I went to brooklyn Ten Ren yesterday and bought some white tea and an
oolong (that tastes more like gunpowder green). The nice lady gave me a
scan of a ny times story about tea. It said there are 3000 types of tea.
Is that true? Are most of them perceptibly different? (more so than
different harvest of the same type)?

-AK

AK wrote in message thlink.net...
I went to brooklyn Ten Ren yesterday and bought some white tea and an
oolong (that tastes more like gunpowder green). The nice lady gave me a
scan of a ny times story about tea. It said there are 3000 types of tea.
Is that true? Are most of them perceptibly different? (more so than
different harvest of the same type)?

-AK

Dear AK:

I already spent a long amount of time with Tea and I still ask myself
the same question. I am drinking tea from my childhood but for the
last 7 years I have been seriously drinking tea with some basic
background. For the last 1 and a half years I am crazily drinking and
working on tea. 3,000 types,humm. I don't think so. I have been told
the same thing(3,ooo types) by many tea experts. But when I asked
them to give me a full list, believe me -- none of them could provide
me the list. Then I went throught extensive research and so far my
list couldn't climb up even near 3,000. But there is a possibility of
this fact of 3,000 type. For example:-

Chinese KEEMUN can be named like- Keemun Mao feng, Keemun Hao Ya A,
Keemun Hao ya B,Keemun Hao Ya Grade C, Chi-Men, Fowliang,Keemun China
Black Grade 1132, Keemun China Black grade 1143, Keemun Congue, Keemun
First grade, Keemun Grand TGFOP, Keemun Ning Hong Ying Hao,Keemun OP,
Keemun premium, keemun superior, keemun Imperial, Keemun mao feng Wiry
Congou, Keemun Ning Chow bla. bla. bla...

About Chinese Gunpowder green tea:- Gunpowder green teas are known by
their district-Tienkai Gunpowder, Moyune Gunpowder, Hunan Gunpowder,
Fukien Gunpowder etc. Also sometimes Gunpowder is graded by numbers.
Its all very confusing.

Think of Oolong:-Famous Ti Kwan Yin- 1st grade, Elegant queen,
K100,Monkey picked,Special grade,Spring floral,Superior,Sweet lady,Tei
Baoota,Top Confou....

So you see in this way I believe there can be even more then 3,000
types. There are also different types of teas from Srilanka, India,
Bangladesh, Nepal,Japan,Taiwan,Indoneshia,Kenya many other countries.

Last year while I was having a glass of exotic Thai iced tea, I asked
the tea master, where that tea came from. For my basic Thai language
knowledge with his kind help, I was able to visit Chang-rai(The tea
estate area in Thailand by the golden triangle. I found out they grow
6 types of Oolong, the red tea used in Thai ice tea and also some
green tea. I was surprised to see the varities.

Basically there are three types of tea -- black, oolong, and green.
But now white and yellow teas are available too not to mention so many
blends.

But now come back to the reality- TASTE, I don't think there are 3,000
varities of taste. Like all those exotically named Keemuns taste quite
the same, the differences are some are more smokey, fruity,richer
aroma. But yes some are really exceptionaly tasty, such as-Keemun mao
Feng, Hao Ya A or Hao Ya B. For your information, there are also
Keemun Mao Feng green.

So far I have been able to compile 180 types of Chinese black tea, 179
types of Chinese green tea, and 147 types of Chinese Oolong tea. There
are also similar lists (though not as extensive) from India,Srilanka,
Bangladesh, Indonesia, etc.

Enjoy your cup of tea.

Ripon
(From Bangladesh)

On 31 Oct 2003, AK posted the following to rec.food.drink.tea:

I went to brooklyn Ten Ren yesterday and bought some white tea
and an oolong (that tastes more like gunpowder green). The nice
lady gave me a scan of a ny times story about tea. It said there
are 3000 types of tea. Is that true? Are most of them
perceptibly different? (more so than different harvest of the
same type)?

I think the numbers get artificially inflated. There is a lot of
variety, but it's easy to inflate the number of variations when you
mix and match:

* Country of origin
* Region of origin
* geography of estate
* Type of tea
* grade of leaf
* season of harvest
* method of harvest
* blending and additives.

Plus any variety of teas flavored with orange, plum, black
currants, or mangos.

Several references I've seen argue that there are 3 basic types of
tea (black, green and oolong), and claim that the "over 3000
types" of tea come from variations of those three.

I guess "white" is considered "light green."

Derek

--

Count Dracula was a phoebophobe.

In article , Ripon wrote:
AK wrote in message thlink.net...
I went to brooklyn Ten Ren yesterday and bought some white tea and an
oolong (that tastes more like gunpowder green). The nice lady gave me a
scan of a ny times story about tea. It said there are 3000 types of tea.
Is that true? Are most of them perceptibly different? (more so than
different harvest of the same type)?

-AK

Dear AK:

I already spent a long amount of time with Tea and I still ask myself
the same question. I am drinking tea from my childhood but for the
last 7 years I have been seriously drinking tea with some basic
background. For the last 1 and a half years I am crazily drinking and
working on tea. 3,000 types,humm. I don't think so. I have been told
the same thing(3,ooo types) by many tea experts. But when I asked
them to give me a full list, believe me -- none of them could provide
me the list. Then I went throught extensive research and so far my
list couldn't climb up even near 3,000. But there is a possibility of
this fact of 3,000 type. For example:-

Chinese KEEMUN can be named like- Keemun Mao feng, Keemun Hao Ya A,
Keemun Hao ya B,Keemun Hao Ya Grade C, Chi-Men, Fowliang,Keemun China
Black Grade 1132, Keemun China Black grade 1143, Keemun Congue, Keemun
First grade, Keemun Grand TGFOP, Keemun Ning Hong Ying Hao,Keemun OP,
Keemun premium, keemun superior, keemun Imperial, Keemun mao feng Wiry
Congou, Keemun Ning Chow bla. bla. bla...

About Chinese Gunpowder green tea:- Gunpowder green teas are known by
their district-Tienkai Gunpowder, Moyune Gunpowder, Hunan Gunpowder,
Fukien Gunpowder etc. Also sometimes Gunpowder is graded by numbers.
Its all very confusing.

Think of Oolong:-Famous Ti Kwan Yin- 1st grade, Elegant queen,
K100,Monkey picked,Special grade,Spring floral,Superior,Sweet lady,Tei
Baoota,Top Confou....

So you see in this way I believe there can be even more then 3,000
types. There are also different types of teas from Srilanka, India,
Bangladesh, Nepal,Japan,Taiwan,Indoneshia,Kenya many other countries.

Last year while I was having a glass of exotic Thai iced tea, I asked
the tea master, where that tea came from. For my basic Thai language
knowledge with his kind help, I was able to visit Chang-rai(The tea
estate area in Thailand by the golden triangle. I found out they grow
6 types of Oolong, the red tea used in Thai ice tea and also some
green tea. I was surprised to see the varities.

Basically there are three types of tea -- black, oolong, and green.
But now white and yellow teas are available too not to mention so many
blends.

But now come back to the reality- TASTE, I don't think there are 3,000
varities of taste. Like all those exotically named Keemuns taste quite
the same, the differences are some are more smokey, fruity,richer
aroma. But yes some are really exceptionaly tasty, such as-Keemun mao
Feng, Hao Ya A or Hao Ya B. For your information, there are also
Keemun Mao Feng green.

So far I have been able to compile 180 types of Chinese black tea, 179
types of Chinese green tea, and 147 types of Chinese Oolong tea. There
are also similar lists (though not as extensive) from India,Srilanka,
Bangladesh, Indonesia, etc.

Enjoy your cup of tea.

Ripon
(From Bangladesh)

Thanks Ripon, Derek.. That's what I thought, too, but I was curious
still :-)

-AK

I'd base the number of tea types on the number of plantations whatever that
number is and 3000 doesn't seem out of range for a world count. For example
two darjeelings from two adjacent plantations would have a discernable taste
difference at least for a tea taster. I also expect any two commerical
brands of a tea type to taste different. Actually there is only one tea
plant and what we know to be the difference is based on soil, climate,
processing, etc. The taste of tea will vary from cup too cup when all
things stay the same which is a bottom line no other beverage can match.
Instead of another book on the tea trade how about something about the
psychology of tea drinking. I think there is something too the fortune
teller and tea leaves. I can't tell you how many times I make tea and
dejavu or have premonitions.

Jim

"Ripon" wrote in message
om...
AK wrote in message
thlink.net...
I went to brooklyn Ten Ren yesterday and bought some white tea and an
oolong (that tastes more like gunpowder green). The nice lady gave me a
scan of a ny times story about tea. It said there are 3000 types of tea.
Is that true? Are most of them perceptibly different? (more so than
different harvest of the same type)?

-AK

Dear AK:

I already spent a long amount of time with Tea and I still ask myself
the same question. I am drinking tea from my childhood but for the
last 7 years I have been seriously drinking tea with some basic
background. For the last 1 and a half years I am crazily drinking and
working on tea. 3,000 types,humm. I don't think so. I have been told
the same thing(3,ooo types) by many tea experts. But when I asked
them to give me a full list, believe me -- none of them could provide
me the list. Then I went throught extensive research and so far my
list couldn't climb up even near 3,000. But there is a possibility of
this fact of 3,000 type. For example:-

Chinese KEEMUN can be named like- Keemun Mao feng, Keemun Hao Ya A,
Keemun Hao ya B,Keemun Hao Ya Grade C, Chi-Men, Fowliang,Keemun China
Black Grade 1132, Keemun China Black grade 1143, Keemun Congue, Keemun
First grade, Keemun Grand TGFOP, Keemun Ning Hong Ying Hao,Keemun OP,
Keemun premium, keemun superior, keemun Imperial, Keemun mao feng Wiry
Congou, Keemun Ning Chow bla. bla. bla...

About Chinese Gunpowder green tea:- Gunpowder green teas are known by
their district-Tienkai Gunpowder, Moyune Gunpowder, Hunan Gunpowder,
Fukien Gunpowder etc. Also sometimes Gunpowder is graded by numbers.
Its all very confusing.

Think of Oolong:-Famous Ti Kwan Yin- 1st grade, Elegant queen,
K100,Monkey picked,Special grade,Spring floral,Superior,Sweet lady,Tei
Baoota,Top Confou....

So you see in this way I believe there can be even more then 3,000
types. There are also different types of teas from Srilanka, India,
Bangladesh, Nepal,Japan,Taiwan,Indoneshia,Kenya many other countries.

Last year while I was having a glass of exotic Thai iced tea, I asked
the tea master, where that tea came from. For my basic Thai language
knowledge with his kind help, I was able to visit Chang-rai(The tea
estate area in Thailand by the golden triangle. I found out they grow
6 types of Oolong, the red tea used in Thai ice tea and also some
green tea. I was surprised to see the varities.

Basically there are three types of tea -- black, oolong, and green.
But now white and yellow teas are available too not to mention so many
blends.

But now come back to the reality- TASTE, I don't think there are 3,000
varities of taste. Like all those exotically named Keemuns taste quite
the same, the differences are some are more smokey, fruity,richer
aroma. But yes some are really exceptionaly tasty, such as-Keemun mao
Feng, Hao Ya A or Hao Ya B. For your information, there are also
Keemun Mao Feng green.

So far I have been able to compile 180 types of Chinese black tea, 179
types of Chinese green tea, and 147 types of Chinese Oolong tea. There
are also similar lists (though not as extensive) from India,Srilanka,
Bangladesh, Indonesia, etc.

Enjoy your cup of tea.

Ripon
(From Bangladesh)

On 01 Nov 2003, Space Cowboy posted the following to
rec.food.drink.tea:

I think there is something too the fortune
teller and tea leaves. I can't tell you how many times I make
tea and dejavu or have premonitions.

Me, too. I've steeped tea before, and I'm pretty sure I'll do it
again in the future.

Derek

--

Count Dracula was a phoebophobe.

Space Cowboy wrote:

I'd base the number of tea types on the number of plantations whatever that
number is and 3000 doesn't seem out of range for a world count. For example
two darjeelings from two adjacent plantations would have a discernable taste
difference at least for a tea taster.

I was thinking the same thing. Consider tea like wine, and 3000 types
is altogether possible.

--crymad

AK wrote in message thlink.net...
I went to brooklyn Ten Ren yesterday and bought some white tea and an
oolong (that tastes more like gunpowder green). The nice lady gave me a
scan of a ny times story about tea. It said there are 3000 types of tea.
Is that true? Are most of them perceptibly different? (more so than
different harvest of the same type)?

-AK

definitely more than 3000!!
you can take a look at lu yu's cha jing, often known as the tea
doctrine written abt eight hundred year ago. countless tea types were
already documented by then.

there are probably many teas nobody've heard of or tasted, cuz most of
these products dont really travel far.
anji bai pian? (anji white leaves)
xianlong xiang min? (xianlong fragrance)
ma liu mi? (big mtn bitter tea)
bu zhi chun? (doesnt know spring )
bu jian tian? (doesnt see sky)
ban tian yao? (half the horizon)
qian li xiang? (thousand miles fragrance)
wuyi rou gui? (wuyi rock tea)
shui jin gui? (water turtle)
lu xue ya (green snow buds)
xue li oolong
and the list goes on. i m just offhandedly spouting names.
if you look at black tea, difffernt plantations produce differnt teas
too. plantations in malaysia, vietnam, china, india, etc all
different!

nk.net10/31/03


I went to brooklyn Ten Ren yesterday and bought some white tea and an
oolong (that tastes more like gunpowder green). The nice lady gave me a
scan of a ny times story about tea. It said there are 3000 types of tea.
Is that true? Are most of them perceptibly different? (more so than
different harvest of the same type)?

-AK

I find the Brooklyn Ren Ren friendlier and less sales-aggressive than the
Manhattan branch. But then as everyone knows, everything in Brooklyn is
better. If the oolong tasted like gunpowder green, something is amiss, IMHO.
The white tea is a silver needles, I take it. Was it one of the transparent
plastic containers on the counter? If so, it's most likely pretty fresh and
good.

3000 types? Probably a gross underestimate. Yes, each is perceptibly
different. With different tea plant varietals, variants in processing
practices, vagaries of weather and soil, and even the time of day and season
of year the tea is picked, it's no small wonder. To which, I'd add that teas
picked at a particular garden on a particular day -- at least in Darjeeling,
as far as I know -- are sold as a separate "invoices," in part because each
day's picking will taste different from all others. How about that?

Michael