IV. Processing of tea

Abstract

There are six types of teas: green, yellow, dark, white, oolong, and black. This classification is based on processing methods, degree of fermentation, and the oxidation of the polyphenols present in tea leaves. The polyphenols in green tea are hardly oxidized, but they are nonenzymatically oxidized in yellow and dark teas. White, oolong, and black teas are fermented, with white having the least and black having the most fermentation. Some variations in processing of these different teas are discussed.