Are green tea, white tea and red tea from the same plant?

(Published on 23 May 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

It’s wonderful to receive your fan mail. Thank you for taking out time for me from your boring monotonous lives. Spike up your day to day routine. Look for a mentor (I mean a Miss Know-All)… and things will never be dull any more.

A friend asked – if the ‘Know-All’ title was restricted only to the fairer sex. I hate to admit this one – but the world does have its fair share of Mr Know-All’s. Look around you. That ‘smart alecky’ colleague who thinks he’s God’s gift to mankind – or is it womankind! That obnoxious guy at the bar who thinks he’s a connoisseur on wines. That geek in college who rattled off formulas and the price of the oil barrel… suddenly the world seems full of my kind. The competition doesn’t ruffle me. It’s a tough world out there but I’m made of sterner stuff. From insufferable male friends to ridiculous fashion trends I have an answer for everything.

Let’s have a drink on that happy note. Iced tea anyone? Which by the way leads me on to my next question – are green tea, white tea and red tea from the same plant?

Drinking herbal teas has become a fad all over again. Green tea, white tea and red tea have become very popular over the last few years. The whole world is going gaga about their health benefits. But how are they different? Green tea and white tea come from the same plant. Like black tea they are considered ‘true’ teas. The differences in colour, flavour and antioxidant content come from differences in the harvesting and processing of the leaves. Both green tea and white tea have very mild flavours. White tea gives a very pale straw-coloured liquor and like green tea should be drunk without milk. All teas contain antioxidants that are believed to have numerous health benefits.

The teas produced in different areas have their own individual characteristics. Low-grown teas, produced at the foothills give good colour and strength but lack the distinctive flavour of the higher-grown teas. These are usually used in blending. Mid-grown teas, grown between 1,800 and 3,500 feet, are rich in flavour and give good colour. High-grown teas, from heights of between 3,500 and 7,500 feet, are the very best giving a lovely golden liquor and an intense powerful flavour.

Red tea, on the other hand, comes from a plant which grows in the mountains north of Cape Town, South Africa. Red tea has a sweeter, fruitier flavour than white and green tea and has different antioxidants than those present in green tea and white tea because it comes from a different plant.

You must be knowing that Sri Lanka is the 3rd largest tea producing country globally, and one of the world's leading exporters of tea. But did you know that the tea sector in Sri Lanka is the country's largest employer providing employment both directly and indirectly to over one million people. Let us raise a toast ( in this case - our tea cups ) in appreciation of those numerous people who help bring this morning ‘cuppa cheer’ to us every single day.

Salut! Slainte! Cheers!

Miss Know-All
wow@dailymirror.wnl.lk


PS: Salut and Slainte are Spanish and Scottish respectively for the word – Cheers! Could not leave without spreading some more light! J