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Most people don't realize that most varieties of tea come from the same plant https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia_sinensis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Came

Most people don't realize that most varieties of tea come from the same plant https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia_sinensis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia_sinensis Your question is still a good one, but hoping the above context makes the "so tea as a blanket category just... works?" less absurd.

pkaye 7y ago
We don't know if the processing steps for green tea vs black tea removes or adds to the beneficial quantities.
- hinkley 7y ago
  Accidentally took a workshop on this at a tea festival a number of years back. Turns out the “fermenting” of tea is mostly self contained. Autolysis, I think might be the word? If you recall that caffeine is an insecticide this makes sense. The caffeine is stored as a time bomb waiting for some insect to chew. Mastication mixes the caffeine crystals and the enzymes already present in the leaf, which then render it soluble and bang, dead insect. To process tea you just need to activate the enzymes the right amount at the right temperatures, and then dry the leaves before they can rot. If you get a proper oolong loose leaf, and let it steep long enough, you will find what looks like whole leaves in your cup. Not unlike those little dinosaur sponges they sell to kids. Just add water.
dharma1 7y ago
You can also grow it yourself. Just bought 2 plants
- trickstra 7y ago
  Interesting, can you realistically get good results from that when growing it in mild climate like US or Europe? Indoor? Greenhouse?
  - dharma1 7y ago
    Yes. There are now a small number of tea plantations in the UK from Cornwall to Scotland. All outdoors https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/tea-plantation-uk-first-cornwall-how-why-tregothnan-truro-a7972351.html https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/tea-... Even one in Sweden - https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=6756848 https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&ar... It takes about 3-5 years to first harvest though

pkaye 7y ago

We don't know if the processing steps for green tea vs black tea removes or adds to the beneficial quantities.

hinkley 7y ago
Accidentally took a workshop on this at a tea festival a number of years back. Turns out the “fermenting” of tea is mostly self contained. Autolysis, I think might be the word? If you recall that caffeine is an insecticide this makes sense. The caffeine is stored as a time bomb waiting for some insect to chew. Mastication mixes the caffeine crystals and the enzymes already present in the leaf, which then render it soluble and bang, dead insect. To process tea you just need to activate the enzymes the right amount at the right temperatures, and then dry the leaves before they can rot. If you get a proper oolong loose leaf, and let it steep long enough, you will find what looks like whole leaves in your cup. Not unlike those little dinosaur sponges they sell to kids. Just add water.

dharma1 7y ago

You can also grow it yourself. Just bought 2 plants

trickstra 7y ago
Interesting, can you realistically get good results from that when growing it in mild climate like US or Europe? Indoor? Greenhouse?
- dharma1 7y ago
  Yes. There are now a small number of tea plantations in the UK from Cornwall to Scotland. All outdoors https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/tea-plantation-uk-first-cornwall-how-why-tregothnan-truro-a7972351.html https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/tea-... Even one in Sweden - https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=6756848 https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&ar... It takes about 3-5 years to first harvest though