Tea FAQ
FAQ: Basic Questions About Tea
What is tea?
Tea is a beverage made by steeping leaves from the Camellia Sinensis plant in hot water.
Where does tea come from?
Tea originated in China and is now grown in many countries, including China, Nepal, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Japan, and Korea. It is the most widely consumed beverage after water.
What plant is tea made from?
True tea comes only from the Camellia sinensis plant. Other teas not coming from the Camellia sinensis plant are considered tisanes.
What is the difference between tea and herbal tea?
Tea comes from Camellia sinensis, while herbal teas (tisanes) are made from herbs, flowers, fruits, or spices.
What are the main types of tea?
The main types are black, green, white, oolong, yellow, and puerh (puer or pu-erh).
Why are black, green, and white tea different if they come from the same plant?
They differ primarily in how the leaves are processed and the level of oxidation.
Explore black, green, and white teas
What is the most popular tea in the world?
Black tea is the most widely consumed tea globally.
Why is tea so widely consumed?
Because it is amazing! No, but most likely because it can have a wide range of flavor profiles, which meet many people's palates, and it is typically affordable. On top of this, it is also culturally significant in many places and often associated with health benefits.
Learn more about tea's health benefits
Which countries produce the most tea?
China, India, Kenya, and Sri Lanka are among the largest producers. As of 2026, total global production has reached approximately 7.1 million metric tons, with China alone accounting for over half of that volume.
What is the history of tea?
This is not a simple question; however, according to historians, tea was discovered in China around 2737 BCE and spread globally through trade.
Types of Tea
What is green tea?
Leaves are briefly withered, then fixed (steamed or panned) to stop oxidation, then rolled to shape the leaf and break cell walls, and finally dried.
What is black tea?
Leaves are heavily withered until limp, then rolled (or crushed) to thoroughly break cell walls, fully oxidized in a humid room until they turn brown, and finally fired/dried to stop all biological activity.
What is white tea?
Fresh leaves are withered for a long duration to reduce moisture and then dried immediately, skipping rolling and fixing entirely to keep the leaf silver and hairy.
What is oolong tea?
Leaves are withered (often in the sun), then shaken/tossed in baskets to bruise the edges, partially oxidized, fixed with heat to stop the reaction, rolled into beads or stripes, and dried.
What is puerh (puer or pu-erh) tea?
Puerh Sheng: The leaves are withered, fixed at a low temperature (keeping some enzymes alive), rolled, sun-dried (Maocha), and eventually compressed into cakes for long-term aging.
Puerh Shu (Shou): This follows the Sheng process through the Maocha stage, but then adds Wo Dui (wet-piling), where the tea is heaped, dampened, and turned over several weeks to ferment before a final drying and compression.
What is herbal tea?
A drink made by steeping herbs, flowers, or fruit rather than tea leaves.
Explore all herbal and tisane teas
What is matcha?
Traditionally, a powdered green tea is whisked into water rather than steeped. Today, you can also find Matcha Latte, Matcha Tonic and a wide variety of other drinks using matcha.
What is chai tea?
Typically, black tea is brewed with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger.
The perfect black tea for chai
What is bubble tea?
A Taiwanese tea drink with milk and chewy tapioca pearls.
What is iced tea?
Tea that has been brewed, cooled down, and served cold.
What is cold-brewed tea?
Tea that is brewed either in the fridge overnight or using ice.
What is milk tea?
Tea mixed with milk or cream.
What is loose-leaf tea?
Whole or partially broken tea leaves not contained in tea bags. We believe it is the true way to drink tea!
Brewing Tea
How do you make tea?
Steep tea leaves or a tea bag in hot water for several seconds or minutes, depending on your chosen brewing style (Gong Fu or Western).
How long should tea steep?
When brewing Gong Fu style typically between 30 seconds and a minute. When brewing western style, between 1 and 2 minutes, depending on the tea type.
What temperature water should you use for tea?
Tea Type |
Fahrenheit (F) |
Celsius (C) |
White Tea |
160-175 |
70-80 |
Green Tea (Japanese) |
160-170 |
70-75 |
Green Tea (Chinese) |
170-185 |
75-85 |
Yellow Tea |
170-180 |
75-82 |
Oolong (Green/Light) |
180-190 |
82-88 |
Oolong (Dark/Roasted) |
190-205 |
88-96 |
Black Tea |
200-212 |
93-100 |
Pu-erh (Sheng and Shou) |
205-212 |
96-100 |
Herbal / Tisanes |
212 |
100 |
How much tea should you use per cup?
Roughly 5-6 grams per 100ml for Gong Fu brewing and 1 gram per 100ml for western style.
Why does tea sometimes taste bitter?
Over-steeping or using water that is too hot releases excess tannins.
How do you brew loose-leaf tea?
Place leaves in a gaiwan or tea pot and steep in hot water.
How do you make iced tea?
Brew tea hot, then cool and add ice.
Our recommended teas for iced tea
How do you cold brew tea?
Steep tea leaves in cold water in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
How do you make strong tea?
Use more tea leaves or steep longer.
How do you make weak tea?
Use fewer leaves or steep for less time.
What kind of water is best for tea?
Brewing the perfect cup of tea is as much about the water as it is the leaves. Since a cup of tea is roughly 98-99% water, the minerals present act as flavor extractors. If there are too many minerals, they block the tea's flavor; if there are too few, the tea tastes flat and sharp. We recommend using fresh spring water.
Can you reuse tea leaves?
Yes, loose-leaf teas can be steeped multiple times. If you leave your tea for a few hours or overnight, we recommend rinsing the tea with the correct temperature of water before reinfusing to wake up the leaves.
How many times can you steep tea?
Typically, when using the Gong Fu style between 3-8 times, depending on the tea. When doing Western-style brewing, it is typically 1-3.
Should you squeeze tea bags?
There is no concrete answer to this. But squeezing may release bitterness.
Ingredients and Add-Ins
Should you add milk to tea?
We prefer not to, as we believe tea is already full of flavor. However, some teas (like black tea) pair well with milk. Additionally, the fat in milk can offset the bitterness if the tea is of low quality or oversteeped.
Should you add sugar to tea?
We believe most teas are sweet enough as is. However, it really depends on personal taste.
What can you add to tea for flavor?
If you want to add outside flavors to your tea, you could experiment with adding lemon, honey, milk, spices, or herbs.
Try our fruits or herbs to add to teas
Is honey good in tea?
Yes, honey can add sweetness that usually does not clash with other flavors in many teas.
Is lemon good in tea?
Yes, it is often used in black or herbal teas.
Can you add spices to tea?
Yes, spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom are common. If you want to spice things up, we recommend using a black tea and making chai.
Try our black teas in your chai
What herbs go well in tea?
Mint, chamomile, lavender, rose, osmanthus, and rosemary are all commonly used in making tea blends.
Is it better to add milk before or after tea?
Friendships have ended over this question. But actually, both methods are completely valid. It comes down to a matter of preference and heritage.
Can you add fruit to tea?
Yes, in Chinese tea culture, fruits and berries have a long tradition of being added to tea. Some of our favorites are Chenpi (Aged Tangerine Peel), Kumquats, Jujube (Red Dates), and Goji Berries (Wolfberries).
Health and Nutrition
Is tea good for you?
Tea was originally a medicine and used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It contains antioxidants, and there is extensive research supporting its various health benefits.
Learn more about tea's health benefits
What are the health benefits of tea?
Potential benefits include improved heart health and antioxidant intake.
Does tea have antioxidants?
Yes, especially polyphenols.
Does tea help with weight loss?
There is no conclusive evidence; however, some traditional Chinese medicine techniques claim that teas such as shu puerh may slightly boost metabolism.
Does tea improve digestion?
In China, Puerh is the most famous tea for digestion, because it is fermented. Additionally, heavily roasted Oolongs are often served in dim sum restaurants specifically to cut through the grease of fried foods. And some research suggests that green tea, high in catechins, may have the potential to stimulate the production of pepsin (a digestive enzyme), which helps break down proteins.
Does tea help you relax?
Teas contain calming compounds like L-theanine; however, they also contain caffeine.
Is tea good for sleep?
Herbal teas like chamomile may promote sleep.
Can tea help with stress?
Because of the L-theanine, tea is often considered less jagged when it comes to a caffeine source than, for example, coffee.
Does tea improve brain function?
Tea's caffeine and L-theanine may improve focus.
Is tea good for your heart?
Some research links tea to improved heart health.
Does tea help detox the body?
The body detoxifies itself, but tea can support hydration.
Caffeine Questions
Does tea contain caffeine?
Yes, most true teas contain caffeine.
Which tea has the most caffeine?
Younger leaves produce greater quantities of caffeine to ward off insects. But typically, the longer you steep any tea, the more caffeine will be extracted. Matcha typically contains more because you are actually drinking/eating the leaves.
Which tea has the least caffeine?
White tea is often considered to have less caffeine than teas like Kyobancha, Kukicha, Hojicha, and Bancha because it is composed more of the stems and not the leaves, which are the parts of the plant with the lowest amount of caffeine.
Check out our low caffeine Kyobancha
Is green tea lower in caffeine than coffee?
Yes, in general, an 8oz (240ml) cup of green tea contains 25-45mg of caffeine, while an 8oz cup of brewed coffee contains 95-150mg.
Can tea keep you awake?
Yes, proper tea has caffeine.
Is decaf tea caffeine-free?
Decaf tea is true tea (leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant) that has had the majority of its natural caffeine content removed through a specialized industrial process. However, it is not totally caffeine-free, small amounts still remain.
How much caffeine is safe from tea?
Both EFSA and the FDA consider a daily caffeine intake of up to 400 mg safe for healthy adults, excluding pregnant women. EFSA advises a safe caffeine limit for children of 3mg/kg of body weight per day.
Buying Tea
How do you choose good tea?
We believe that good tea always comes as loose-leaf, with a fresh aroma, and from a reputable source like Zhao Zhou tea.
Explore all of our artisanal teas
What is the difference between loose-leaf tea and tea bags?
Loose-leaf tea typically contains larger leaves and better flavor. Many tea bags use leftover leaves.
Why is loose-leaf tea more expensive?
Loose-leaf tea uses higher-quality leaves and is often produced in a more artisanal fashion, leading to a higher price.
What are the best tea brands?
Brands like Zhao Zhou tea which take care to source their teas from reputable sources to ensure the highest quality of tea for their customers.
Explore all of our artisanal teas
Where can I buy high-quality tea?
From specialty tea shops like Zhao Zhou tea.
How can you tell if tea is fresh?
It should have a strong aroma and vibrant leaves.
Is organic tea better?
In the world of tea, the term organic does not always mean better. Many of the top teas in the world do not have organic certification, even though in essence they may be essentially organic. It may reduce pesticide exposure, but flavor depends on quality. In some cases, producers who have inferior teas may use their organic certification as a selling point when their teas lack true flavor or character.
Tea Storage
How should you store tea?
In an airtight container away from direct sunlight, moisture, and strong smells (such as in the kitchen).
How long does tea last?
Typically, we recommend drinking teas such as green teas in the first year; however, other teas like puerh, white, and oolong teas can be aged for a long time.
Does tea expire?
It rarely spoils unless it comes in contact with excessive moisture or other outside substances.
Can tea go bad?
Yes, if exposed to moisture or mold.
Should tea be stored in the fridge?
It is common to store fresh green teas, especially Japanese varieties, and matcha in the fridge. But other types do not need to be refrigerated.
Should tea be kept in airtight containers?
Yes, to preserve freshness.
Culture and Traditions
What is afternoon tea?
Afternoon tea is a traditional British culinary social ritual, typically served between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM. It was popularized in the mid-19th century, famously credited to Anna Maria Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, who sought a light snack to bridge the long gap between a light lunch and a late dinner.
What is a tea ceremony?
A formal ritual for preparing and serving tea. This can include matcha rituals, or gong fu style preparation in China or Korea.
Explore our teaware to elevate your tea ceremony
Why is tea important in Chinese culture?
In China, tea is far more than a beverage; it is considered one of the seven daily necessities (alongside rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and firewood) and a cornerstone of Chinese civilization for over 3,000 years. It has cultural roots in Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. It has also been a part of Chinese Traditional Medicine past.
Explore our teaware for your tea ceremony
What is the Japanese tea ceremony?
A ritualized preparation of powdered green tea known as matcha. The ceremony is also guided by four principles (Harmony, Respect, Purity, and Tranquility) established by the tea master Sen no Rikyu in the 16th century. The ceremony usually takes place in a special tea room or small hut with a nijiriguchi, a tiny crawling entrance. Guests must bow and crawl inside, symbolizing humility and equality within the tea room.
Why do people drink tea with milk in the UK?
The fat in milk can soften the astringent flavors of strong black tea.
What foods go with tea?
Honestly, anything, we believe that tea can pair with anything from pastries, biscuits, and cakes to cheeses and sliced meats. You could pair a very umami Japanese green tea with a cheese. Or a smoky sausage with a nice roasted oolong.
Tea Science
Why does tea change color when brewed?
The color change you see when you steep tea leaves is a fascinating bit of organic chemistry involving solubility and the oxidation of polyphenols.
Why does tea stain cups?
Tannins bind to surfaces, leaving residue.
Why does tea form a film on top?
Minerals in the water can react with compounds in the tea.
Why does over-steeping tea make it bitter?
This is caused by the excess tannins being extracted.
Why does tea calm people?
It contains L-theanine, which promotes relaxation.
How does oxidation affect tea flavor?
In the world of tea, oxidation is the chemical reaction between the tea leaf's enzymes (polyphenol oxidase) and oxygen. It is essentially the browning process, the same thing that happens to a sliced fruit when left on the counter. This process is the primary driver behind the change in flavor from vegetal and fresh to sweet and malty.
Variations and Recipes
How do you make matcha?
Place your sifter over the bowl and measure out the matcha (typically 2 grams). Use a spoon to push the powder through. This is the most important step for a smooth frothy matcha. Add just a tiny splash of hot water to the powder and use the whisk to mix it into a thick, smooth paste with no lumps. Pour in your 60-90ml of your 80C/175F water and using your wrist whisk vigorously in a W or M motion for about 10-20 seconds. Slowly lift the whisk as you finish whisking to make fine micro foam.
How do you make chai tea?
Take 4-5 green cardamom pods, a 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, 1 cinnamon stick, and 2 cloves. Give them a rough crush with a mortar and pestle to release the oils. Add the spices to 1 cup of water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the water is fragrant and slightly colored. Add 2 teaspoons of black tea leaves and your desired amount of sugar. Let it simmer for another minute. Pour in 1 cup of milk. Turn the heat back up and watch closely. Pour the tea through a fine-mesh strainer directly into your mugs.
How do you make matcha lattes?
Place your sifter over the bowl and measure out the matcha (typically 2 grams). Use a spoon to push the powder through. This is the most important step for a smooth frothy matcha. Add just a tiny splash of hot water to the powder and use the whisk to mix it into a thick, smooth paste with no lumps. Pour in your 60-90ml of your 80C/175F water and using your wrist whisk vigorously in a W or M motion for about 10-20 seconds. Slowly lift the whisk as you finish whisking to make fine micro foam. Then heat your milk to about 65C/150F. Gently pour the steamed milk into your matcha shot. If you're feeling fancy, you can try some latte art by drawing on it with a chopstick!
Explore all our matcha teas for matcha lattes
Lifestyle Questions
How many cups of tea should you drink per day?
3-4 cups is common and generally safe.
When is the best time to drink tea?
In the morning or afternoon, it is typically recommended to avoid caffeine in the evening. However, if you want a low caffeine tea for the evening, you can try our Kyobancha!
Is tea better than coffee?
Obviously, we believe so, but to be honest, we also love coffee! We believe that tea has a much wider range of flavor and taste profiles possible than coffee. Neither is objectively better it depends on preference and caffeine tolerance.
Is it okay to drink tea every day?
Yes, many people drink tea daily.
Does tea dehydrate you?
No, tea contributes to hydration as it is 98-99% water. Even though it contains caffeine, it is still more hydrating than not.
Can children drink tea?
Yes, but we recommend low-caffeine teas such as our Kyobancha.