Black and green tea are the two most popular varieties of one of the world’s most popular beverages.
Did you know that black and green tea come from the same plant?
Tea is produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis bush. After being harvested, these leaves go through a process which cures and preserves them, keeping them fresh and retaining their delicious flavors and antioxidant properties.
Despite coming from the same plant, black and green teas have different flavors and go through different processes to reach their final product.
First, let’s explain green tea.
Green tea is made from leaves harvested from the plant that are steamed and then dried. This means that they do not undergo an intense heating or crushing process, which preserves the delicate flavors and the mild nature of the tea. The leaves do not undergo oxidation.
Green tea typically has a slightly lower caffeine content and a higher antioxidant content than black tea.
Black tea, on the other hand, is made from leaves that undergo an oxidation process, which produces a stronger flavor and allows the leaves to become dark. This means that black tea has a bit more caffeine than green tea and a stronger flavor.