply rooted in solving the future of tea. Visit our shop now and see which of our loose leaf teas suit you the best to experience your daily tea ritual like never before.
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive hand-curated content and offers based on your needs.
