There are a variety of teas and varieties that can be divided into six main categories. "Polar" varieties are black and green teas. Oolong, pu-erh tea, white and yellow teas are also distinguished.
Differences between Oolong and Puerh
Oolong and pu-erh teas appeared on the Russian market relatively recently, but are steadily gaining more and more popularity among fans of home "tea ceremonies". There are six types of tea, both oolong and puerh are included in this classification. It can be argued that oolong and pu-erh tea are sort of intermediate stages between black and green teas.
Features of pu-erh
Pu-erh tea is a post-fermented tea made in a specific way: the harvested leaves are processed to the green tea stage, and then subjected to accelerated artificial fermentation. The leaves are piled up, poured over with hot water and covered with bags or cloth. This production process clearly resembles decay, but this is its main difference from the methods of obtaining other types of teas.
A characteristic feature of pu-erh is that as it is stored for a long time, its taste improves.
Pu-erh is sold in pressed form, most often in the form of a semicircle, but there are also curly tea tiles. The aroma of pu-erh is dominated by woody notes. It is recommended to drink this tea with the addition of milk or cream, because with this combination, the whole gamut of pu-erh is perfectly revealed. By the way, in most coffee houses and restaurants, milk or cream is usually offered to pu-erh.
Features of oolong
Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea that, like pu-erh tea, is an intermediate stage between green and black teas. The peculiarity of the production is that the leaves are carefully rolled, trying not to break, and left for several hours in the shade for slow fermentation. Thanks to this technology, the edges of the sheets are dried more than the middle, which is the secret of the rich taste and aroma of oolongs.
By the way, it is the sheets that determine the quality of such tea. If the leaves are fully opened and not broken when brewing, this is evidence of the high quality of the oolong. This type of tea is flavored with natural and artificial extracts of plants and fruits. Flavored oolongs are usually exported, as they prefer to drink teas without additives in China.
Oolong tea is not green tea. This is a separate variety, a kind of "golden mean" between black (red) and green teas.
Key differences between Oolong and Puerh
Oolong and pu-erh are absolutely different, and differ in both production methods and taste. Oolong tastes like a very aromatic, non-acidic green tea. The taste of pu-erh is tart, with a woody aroma. The oolong leaves are neatly curled and the pu-erh is compressed. It is generally accepted that tea itself has tremendous benefits for the body. Both oolong and pu-erh are also very beneficial for humans, as they contain a lot of vitamins, iron, phosphorus, calcium and other substances.
You can buy these types of tea not only in specialized boutiques, but also in many grocery stores. However, it should be understood that the quality and assortment will vary significantly.
