People thank me. A desire for a lower-stress, healthier lifestyle and increasing interest in Asian cuisine may explain the growing popularity of tea. Variations in the leaf drying and fermentation process produces the three main types of tea. Highly fermented black teas produce a dark reddish-brown brew and assertive flavor. Green tea, favored among Asians, is produced from unfermented leaves and produces a greenish-yellow tea with a slightly bitter flavor that's closer to the taste of the fresh leaf.
Oolong tea is made from partially fermented leaves.
Herbal tea is not a true tea, but rather an infusion of various herbs, flowers and spices, usually called a tisane. That fact, and the compulsory 3 to 5 minutes of contemplation, may make tea an exacting yet rewarding beverage.