Let the Initiation Begin! All You Need to Know About Tea for Beginners

August 5, 2022

It is a rather unusual state of affairs.

On the surface, tea would seem like an incredibly popular beverage – after all, it is only second to bottled water around the world!

At the same time, there is very little fervor around the drink.

It hasn’t really appeared to catch on like its trendier counterpart, coffee.

Well, this tea for beginners post is going to change all of this for you.

Once you have a proper introduction to tea, you can guarantee that you will never go back!

How to Start Drinking Tea – Get Off on the Right Foot

There is no denying that drinking the right tea for your preference and palate can make tea seem more appetizing.

However, this isn’t the only factor.

Tea can be a rather complex beverage. As such, there are several things that you will need to consider before trying out a particular tea:

Know Your Teas

Tea is an incredibly broad term – there are many different types to choose from.

Thus, your first order of business would be to figure out what kind of tea you are interested in trying out.

Technically, there are two categories of tea: true teas and herbal teas.

True teas are those that are derived from the plant Camellia sinensis. These include white, green, black, and oolong tea.

All true teas contain at least some caffeine.

Herbal teas, on the other hand, can be derived from a number of different edible plants.

They can be brewed using flowers, stems, leaves, roots, and other parts of plants.

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Narrow Down Your Requirements

It is also a good idea to be clear about why you want to drink.

For instance, are you trying to lose weight? Then, it is important to know which tea is most likely to help you.

The same goes for if you are trying to improve your complexion, cure allergies, or help to get better sleep.

Or, are you simply trying to cut down on how much coffee you drink?

Maybe, you are looking for something tasty and refreshing to replace sugar-laden juices and beverages.

Once you have narrowed down what you want to get out of drinking tea, you will find that it is a lot easier to find the perfect option.

girl holding a cup of tea

Start with Loose Leaf Tea for Beginners

There is no denying that tea bags are easy to use, convenient, and are often more affordable as well.

However, it is best for you to start with tea leaves.

For one thing, tea leaves are often grown, selected, and processed more carefully.

Due to this, they are of a higher quality.

Furthermore, loose tea leaves have long, uncut leaves. And, when they are placed in hot water, they have plenty of room to unfurl and release their flavors.

 All in all, loose tea leaves are far tastier and certainly a better introduction to tea.

Now, loose tea leaves aren’t as daunting as you would imagine – you brew them in the same way that you would a tea bag.

The only real difference is that you require an infuser or a strainer to catch the tea leaves.

Know How to Brew Teas Properly

Most people imagine that brewing tea simply involves immersing tea leaves for a while. This isn’t the case at all.

While it is not difficult to brew tea, you do have to be aware of the right method.

For instance, when brewing delicate teas such as white and green tea, you need to use cooler water (below the boiling point).

You should also take care to brew these teas for a shorter period of time. If you fail to do this, you will end up with a bitter drink.

Then, there is also the fact that the quality of water matters. Typically, filtered or bottled water allows for a better tasting brew.

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The Best Tasting Tea for Beginners

Now, let’s take a look at the tea that you should drink depending on your preferences:

Best Tea for Non-Tea Drinkers Who Like Sweet Beverages

If you are have a sweet tooth, but are looking for a healthier alternative, you should consider white tea.

The taste is very subtle and it has a natural sweetness.

In particular, you should try the Tealyra Silver Needle Tea. The sweetness is quite noticeable and the overall flavor is quite delicious.

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Best Tea for People Who Don't Like Tea

If tea is really not your cup of tea, then you are going to need something that is equal parts tasty and complex.

Here, a medium-oxidized oolong should do the trick. With this blend, you are sure to enjoy hints of honey, warm spices, and toasted grain.

A great option for you is The Republic of Tea Milk Oolong tea. It is creamy and has notes of pineapple – you won’t feel like you are drinking tea at all!

pouring a hot cup of tea

Best Tea for Coffee Drinkers

If you are someone who enjoys the pure strength and caffeine kick of coffee, then black tea is the most suitable choice for you.

Here, you can try out Twinings Traditional English Tea. It has a bold and robust flavor that will definitely rival that of coffee.

In case you are looking for something with a similar depth of coffee, you may want to try a more heavily roasted oolong tea.

Best Green Tea for Beginners

Green tea can be a bit of an acquired taste. This is often due to its strong, vegetal notes.

For something a little lighter, though, you should consider Tealyra Imperial Jasmine Dragon Pearls. You will hardly notice that you are drinking green tea.

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These are all the teas that you can try out if you are still acquiring a taste for tea. The main thing, however, is to not give up.

You need time to get used to any new or unusual food and drink. So, don’t write tea off simply because of a few bad experiences.

Instead, test and experiment with different types and flavors until you find one that you truly like.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure to head to our Pinterest page. You can find plenty of other helpful tips on selecting and choosing tea.

About the Author
Dr. Dheena Sadik
Dr. Dheena Sadik is a consultant Nutritionist and Dietician. She has over a decade of experience in the health and fitness industry.
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