Which tea should you try? A guide to black, wulong, green, and white teas

With so many teas available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start, especially if you’re new to the tea world. The four big categories of tea from the Camellia sinensis plant are black, wulong, green, and white. Teas are sorted into these categories based on the extent to which the leaves are oxidized during processing. We’ll focus on these big categories to help you get started, but be aware there are additional varieties, as well as countless herbal infusions made from other plants.

Black tea

Common examples of single-origin black teas: Assam, Darjeeling, Ceylon

Common examples of black tea blends: English breakfast, Earl Grey, chai

The most common black teas come from India, Sri Lanka, and China, but other origins such as Japan produce some black teas as well. Black tea appears brown or red when brewed because it’s rich in tannins, which is why many people in the West prefer to drink it with milk and sugar. But if you get a high-quality black tea, it’s likely to be enjoyable enough on its own without anything added in. 

Wulong tea (oolong)

Common examples of single-origin wulong teas: Phoenix (dancong) — many varieties, Iron Goddess of Mercy (tieguanyin), Four Seasons wulong

Common examples of aromatic wulong teas: jasmine wulong, magnolia wulong, peach wulong 

Taiwan is known for producing wulong teas, though they are also grown in China. Wulong is semi-oxidized, which allows for a wide range of tastes and styles. And drinking wulong can be highly cost-effective because the leaves can be steeped and resteeped numerous times — for best results, try using a gaiwan. 

Green tea

Common examples of single-origin green teas: Gunpowder, Dragon Well, sencha

Common examples of aromatic green teas and blends: jasmine pearls, genmaicha, Moroccan mint

Most green teas come from China or Japan. After drying, they can be processed many different ways, such as roasting, pan-frying, or steaming, all yielding a wide range of tastes and appearances. Many people choose to drink green teas for their health benefits. 

White tea

Common examples of single-origin white teas: Silver Needle, White Peony, Moonlight White

Common examples of aromatic white teas: Jasmine silver needle, peach white tea, white/green blend

White tea does not go through heat-based processing after it is dried and rolled, so it has a delicate flavor and is packed with antioxidants and vitamin E. White tea tends to be more expensive than other types because there is only a short window of time each season that it can be harvested, and the harvest is labor-intensive.