In the early 16th Century, the Portuguese pioneered a sea voyage past the Cape of Good Hope to the East.  By the 17th Century, vast quantities of Chinese tea were exported to the West.  Tea drinking gradually came into vogue in Portugal, Holland, France and Britain.  Chinese green tea was first exported to the West.  However, the freshness of green tea was adversely affected by the long sea voyage.  Consequently, the Chinese improved the production process of tea with the innovation of black tea.  This type of fully fermented tea can endure a longer duration of shipment.  By the 18th Century, black tea has acquired its position as a national drink in Britain.  In the early 19th Century, the British successfully planted tea in India & Sri Lanka to lower the cost of imported tea from China.  Today, the ranks of major black tea producing and exporting countries have expanded to include India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and South Africa, in addition to China.

The Chinese classification of tea is different from that of the West.  For example, in Chinese, ' tea in red' in Chinese  refers to tea fully fermented which the West call black tea.  'tea in black' in Chinese is in fact what the West call Pu'er tea.  The English version of this website observes the Western way of classification whereas the Chinese version follows the Chinese way of classification).

In fact, in the Chinese way of classification even the same category can be further divided into many species and grades according to the place planted, species of tea, processing and resulting characteristics.   

Green tea
Green tea is a non-fermented tea which retains the freshness of tea leaves. Examples include 'Longjing' produced in Hangzhou of Zhejiang province and 'Biluochun' planted in Taihu district of Jiangsu province.

Green tea is characterized by its green colour, delicate aroma, mellow taste and beautiful shape.  If green tea is making in a glass, people can appreciate the beautiful dancing of the tender tea leaves and buds.  

Normally, green tea is tender and delicate.  In order not to spoil the tea leaves, water at 80 degree celcius is preferred for brewing tender green tea.  

Black tea:

Black tea is a type of fully fermented tea and its infusion has a bright reddish colour.  The two most famous categories are Qimen tea and TianHong tea.

Black tea is characterized by its bright and lustrous colour, fresh flavour and mellow taste.

Black tea (in the western sense) is classified as Tea in Red / Red tea in Chinese while Pu'er tea (in the western sense) is referred as Tea in Black / Black tea in Chinese.　

Pu'er (Bo Lei) tea:

It hails from Pu'er county in the XiShuangbanna region of Yunnan Province in China.  The tea is thus named after Pu'er, its collection and distribution centre.

Besides the round shaped "tea cake", Pu'er tea is compressed into other forms which are known as "tea curl" and "tea brick".  They can be conveniently stored and transported.  The older the Pu'er tea, the more fragrant it is.

Oolong tea
Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea.  After brewing, each tea leaf presents two different colours: the fermented part is reddish and the unfermented part is still green - resulting in "green tea with red edges".

Oolong tea is well known for its delicate fragrance, mellow taste and long lasting sweet aftertaste.

Oolong tea's family includes TieGuanYin (Iron Goddess of Mercy), Rock tea (YanCha),  Single Trunk tea (DanCong) and Oolong from Taiwan. 

White tea
White tea is a light-fermented tea and is characterized by white floss (hairy leaf-buds) on the tea leaves. The most popular one is the "white peony".  White Peony looks like a peony flower, with silver bud in the middle of its green leaves.

White tea give out delicate fragrance with an apricot yellow colour and taste mellow and mild.

Yellow tea

A famous yellow tea is Silver Needle (YinZhen) tea from Junshan.   Silver Needle tea looks lke silver needles with soft fuzz on it and it takes on a glimmering golden colour called "jade set in gold".

Processed tea and other tea types

The most famous processed tea are flower scented and compressed Pu'er tea.  Flower scented tea includes Jasmine tea and rose tea.  Compressed pu'er tea can be found in the form of tea cake,  tea curl and tea brick.

Jasmine tea is characterized by tea flavour as well as the frangrance of jasmine flower.  Top grade Jasmine tea always has enduring fragrance and unforgettable aftertaste.  Jasmine tea is made through scenting tea with fresh flower buds.