Discover 30 Types of Tea with caffeine content

When we discuss tea, there’s more than meets the eye. From cozy afternoon rituals to centuries-old traditions, each cup tells a story. We don’t have to wander around in search of tea types.

How many types of tea are there?

From robust to delicate, various fundamental tea types fill our cups. These include Black tea, Green tea, Rooibos, Oolong, and a delightful blend of Herbal tea infused with various spices. So, pick up your cherished teapot and embark on a global exploration of diverse tea varieties.

Black Tea

Type: Also known as “red tea” in China, black tea is the darkest and boldest.
Origin: It originated in China.
First Introduced: Black tea has been known in China since around 2700 BCE.
Features: Black tea is commonly enjoyed as a daily beverage. It is the most significant type of tea. Chai tea, bubble tea and milk tea are the most famous types using black tea as their base.
Benefits: It’s rich in antioxidants and may have potential health benefits, including heart health improvement, enhanced focus, lower risk of stroke, and anti-cancer properties.
Caffeine content: 45-50 mg in an 8-ounce cup

White Tea

Type: White tea has incredibly light oxidation.
Origin: It also comes from China.
First Introduced: White tea gained prominence later, but its exact introduction date is not well-documented.
Features: White tea is delicate and subtly flavored. It’s known for its potential antioxidant properties and gentle taste.
Benefits: This tea is perfect for weight loss, cancer, and heart problems. It has anti-aging properties and is suitable for skin problems.
Caffeine content: 6-55 mg in an 8-ounce cup ^[1]

green tea

Type: Green tea undergoes minimal oxidation, preserving its natural green color.
Origin: China and Japan are significant producers of green tea.
First Introduced: Around 800 CE, the first tea seeds were brought to Japan.
Features: It is the best source of antioxidants and flavinoids.
Benefits: Green tea is celebrated for its health benefits, including boosting metabolism, aiding weight loss, and reducing stress and anxiety. It helps in promoting overall well-being.
Caffeine content: 30-50 mg in an 8-ounce cup

Oolong Tea

Type: Oolong tea falls between green and black tea in terms of oxidation.
Origin: Oolong tea has roots in China and Taiwan (formerly Formosa).
First Introduced: Chinese from Amoy brought tea cultivation to Taiwan around 1810.
Features: Oolong tea is known for its complex flavors. It has properties of green and black tea.
Benefits: This tea type helps with weight management, cognition, and heart health ^[2]. It is also perfect for bones and teeth.
Caffeine content: 30-50 mg in an 8-ounce cup

Yellow Tea

Type: Yellow tea is rare and produced after the sweltering of green tea.
Origin: Originates from China.
First Introduced: Somewhere in China. It shares similarities with green tea processing.
Features: This type of tea is prized for its unique flavor profile and potential health properties.
Benefits: It is suitable for diabetes, digestion, stress reduction, increasing appetite, and body detoxification, and it is also beneficial for skin and heart problems.
Caffeine content: 55-70 mg in an 8-ounce cup

Pu-erh Tea

Type: Pu erh (pu’er / pu-erh) is a post-fermented tea type. It is obtained after wet-piling of dried tea leaves.
Origin: It comes from China’s Yunnan province.
First Introduced: Pu’erh has a long history, but its widespread recognition began later in other parts of China.
Features: Pu-erh is often aged. Sold as cakes or in loose form.
Benefits: It provides probiotics that help you lose weight and maintain your appetite, Stop cancer growth, control cholesterol levels, and help reduce liver fats.
Caffeine Content: 30-100 mg in a standard cup _^[3]

Rooibos Tea

Type: Rooibos (aspalathus linearis or red bush) tea is an herbal infusion produced from the fermentation of leaves.
Origin: It hails from the Cederberg region in South Africa.
First Introduced: Rooibos has been consumed by indigenous people in South Africa for centuries.
Features: Rooibos is known for its soothing properties and is often enjoyed as a calming evening beverage. It is naturally sweet and tastes like nuts.
Benefits: anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, helps lower blood pressure by removing bad cholesterol, helps strengthen bones, reduces wrinkles, and decreases issues related to digestion.
Caffeine content: No caffeine

Herbal Tea

Type: Herbal teas encompass infusions made from various plants (not Camellia sinensis).
Origin: Herbal teas are cultivated globally, depending on the herb or plant.
First Introduced: Herbal teas have diverse origins, but their use dates back to ancient civilizations.
Features: Herbal teas have diverse aromas and tastes, depending on the herbs used.
Benefits: Each herbal tea has unique benefits. For example:
Chamomile: Promotes relaxation and aids sleep.
Peppermint: Refreshing and aids digestion.
Lemon balm: Calming and uplifting.
Caffeine content: No caffeine

Matcha Tea

Type: Matcha is a powdered green tea.
Origin: Japan, specifically the Uji region.
First Introduced: Matcha has been part of Japanese tea ceremonies since the 12th century.
Features: Matcha is whisked into a frothy drink. Very aromatic and has a vibrant look. Does not have a bitter taste like most other tea types.
Benefits: It’s rich in antioxidants and provides sustained energy without the jitters.
Caffeine content: 40-180 mg per 8-fl oz serving

Assam Tea

Type: Assam tea is a robust black tea.
Origin: Assam, India.
First Introduced: Discovered in the hills along the frontier between Burma and the Indian state of Assam in 1824.
Features: Assam tea is bold, malty, and often used in breakfast blends like English Breakfast.
Benefits: It has all the benefits of black tea, like increased alertness, improved immunity, improved heart and brain health, and good for skin and digestive issues.
Caffeine content: 40-70 mg per cup

Darjeeling Tea

Type: Darjeeling tea is a delicate black tea.
Origin: Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts(Himalayan foothills) of West Bengal, India.
First Introduced: Introduced in the mid-19th century.
Features: Known as the “Champagne of Teas,” Darjeeling tea has an intricate and complex flavor profile. It is less bitter than other teas, with a sweet, fruity, and earthy taste. Darjeeling has floral and muscatel flavors.
Color: The tea typically ranges from golden yellow to amber, orange, or brown.
Benefits: It helps protect tooth enamel, promotes relaxation and reduces stress, and boosts metabolism.
Caffeine content:100-120 mg in standard cup

Lapsang Souchong

Type: Lapsang Souchong tea is a unique black tea known for its smoky flavor. It is achieved by rolling, oxidizing, and fire-drying the tea leaves over aromatic pinewood.
Origin: Wuyi Mountains, China.
First Introduced: Around the 17th century.
Features: It has a bold and comforting texture. Its smoky aroma and flavor make it unique. It is often enjoyed with savory dishes.
Benefits: This tea type contains antioxidants for a quick boost of energy. Benefits of caffeine include adrenaline boost, metabolic boost, mood enhancement, and mental alertness.
Caffeine content: 40-60 mg per 8-oz cup.

Nilgiri Tea

Type: Nilgiri tea is a fragrant black tea.
Origin: Nilgiri Hills, India.
First Introduced: Introduced during British colonial rule.
Features: Nilgiri tea is versatile and suitable for hot and iced consumption. It is renowned for its brisk and fragrant flavor. It offers a delicate yet robust taste with floral undertones and hints of fruitiness. Smooth and less astringent compared to other black teas.Ideal for both hot and cold consumption; perfect for iced tea.
Benefits: Rich in antioxidants (flavonoids and catechins) combat oxidative stress and inflammation. Nilgiri tea promotes digestive health by stimulating the digestive system, alleviating bloating, indigestion, and constipation. Boosts metabolism and provides an active lifestyle.
Caffeine content: 40-80 mg per 8-fl oz serving.

Sencha tea

Type: Sencha is a steamed green tea.
Origin: Japan.
First Introduced: Popularized during the Edo period (17th century).
Features: Sencha has different varieties, such as Shincha, Asamushi, Chumushi, Fukamushi, and powdered Sencha. Each variety has its unique taste and feel. Sencha tea has a grassy, vegetal flavor; It is the most popular tea in Japan.
Benefits: It has Antioxidant Properties, increases alertness, improves physical performance, strengthens the immune system, and improves digestion.
Caffeine content: 12-75 mg per unit serving.

Gyokuro (jade dew) Tea

Type: Gyokuro is a shade-grown green tea.
Origin: Japan.
First Introduced: Developed in the early 19th century. Considered as the finest green teas of Japan.
Features: Gyokuro offers a sweet and mellow flavor with a hint of umami. Its deep green color and delicate aroma make it truly special. It’s considered a luxury tea.
Benefits: It combats oxidative stress and supports overall well-being. Theanine content promotes relaxation and mental clarity. It may enhance metabolism and contribute to fat burning.
Caffeine content: Approximately 40-60 mg per 8-fluid ounce.

Longjing (Dragon’s Well) Tea

Type: Green tea.
Origin: Grown in the West Lake region of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China.
First Introduced: With a history of over 1,500 years, its exact origin is unclear.
Features: Dragon’s Well tea is renowned for its delicate flavor and exceptional quality. It has fruity-tasting notes with vegetal base tones similar to spinach, enhanced by flavors like chestnut and rich cream.
Benefits: It has high antioxidant content due to catechins, which neutralize free radicals from the body. Free radicals cause aging, inflammation, and various chronic diseases. It reduces bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglyceride levels. Improve cognitive function and memory. Strengthens the immune system. It plays a crucial role in maintaining overall immune health. It also reduces Stress and Anxiety. Protect your skin from the harmful effects of environmental pollution and UV radiation.
Caffeine content: 60-80 mg of caffeine per cup.

Hojicha

Type: Roasted green tea.
Origin: Japan.
First Introduced: Developed in the 1920s.
Features: Hojicha has a mild, aromatic, roasted, nutty, slightly sweet, and woody flavor. Its Intensity varies based on the roasting level, which is lighter if made from Bancha but can be more intense if made from Sencha. It’s often enjoyed after meals or in the evening.
Benefits: It helps promote calmness and stress relief. It has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties and is also rich in antioxidants.
Caffeine content: 2 – 60 mg per unit serving.

Baihao Yinzhen (White Hair Silver Needle)

Type: White tea.
Origin: China (Fujian province).
First Introduced: Ancient times.
Features: Silver Needle consists of young, unopened tea buds. It brews into a delicate, sweet infusion with floral notes.
Benefits: Consuming this tea helps manage weight and boosts overall energy levels by enhancing metabolism. It provides better cellular health by reducing free radicals. It has anti-inflammatory properties and also improves oral health. It also lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It improves lipid profiles and reduces cholesterol levels. Tea also provides a strong defense against infections and illness.
Caffeine content: 6-55 mg per cup.

Bancha Tea

Type: Green tea.
Origin: Japan.
First Introduced: Traditional tea in Japan.
Features: Bancha is an everyday tea with a mild flavor with notes of warm wood, cereal, and citrus. It’s often served with meals.
Benefits: It helps to improve cardiovascular health, provides digestive aid, is antioxidant-rich, and lowers bad cholesterol.
Caffeine content: 0-10 mg caffeine per 8-oz serving.

Keemun Tea

Type: Black tea.
Origin: China (Qimen County, Anhui province).
First Introduced: Late 19th century.
Features: Often called the “Burgundy of teas,” Keemun offers a layered taste experience. Its flavor is characterized by earthy notes with spice hints and cocoa undertones. It can be enjoyed as a great breakfast tea.
Benefits: Keemun contains antioxidants that improve overall health. It boosts the immune system and strengthens the defenses. It improves lipid profile and lifts energy levels.
Caffeine content: 40-80 mg per serving.

Gunpowder Tea

Type: Green tea.
Origin: West Lake, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
First Introduced: Dates back to the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE).
Features: Gunpowder tea consists of tightly rolled leaves resembling gunpowder pellets. It brews into a strong, robust cup with a slightly smoky flavor. They are often used in Moroccan mint tea.
Benefits: Gunpowder contains theanine that calms your mind and keeps you relaxed. It has antioxidants that don’t let your cells get damaged from stress. It also helps lift your mood and eradicate digestive issues.
Caffeine content: 35-40 mg per 8-fl oz cup

Genmaicha (Brown Rice Tea)

Type: Green tea blended with roasted brown rice.
Origin: Japan.
First Introduced: Originated in the 15th century.
Features: Genmaicha has a nutty, toasty flavor due to the roasted rice. It’s a popular everyday tea in Japan.
Benefits: It has the same benefits as gunpowder tea ( calming, relaxing, energy booster, anti-inflammatory)
Caffeine content: 20-30 mg of caffeine per standard serving.

White Peony (Bai Mu Dan)

Type: White tea.
Origin: Hails from China’s Fujian province, where it has been produced for over a century.
First Introduced: Ancient times.
Features: White Peony tea offers a delicate, fruity flavor with vegetal undertones.
Benefits: Rich in polyphenols, this type of tea combats free radicals, reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Bai Mu Dan tea helps reduce heart issues by removing bad cholesterol from the bloodstream. It also has additional benefits that help your skin retain its glow by reducing aging effects like wrinkles and other associated conditions. Other pros include reducing bloating and indigestion.
Caffeine content: 20-30 mg in an ounce.

Gong Mei

Type: White tea made from the Da Bai subvariety of Tea tree.
Origin: Mainly grown in Fujian and Guangxi provinces, China.
First Introduced: Developed later than Bai Mu Dan (White Peony).
Features: Gong Mei has a more robust flavor and slightly darker (golden yellow) liquor than Bai Mu Dan. You will get undernotes of pitted fruits and some hint of soft grassy tones.
Benefits: Consuming this tea, you will get metabolic equilibrium and nutritional benefits, including micronutrients and essential minerals. This tea is rich in catechins and flavonoids to reduce stress and bring calmness.
Caffeine content: 20-30 mg in an 8-ounce cup.

Shou Mei

Type: Made from White tea with a flavor reminiscent of lighter oolong teas.
Origin: Grown in Fujian and Guangxi provinces, China.
First Introduced: Ancient times.
Features: Shou Mei has a smooth and light flavor with honey, dates, and cinnamon undertones. Its liquor is amber-yellow. This tea has enhanced quality compared to gong mei tea due to larger leaves and fewer buds.
Benefits: This tea type has the goodness of antioxidants and micronutrients. Tea also contains vital minerals, which gives it a nutritional edge without additional calories.
Caffeine content: 20-30 mg in an 8-ounce cup.

Dan Cong (Phoenix Oolong)

Type: Oolong tea.
Origin: Guangdong province, China, specifically in the Phoenix Mountains (Fenghuangshan).
First Introduced: Originated around the end of the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
Features: Dan Cong oolongs are complex and fragrant, with long, twisted leaves. They’re known for their floral aromas and unique flavors.
Benefits: Phoenix Oolong tea helps improve memory, resilience, and heart health. It also strengthens your body and increases cognition.
Caffeine content: in between green and black tea

Ti Kuan Yin (Iron Goddess of Mercy)

Type: Oolong tea.
Origin: Fujian province, China.
First Introduced: Ancient times.
Features: Ti Kuan Yin is lightly oxidized and is either roasted or consumed without additional processing. It falls in the tea type much closer to green tea than dark tea. It has a fruity aroma with natural sweetness. Nutty and toasty notes are added if you use the roasted variety in this type of tea.
Benefits: This type of tea has anti-allergic properties and is beneficial for skin problems. It can be used for weight loss and strengthening bones. Anti-cancer and anti-aging qualities also make it a unique choice. It is also used for the prevention of caries and to maintain insulin levels.
Caffeine content: 20-50 mg in a cup

Sheng Tea (Raw Puerh)

Type: Puerh tea (fermented tea).
Origin: Yunnan province, China.
First Introduced: Ancient times.
Features: Unlike other tea types, Sheng tea is consumed after aging. The aging process enhances the flavor and aroma over time. Raw Puerh has floral, woody, grassy, and fruity notes. Better quality of tea depends on factors such as the age of the tea, leaf size, and processing quality.
Benefits: Fermentation develops healthy bacteria in the tea and helps preserve beneficial enzymes and nutrients; as a result, fermenting drinks are very good for health. Other benefits include digestive aid, weight management, anti-aging, stress removal, and heart health.
Caffeine content: 30-40 mg per cup

Ripe Puerh (Aged Puerh)

Type: Puerh tea (fermented tea).
Origin: Yunnan province, China.
First Introduced: Ancient times.
Features: Ripe Puerh undergoes accelerated fermentation. It has a dark, earthy flavor and is often aged for decades.
Benefits: It has advantages such as weight management, cholesterol reduction, digestive aid, cancer inhibition, and liver health improvement.
Caffeine content: 50-90 mg in 8-fl oz

Huang Ya Cha (Yellow Buds Tea)

Type: Yellow tea.
Origin: China.
First Introduced: About 1000 years ago.
Features: Huang Ya Cha is rare and delicate, with a mellow flavor. It’s made from young tea buds.
Benefits: Yellow bud tea is suitable for stress reduction, appetite enhancer, detoxifier, heart health-friendly, diabetes, and digestion.
Caffeine content: 20-30 mg in a cup

Milk Oolong (Jin Xuan)

Type: Oolong tea.
Origin: Created in Taiwan in the 1980s by crossbreeding tea plants.
First Introduced: 1980s.
Features: Milk Oolong is famous for its creamy aroma and unique flavor. It’s a cultivar with a sweet, buttery taste.
Benefits: Using Jin Xuan in your routine will enhance your digestive health, heart health, physiological health, and overall well-being.
Caffeine content: 25-35 mg in an 8-ounce cup.

FAQ: Types of tea

What Tea Makes Your Face Glow?

Green tea is often associated with skin benefits due to its antioxidants.

Does Tea Whiten Skin?

No specific tea directly whitens the skin, but antioxidants in tea may promote overall skin health.

Can I Drink tea on an Empty Stomach?

It’s generally safe, but some people may experience acidity. In every case, you should watch the tolerance levels and check for any inconsistent symptoms, such as caffeine sensitivity.

Why Do I Feel Sleepy After Drinking Tea?

Tea contains theanine, which can promote relaxation and drowsiness. The caffeine content in tea may also promote dehydration, which may cause restlessness and fatigue.

Conclusion

Regular tea consumption has been linked to reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. The moderate caffeine content in tea can enhance focus and alertness. Herbal teas like peppermint or ginger can soothe digestion.

With a wide range of flavors and types, tea offers something for everyone. Excessive caffeine intake can lead to insomnia, anxiety, and restlessness. Dark teas, like black tea, can stain teeth. While tea hydrates, caffeinated varieties may have a mild diuretic effect. Some herbal teas may interact with medications.

In summary, each tea type has unique characteristics and potential health perks. Consider your preferences, health needs, and tolerance to caffeine when choosing your cup of tea!