Types of Teas 

Technically teas come from the evergreen tree bush Camellia Sinensis.  Any drink not made from this plant is actually considered an herbal tea. Since Pine Needle Tea comes from an evergreen tree I’m not sure how it will be classified, but it will be interesting to see.

Tea is traditionally classified based on the production technique:

• White tea: non-wilted and non-oxidized 

• Green tea: Wilted and non-oxidized

• Oolong: Wilted, bruised, and partially oxidized

• Black tea: Wilted, crushed, and fully oxidized 

• Post-fermented tea: Green Tea that has been allowed to ferment/compost 

The two teas that we offer are a White Tea and a Green Tea based on production standards. 

White Tea: For White Tea the needles are wild harvested while they are brand new shoots. They are then quickly air-dried to seal in the chemical and nutrient values. White Tea maintains the highest level of antioxidants, polyphenols and vitamins for any of the tea types. The White Tea’s flavor is very light and refreshing.

Green Tea: For Green Tea the needles are picked after they are allowed more maturity. They are then oven fired to reduce the moisture to 5 –10% for storage. They still retain high levels of the polyphenols, catechins and flavonoids for good health.